90min

Chelsea predicted lineup vs Dinamo Zagreb - Champions League

By Tom Gott

Chelsea have some issues to address
Chelsea have some issues to address / Alex Pantling/GettyImages
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Graham Potter may have been planning a party for Chelsea in their final Champions League group game against Dinamo Zagreb. The Blues are guaranteed group winners so this could have been a chance to turn to the academy, but the weekend's 4-1 loss to Brighton has changed things.

Now, the boss will demand professionalism and an emphatic response to the almighty setback, with his rotation likely to be somewhat less dramatic.

With nothing but pride on the line, here's how Chelsea could set up.

Chelsea predicted lineup vs Dinamo Zagreb (4-3-1-2)

Armando Broja
Expect Broja to return / Chloe Knott - Danehouse/GettyImages

GK: Edouard Mendy - Might have been playing anyway but almost definitely will following Kepa Arrizabalaga's injury.

RB: Cesar Azpilicueta - Options at right-back are really limited these days so Azpilicueta may be needed yet again. Young Dion Rankine could be used as cover later in the game.

CB: Trevoh Chalobah - Chalobah's unbeaten run as a starter is over but he should get the chance to start a new one.

CB: Kalidou Koulibaly - Thiago Silva is going to get a rest and Chelsea don't have many other centre-back options at the minute, so Koulibaly could make his return.

LB: Marc Cucurella - Centre-back has not worked for Cucurella this season so the Spaniard may benefit from a return to the left side of defence.

DM: Jorginho - Still with concerns over the long-term future of Denis Zakaria, Potter may opt to deploy Jorginho once again.

CM: Ruben Loftus-Cheek - Loftus-Cheek has been a key midfielder for Potter but don't be surprised if he ends the game playing in another position.

CM: Carney Chukwuemeka - Teenager Chukwuemeka could be the beneficiary of this low-stakes affair, although a knock in training may put this position under threat.

AM: Kai Havertz - Mason Mount and Conor Gallagher should both be rested to avoid picking up needless yellow cards and suspensions, so Havertz may get another chance to prove himself.

ST: Armando Broja - Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is Potter's first-choice striker right now but this sort of game is the perfect environment for Broja to get another chance.

ST: Christian Pulisic - Just keep him away from wing-back and that should be an improvement.

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