Chelsea fans’ preferred lineup against Aston Villa: Loftus-Cheek to start

The wait is over and we finally have Chelsea back in action after three months! Despite the break, the competition for a top four finish is still looking very tough, and we’ll need to exploit every opportunity. With games set to come thick and fast, rotation will be key.

THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE

The WAGNH community started where things were left off, by showing a preference towards the 4-3-3 formation over the 4-2-3-1 (40%). Kepa Arrizabalaga had two good performances before the lockdown and he’s given the overwhelming nod ahead of Willy Caballero (2%). Order restored!

With Reece James (37%) and Fikayo Tomori (28%) both dealing with fitness issues, the community opted for experience in the back four. Marcos Alonso, Kurt Zouma, Antonio Rüdiger, and César Azpilicueta all start as Andreas Christensen (38%) and Emerson (20%) are left out.

Jorginho is serving the second game of his two match suspension, so the midfield trio of Mateo Kovačić, N’Golo Kanté, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek ends up being the preferred choice. Billy Gilmour (46%) is certainly one of Chelsea’s brightest talents but that wasn’t quite enough for him to start. Ross Barkley (6%) is a distant fifth-choice.

With the uncertainty surrounding the contracts of Pedro (4%) and Willian’s (54%), as well as Callum Hudson Odoi’s fitness issues, Christian Pulisic returns to the starting eleven and joins Mason Mount and Tammy Abraham up front. Olivier Giroud (9%) fills a spot on the bench.

4-3-3 (53%):
Arrizabalaga (98%) | Alonso (53%), Zouma (46%), Rüdiger (90%), Azpilicueta (88%) | Kovačić (87%), Kanté (74%), Loftus-Cheek (56%) | Pulisic (92%), Abraham (91%), Mount (77%)

(Ed.note: the versatility of Loftus-Cheek and Mount could give this formation plenty of fluidity in the attacking band.)

PREFERRED LINEUP

I’ve agreed with most choices make by the community here with the exception of favouring Gilmour and James. Also, though I’m generally fond of Christensen, I don’t believe he works too well with Antonio Rüdiger, hence the decision to go with Zouma.

4-3-3:
Arrizabalaga | Azpilicueta, Zouma, Rüdiger, James | Kovačić, Gilmour, Kanté | Mount, Abraham, Pulisic

COME ON YOU BLUES!