Chelsea lineup vs. Panathinaikos: Predicted XI for Conference League clash

Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca is expected to make wholesale changes to his starting lineup for Thursday's Conference League clash against Panathinaikos in Greece.

The Blues, who lost 2-1 away against Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday, will be without Cole Palmer, Romeo Lavia and Wesley Fofana as they have all been left out of the club's squad for the league phase of the competition.

Reece James, who made his first appearance of the season against Liverpool after a lengthy spell out injured, is one of five players along with Malo Gusto, Levi Colwill, Moises Caicedo and Nicolas Jackson who will be rested and will not travel with the matchday squad to Greece.

Filip Jorgensen was absent from the defeat at Liverpool due to a head injury sustained on international duty with Denmark Under-21s earlier this month, but the goalkeeper is hopeful of returning to the first-team fold on Thursday and could replace Robert Sanchez between the sticks.

After serving a one-game domestic suspension last weekend, Marc Cucurella is in contention to return, but Renato Veiga could be recalled instead to operate at left-back as Axel Disasi starts at right-back, while Tosin Adarabioyo and Benoit Badiashile are the most likely duo to begin in central defence.

In the absence of Lavia and Caicedo, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Cesare Casadei will both be pushing to start in centre-midfield, while Enzo Fernandez could also get some minutes under his belt after beginning as a substitute against Liverpool.

Pedro Neto and Christopher Nkunku were both on target in Chelsea's 4-2 opening win over Gent in the Conference League three weeks ago and they could both return to the starting lineup on Thursday, while Joao Felix and Mykhaylo Mudryk are also in contention to play in attack.

Chelsea possible starting lineup: Jorgensen; Disasi, Tosin, Badiashile, Veiga; Casadei, Dewsbury-Hall; Neto, Felix, Mudryk; Nkunku

> Click here to see how Panathinaikos could line up for this contest