This article contains affiliate links, and we will receive a commission on any sales generated from it. Thiago Silva may have played his final match for Chelsea, as Mauricio Pochettino has just nine senior Chelsea players to pick from for their upcoming match against Tottenham.
Axel Disasi and Thiago Silva have added their names to the list of absentees, leading to a defensive shakeup at Stamford Bridge. With goalkeeper Robert Sanchez still in partial team training, Petrovic is likely to remain between the sticks for Pochettino.
Chelsea have been linked with several goalkeepers ahead of the summer transfer window, and the 24-year-old will be eager to make a statement to secure his position as No. 1 against Spurs.
In defense, Alfie Gilchrist, Trevoh Chalobah, Benoit Badiashile, and Marc Cucurella are expected to line up for Pochettino’s side. With Silva announcing his departure from Chelsea and Disasi ruled out, Gilchrist will need to step up and start his second league match.
Chalobah will be deployed in his natural centre-back role, and Cucurella is set to play at left-back while Ben Chilwell continues his rehabilitation. In the midfield, Gallagher and Caicedo are likely to continue as Chelsea’s double pivot, with Palmer aiming to regain his goal-scoring form from central areas.
Cesare Casadei can provide an alternative option on the bench and is expected to be the most experienced player on the Blues’ bench despite being just 21. Up front, Noni Madueke, Nicolas Jackson, and Mykhaylo Mudryk will be relied upon by Pochettino to step up in the coming weeks, as each of the trio faces questions about their performances.
Madueke has shown promise in his recent appearances and scored his fourth goal of the season last weekend. The forward trio will need to prove their worth before the end of the season, with European football hanging in the balance.