This Saturday, mid-table rivals Chelsea and Fulham will play a Premier League West London derby at Craven Cottage, making for a delicious Saturday lunchtime treat.
Benoit Badiashile and Ben Chilwell’s return to Chelsea could cause Levi Colwill to drop out of the starting lineup.
On January 5, 2024, Carney Chukwuemeka and Levi Colwill of Chelsea participated in a training session at Chelsea Training Ground.
Prior to their match against Fulham this weekend, Chelsea has confirmed that Benoit Badiashile, Ben Chilwell, and Carney Chukwuemeka have resumed first-team training. On Saturday afternoon, the Blues and the Cottagers will meet at Stamford Bridge as both teams attempt to move up the Premier League standings.
With Badiashile and Chilwell back in action, Mauricio Pochettino will be itching to get back to winning ways this weekend. The Blues manager may have a secret up his sleeve. Levi Colwill’s spot in the starting lineup might be lost if the 51-year-old plans to bring the two back into the spotlight.
Like the Cobham graduate, Badiashile prefers operating at left centre-back, meanwhile Chilwell is a natural full-back. Pochettino spoke about Colwill’s unsteady performance after Chelsea’s Tuesday night loss to the Championship team at Riverside Stadium.
The Blues manager stated, “I think everyone would agree that Levi is a young player that can play in different positions.” In the previous match, he performed like a center back alongside Axel [Disasi]. Today, we used Thiago [Silva] in tandem with Axel, Malo Gusto on the right, and Levi on the left.
We had a great conversation. I believe that since Chelsea plays in the Premier League, he should gain experience there. In the end, I believe it will help him become a better player because he will feel the competition.
The team news for both clubs after they lost their first legs of the EFL Cup semi-finals in midweek. The Blues were defeated 1-0 by Middlesbrough, while Marco Silva’s team was defeated 2-1 by Liverpool.
CHELSEA: Trevoh Chalobah (thigh), Lesley Ugochukwu (hamstring), Reece James (hamstring), Romeo Lavia (thigh), Wesley Fofana (knee), Marc Cucurella (ankle), Robert Sanchez (knee), and Christopher Nkunku (hip)
Ben Chilwell (thigh), Benoit Badiashile (unspecified), and Carney Chukwuemeka (knee) are all questionable.
Petrovic; Gusto, Disasi, Silva, Colwill; Gallagher, Fernandez; Sterling, Palmer, Mudryk; Broja is the lineup that Sports Mole predicted.
Adama Traore (thigh), Fode Ballo-Toure (international), Calvin Bassey (international), and Alex Iwobi (international) are out for Fulham.
Uncertain: None
Leno; Castagne, Adarabioyo, Diop, Robinson; Palhinha, Cairney; Decordova-Reid, Pereira, Willian; Jimenez is the lineup that Sports Mole predicted.
