West London rivals Chelsea and Fulham compete at FedEx Field in the Premier League summer series and Mauricio Pochettino is set to mix things up again in his starting lineup
Chelsea face Fulham in their final Premier League Summer Series match, with Mauricio Pochettino knowing a win for his side could lead to his first silverware as Blues boss. The pre-season tournament ends in Landover on Sunday with the derby following Aston Villa vs Brentford with the Cottagers and Villa also in contention to win the tournament.
The Blues arrived in Washington DC on Saturday evening having seen their travel disrupted by stormy weather. Pochettino saw his press conference cancelled after a combination of high winds, rain and lightning slowed the club’s progress from Philadelphia.
With the west London side sharing their minutes throughout the squad so far this pre-season, Pochettino is set to make changes to his starting lineup once again. However, Kepa Arrizabalaga could once again start in goal as he continues to learn what the new coaching staff want from him in the position in time for the start of the season.
Reece James could also once again start as he looks to build his fitness after making his first start of the summer last time out against Newcastle, with Malo Gusto having minutes in his legs already. Ben Chilwell could start on the opposite flank after he replaced Marc Cucurella in the second period of the match against the Magpies.
Having been rested for that game, Thiago Silva and Levi Colwill will be set to start the game. The duo played an extended period together against Brighton in Philadelphia and appear likely to rekindle that partnership after Trevoh Chalobah and Bashir Humphreys completed the match against Newcastle in Atlanta.
Ahead of them, Andrey Santos could come into the base of midfield and allow Enzo Fernandez to take on a slightly different role, after the World Cup winner partnered Cesare Casadei in his last outing. Pochettino will also have a decision to make on Ian Maatsen, the only Chelsea player to start every friendly so far this summer.
An update on Noni Madueke awaits after he did not travel for the game against Newcastle, with Maatsen competing for a spot on the wing against Raheem Sterling, Mykhailo Mudyrk, Angelo Gabriel and Diego Moreira. That will also leave Carney Chukwuemeka and Conor Gallagher hoping to provide some support from an advanced position in the centre of midfield.
Christopher Nkunku could take the role if Pochettino hopes to once again test his ability to combine with the in-form Nicolas Jackson.
Chelsea predicted lineup: Kepa, James, Silva, Colwill, Chilwell, Santos, Fernandez, Nkunku, Sterling, Jackson, Mudryk.
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