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How Chelsea could line up against Nottingham Forest

Ahead of the FA Cup tie between Chelsea and Nottingham Forest on Sunday, Sports Mole looks at how the Blues could line up at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea play host to Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup third round on Sunday afternoon looking to build on a solid Christmas and New Year period.

Despite losing to Southampton on Boxing Day, the Blues earned seven points from trips to Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League.

However, the hectic schedule is likely to lead to Frank Lampard making multiple alterations for the clash with the Championship side.

Here, Sports Mole predicts how the West Londoners could line up at Stamford Bridge.



CHEXI VS. NOT

Out: Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Achilles),
Doubtful: Marcos Alonso (buttock), Fikayo Tomori (unknown), Olivier Giroud (ankle)

> Click here for Chelsea's latest injury and suspension news ahead of this match

Given their recent workload, Cesar Azpilicueta, Antonio Rudiger, N'Golo Kante, Willian and Tammy Abraham are all expected to drop out of the starting lineup.

That should lead to a start at left-back for Emerson Palmieri, while Andreas Christensen is almost certain to come into the middle of the backline.

Mateo Kovacic is expected to receive a recall in the centre of the pitch, potentially alongside Ross Barkley, who has spent the majority of the last two-and-a-half months out of contention.

Further forward, Pedro and Callum Hudson-Odoi should get the nod on the flanks, with Michy Batshuayi being handed a rare chance in attack.

After impressing as a substitute against Arsenal last weekend, academy graduate Tariq Lamptey may be handed his first senior start at right-back.

Second-choice goalkeeper Willy Caballero will replace Kepa Arrizabalaga between the sticks.

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Written by
Darren Plant
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Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in action for Arsenal on October 6, 2019
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool15113131131836
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1686229151430
4Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest168442119228
5Manchester CityMan City158342721627
6Aston Villa167452425-125
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton156632522324
8Bournemouth157352320324
9Fulham166642422224
10Brentford157263128323
11Newcastle UnitedNewcastle166552321223
12Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd155461918119
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Everton153661421-715
16Leicester CityLeicester163582134-1314
17Crystal Palace152761420-613
18Ipswich TownIpswich162681628-1212
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1623112440-169
20Southampton1512121131-205


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