How Chelsea could line up against Fulham

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino once again has absentees in the double figures heading into Monday's West London derby with Fulham in the Premier League.

The Blues lost Ben Chilwell to a hamstring injury towards the end of Wednesday's EFL Cup win over Brighton & Hove Albion, and the England international is now confined to the treatment room for an unspecified amount of time.

Joining Chilwell in the infirmary are Romeo Lavia (ankle), Benoit Badiashile (hamstring), Reece James (hamstring), Christopher Nkunku (knee), Wesley Fofana (knee), Marcus Bettinelli (knee) and Trevoh Chalobah (hamstring), while Nicolas Jackson and Malo Gusto must serve suspensions.

Pochettino is holding out hope that Carney Chukwuemeka and Noni Madueke can play a part in the derby, where a ravaged Chelsea backline will likely comprise Marc Cucurella and Levi Colwill in the wide areas.

Thiago Silva and Axel Disasi will expect to pair up in front of Robert Sanchez, while nine-figure duo Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez should link arms with Conor Gallagher in the middle.

With Jackson on the sidelines owing to an accumulation of bookings, Pochettino only has Armando Broja and Deivid Washington as his recognised central options, but the former is still working his way back to full fitness following his severe knee injury.

As a result, Raheem Sterling could be deployed at the tip of the attack, with Cole Palmer and Mykhaylo Mudryk holding their places either side of the Englishman.

Chelsea possible starting lineup: Sanchez; Cucurella, Disasi, Silva, Colwill; Caicedo, Fernandez, Gallagher; Palmer, Sterling, Mudryk