Chelsea Predicted Lineup vs LAFC for June 16

This is a Chelsea predicted lineup for their Club World Cup opener with MLS side LAFC. There will be a familiar face across the field in Olivier Giroud. The Blues are aiming to continue their late season momentum by bedding in some new players and making their mark in the group stage.

Chelsea Predicted Lineup vs LAFC for Club World Cup Opener

How Chelsea Have Lined Up Recently

The main starters toward the end of the season were Robert Sanches and Filip Jorgensen in goal. The defence was rotated, allowing Marc Cucurella, Trevoh Chalobah, Levi Colwill, Tosin Adarabioyo, Malo Gusto, and Reece James to start with Josh Acheampong and Benoit Badiashile also getting minutes when needed.

Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, James, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, and Romeo Lavia emerged as the main options in the midfield pivot. Lavia starting often pushed Caicedo to right-back in an inverted role. Ahead of them, the options were more settled with Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke, Pedro Neto, and Nicolas Jackson preferred. Tyrique George and Christioher Nkunku came in when needed as is the now-unavailable Jadon Sancho.

Chelsea Recent Form and Tactics

Enzo Maresca has utilised the 4-2-3-1 base that many possession-heavy managers prefer. When in possession, this can change to a 3-2-4-1 or a 2-2-5-1 with either a box midfield or a diamond used to both recycle possession and get added bodies around the box to crash it for crosses. They defend fairly high to recycle the ball but the height of the line tends to depend on availability and opposition.

The Blues ended the season quite well, losing just once in their last nine games to climb into the top four and win the Europa Conference League. Defensively, they found a solidity that allowed them to grind out some 1-0 wins although the lack of goalscoring output outside of European games might still be a worry. The team should have too much quality and experience of grinding down smaller opposition to worry much in the group stage.

Chelsea Injuries to Consider

Mykhailo Mudryk is suspended and Wesley Fofana is injured; the Frenchman was left out of the squad for this competition to focus on his recovery. Also absent from the squad is Djordje Petrovic, Renato Veiga, Joao Felix, and Raheem Sterling among others.

Chelsea Predicted Lineup vs LAFC

This will be an interesting one for Maresca; he will likely try to balance new faces with reliability while also resting some key names who played in the recent international break. Someone like Caicedo, Fernandez, and Palmer who played a lot, should be benched here, while James may be played scarcely to protect him.

GK – Filip Jorgensen

LB – Marc Cucurella

CB – Levi Colwill

CB – Mamadou Sarr

RB – Malo Gusto

DM – Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall

DM – Dario Essugo

AM – Christopher Nkunku

W – Tyrique George

W – Pedro Neto

ST – Liam Delap