Chelsea v Wolves: Predicted Blues XI for Potter’s first home league match

Chelsea picked up their first win of the current Champions League campaign on Wednesday by beating AC Milan 3-0 at Stamford Bridge. 

Goals from Wesley Fofana, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Reece James earned the Blues a memorable victory over the reigning Serie A champions, and Graham Potter’s side now turn their attention to their next league encounter.

Wolves visit Stamford Bridge on Saturday in what will be their first game since Bruno Lage left the club, and Potter will be hoping for a victory in his first home league game in charge of Chelsea.

Here, we predict the XI that Potter could select.

Goalkeeper

Kepa Arrizabalaga has started each of Chelsea’s last three games in the absence of Edouard Mendy, and the Spaniard is likely to continue despite his teammate nearing a return to fitness. The £71 million ‘keeper has endured a tough time at Stamford Bridge, but was impressive when keeping a clean sheet against Milan in midweek.

Defenders

At the back, Potter won’t be able to select Fofana, who was forced off injured shortly after scoring his first Blues goal against Milan and is expected to be out for at least a few weeks.

In his absence, Trevoh Chalobah could make his second start of the season.  The Englishman replaced Fofana on Wednesday but has only played two matches this season.

Chalobah could be in line for just his second start of the season

Thiago Silva is expected to continue, a week on from his controversial booking against Crystal Palace. Many felt that the veteran centre-back should have been sent off for denying a goalscoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball, but the Brazilian escaped with just a yellow card and set up Chelsea’s first goal minutes later.

New signing Kalidou Koulibaly is likely to complete Chelsea’s back three, making a return to The Blues’ league side having been on the bench against The Eagles.

Midfielders

On the right, Reece James looks certain to be handed another start. The England international is one of the Premier League’s form players at present, and grabbed both a goal and an assist last time out. If he continues to perform at that level, he looks increasingly likely to cement his starting spot for England at the upcoming World Cup.

Gallagher scored his first goal for Chelsea last weekend

Conor Gallagher’s winning goal against Palace may have earned him a return to the starting 11. The midfielder netted a late winner against his former loan club last weekend, but has endured an inconsistent start to life in the Chelsea first team having been sent off on his home debut. Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who was given a cameo against Palace, will most likely be on the bench.

Alongside Gallagher, Mateo Kovacic could be given the nod ahead of Jorginho. The Croatia international started last weekend and his return from injury last month appears to have coincided with an upturn in The Blues’ form. N’Golo Kante remains sidelined through injury.

On the left, Marc Cucurella could make a start with Potter having confirmed that the Spaniard ‘will be involved‘. Ben Chilwell’s goal and assist off the bench earned Chelsea three points against West Ham in their last home league game, but he may be rested to allow Cucurella a first start since that match.

Forwards

James and Sterling have both been in great form of late

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has scored in each of his last two games and will be hoping to continue his strong form against a Wolves side that have kept just one clean sheet on the road this season.

Either side of him will most likely be Raheem Sterling and Mason Mount. The former has a more than respectable four goals and two assists in ten matches for his new club so far, and he will be looking to improve on that tally on Saturday.

It is a different story for Mount, though, with the England international having failed to register a single goal or assist in the Premier League this season.

Both Kai Havertz and Armando Brojo are likely to be on the bench, alongside Hakim Ziyech and Cristian Pulisic.

Predicted XI: Kepa; Chalobah, Silva, Koulibaly; James, Kovacic, Gallagher, Cucurella; Mount, Aubameyang, Sterling.