Chelsea XI vs Newcastle: Predicted lineup and confirmed team news
helsea are expected to be without 10 players for the final match of the season at home to Newcastle.
Mason Mount may have played in his last game for Chelsea amid interest from Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool. He is regarded as a huge injury doubt to make one final appearance at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Reece James has been ruled out after a further setback from a hamstring issue, while Raheem Sterling has joined Benoit Badiashile, Ben Chilwell and Kalidou Koulibaly on the injury list.
N’Golo Kante has a groin issue, while Mateo Kovacic and third-choice goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli are also out with unspecified fitness problems.
Armando Broja is a long-term absentee after needing surgery on his knee back in December.
Chelsea will have a similar pool of players to choose from as they did against United on Thursday night, but interim manager Frank Lampard’s shape-shifting line ups continue to be difficult to predict.
The 44-year-old sticks to many of the same personnel but keeps switching between a back three and a back four. He played a 4-2-3-1 system in the 4-1 defeat away at Old Trafford.
Lampard could opt to stick with the same system but may draft in Joao Felix after he scored a late consolation goal from the bench. The Blues would likely Mykhailo Mudryk, who struggled, to bring in Felix alongside Kai Havertz and Noni Madueke.
Kepa Arrizabalaga is set to continue in goal, with Cesar Azpilicueta at right back. Thiago Silva, rested and an unused substitute on Thursday, is set to take Wesley Fofana’s spot as he struggled compared to Trevoh Chalobah. Teenager Lewis Haill will maintain his place after playing well at left back.
Carney Chukwuemeka will battle with Ruben Loftus-Cheek for a midfield role alongside Enzo Fernandez and Conor Gallagher.
Predicted Chelsea XI: Kepa; Azpilicueta, Chalobah, Silva, Hall; Loftus-Cheek, Enzo, Gallagher; Madueke, Havertz, Felix
