Chelsea predicted XI vs Krasnodar: Frank Lampard’s possible starting line-up with Blues boss set to give fringe players a chance to impress

Chelsea take on Krasnodar in their final Champions League Group E match with the luxury of knowing they will qualify in top spot no matter the result.

Frank Lampard’s side have won all four matches since a 0-0 opener against Sevilla in October.

The most impressive of those results was the 4-0 win in Spain last week in which Olivier Giroud scored all four goals.

That win plus another victory against Leeds United at the weekend extended the Blues’ unbeaten run to 13 matches in all competitions, which has included eight victories in the last nine.

In the reverse fixture against Tuesday’s visitors, Chelsea scored three goals in the last 15 minutes in Russia to cruise to a 4-0 win.

So with qualification in the bag and a trip to Everton to come at the weekend, Lampard is set to rotate his squad.

So which players will the Blues boss pick to try and extend his team’s impressive run of form?

Here we predict the Chelsea starting XI to take on Krasnodar at Stamford Bridge…

Goalkeeper:

Edouard Mendy has been fantastic since arriving from Rennes in the summer and has helped shore up what was previously a leaky backline. For this one though, Lampard has confirmed that Kepa Arrizabalaga will start his first game since the 3-3 draw with Southampton in mid-October. The Spaniard will be hoping that he can put in a steady performance as he aims to put some pressure on Mendy for a spot between the sticks.

Defenders:

Club-captain Cesar Azpilicueta has lost his place to the in-form Reece James this season but looks set to make his fourth Champions League appearance of the season and captain the side in this one. On the other flank, Ben Chilwell could be given a breather with Emerson preferred over Marcos Alonso. At centre-back, first-choice duo Kurt Zouma and Thiago Silva are also set to be rested for the trip to Everton coming up, with Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen set to step in. Fikayo Tomori could also see some action for just the fourth time this season.

Midfielders:

Lampard has confirmed that Billy Gilmour will start his first match of the season after being fully fit again after recovering from a knee injury. The Scot picked up the injury in July and has only made one appearance for the Blues this term, coming on as a substitute against Sevilla last week. Partnering Gilmour in midfield will likely be Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic, meaning Mason Mount and N’Golo Kante will get a rest out of the side. 

Forwards:

Chelsea have a whole host of talent in attack. Olivier Giroud has worked his way back into the side with his recent goal streak and, despite a lack of games this season, Lampard could now rest the French striker for Everton this weekend. This means Tammy Abraham could well be the man leading the line as he searches for his sixth goal of the season. Timo Werner has been a regular in all competitions for Lampard so could also be handed some time out with Christian Pulisic and Kai Havertz being given the responsibility to create chances in the final third. Hakim Ziyech and Callum Hudson-Odoi will both miss this one with hamstring injuries.

Predicted Chelsea XI vs Krasnodar: Kepa; Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Christensen, Emerson; Gilmour, Jorginho, Kovacic; Havertz, Abraham, Pulisic.