Chelsea welcome West Ham United in the Premier League on Monday and the Blues will need to win this game if they wish to keep pace with the likes of Arsenal and Spurs.
Chelsea picked up a controversial win against Cardiff last weekend but in midweek they returned back with a strong reply vs Brighton.
The Blues won their midweek fixture 3-0 and given that the game vs the Hammers will also be at home, Sarri’s men are expected to pick up an easy three points.
Chelsea news vs West Ham United:
The back-four should not see any change from midweek with David Luiz and Antonio Rudiger starting in central defence while Azpilicueta and Emerson play as the two full-backs.
Jorginho will pick up his usual role as the deep-lying midfielder while N’Golo Kante will play as his midfield partner. But the real trouble that Sarri right now has is with Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
It looks like Loftus-Cheek is currently having a bit of a hamstring trouble which was confirmed by the manager after the Brighton game.
“Loftus-Cheek is without his back problem for the first time this season so could train every day for the last 20 days. He played very well and scored a wonderful goal, Sarri said.
“After 75 minutes he had a little problem with his hamstring – nothing serious – but tomorrow I want to be sure about the situation with his back.
“That’s the big problem, with his back.”
And now experts are claiming that the manager will not risk Cheek and instead Ross Barkley will come into the first XI on Monday.
Callum Hudson-Odoi made a strong statement in midweek when Sarri chose to give him a rare start.
But it feels like the youngster will once again drop back to the bench and Willian will take up his place on the right wing while Eden Hazard operates from the left-hand side.
Chelsea news: Blues’ predicted XI vs West Ham
First XI: Arrizabalaga; Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Luiz, Emerson; Jorginho, Kante, Barkley; Willian, Hazard, Giroud.
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