Chelsea are facing a defensive crisis as they prepare to take on Newcastle United in today’s English Premier League game at Stamford Bridge.
Two key defensive starters, Ben Chilwell and Levi Colwill, have joined the Blues’ injury list, ruling them out of the upcoming fixture due to knee and toe problems, respectively. Chilwell, in particular, has been referred to a specialist for further assessment.
With the absence of Chilwell and Colwill, Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino is expected to switch to a back four formation, deviating from the 3-5-2 setup used in the previous match.
Marc Cucurella is set to fill in at left-back, providing cover in the absence of Chilwell. However, the defensive concerns don’t end there for Chelsea, as Conor Gallagher is also doubtful for the game due to illness.
In addition to the defensive setbacks, Chelsea is also dealing with several other injury issues. Benoit Badiashile and Carney Chukwuemeka are nearing a return to team training but are not yet match-ready.
Meanwhile, Wesley Fofana, Lesley Ugochukwu, Reece James, Christopher Nkunku, and Romeo Lavia remain sidelined with various fitness issues.
Possible Chelsea Starting Lineup:
–Â Goalkeeper: Petrovic
–Â Defenders: Gusto, Disasi, Chalobah, Cucurella
–Â Midfielders: Caicedo, Fernandez
–Â Forwards: Sterling, Palmer, Mudryk
–Â Striker: Jackson