Chelsea fans’ preferred lineup against Everton: Havertz on the wing, Giroud in the center

Chelsea look to continue our unbeaten today, as we take on former head coach Carlo Ancelotti’s Everton. Injuries are a cause for concern however, as options up front are scarce at the moment.

THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE

The WAGNH community continue to prefer the 4-3-3 formation well ahead of the other options, with the 4-2-3-1 (8%) the only other option worth mentioning.

Not much doubt about goalkeeper either, as Édouard Mendy easily beats out Kepa Arrizabalaga (4%) for the starting nod.

And the trusty back four starts as per usual as well. The fringe players weren’t able to do much convincing against Krasnodar, so Andreas Christensen (3%), Antonio Rüdiger (4%), César Azpilicueta (6%), Emerson (4%) all miss out, while Fikayo Tomori (3%) and Marcos Alonso (1%) might as well use the time to work on their CVs.

Who should play next to Mason Mount and N’Golo Kanté has been a heatedly debated one, but due to the aforementioned injuries, there isn’t much choice beyond Mateo Kovačić, with Jorginho (6%) and Billy Gilmour (11%) rotating out.

With Ziyech and Hudson-Odoi ruled out and doubts about Christian Pulisic’s (52%) fitness and worries about taking a risk too early with him see Kai Havertz get another nod at right wing, opposite Timo Werner on the left. Tammy Abraham’s (16%) recent wastefulness costs him at striker, with Olivier Giroud preferred. Tino Anjorin collects a respectable 7% after his full debut midweek.

4-3-3 (88%)
Mendy (95%) | Chilwell (96%), Silva (96%), Zouma (94%), James (95%) | Mount (93%), Kanté (97%), Kovačić (71%) | Werner (94%), Giroud (82%), Havertz (70%)

MY PREFERRED CHOICE

There were definitely some tough choices to make here.

First and foremost, I’d really like to stop using Havertz on the wing (and Mount, too), unless absolutely forced. Mount in particular has excelled since moving to a central midfield role on a regular basis and it makes little sense to disrupt his momentum. But risking Pulisic could also backfire. I don’t know exactly how fit he really is, so I left him out.

As such, I’d making the daring decision to throw Anjorin into the mix on the wing after a composed and promosing display during the week. I’m not quite sure if he’ll do as well on the right as he did on the left, but it’s worth a shot and a gamble I’d take.

I really cannot emphasize enough how little I rate either of Havertz or Mount on the wing so let me say again: please, no.

4-3-3
Mendy | Chilwell, Silva, Zouma, James | Mount, Kanté, Havertz | Werner, Giroud, Anjorin