Nkunku Involved but No Start: Chelsea Predicted Lineup vs Newcastle United

This is a Chelsea predicted lineup for their Carabao Cup Quarter-Final clash with Newcastle United. The Blues are coming off a 2-0 win over Sheffield United that may have papered over some of the cracks for the time being.

Chelsea Predicted Lineup vs Newcastle in Carabao Cup

How Chelsea Have Lined Up Recently

While Robert Sanchez has been the preferred starting goalkeeper his injury has opened the door to summer signing Djordje Petrović to take over the number one spot. In defence, injuries have caused a lot of changes with Levi Colwill, Marc Cucurella, Thiago Silva, Benoit Badiashile, Axel Disasi, and Reece James all starting in the back four.

The defensive midfield pivot has usually been Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez, although the latter was rested at the weekend for Conor Gallagher. The attacking midfield options have usually been Raheem Sterling, Cole Palmer, Mykhailo Mudryk, or the aforementioned Gallagher.

Nicolas Jackson has usually been the starting striker with Armando Broja getting a run out recently.

Chelsea Recent Form and Tactics

Mauricio Pochettino has been reliant on the base shape of a 4-2-3-1 which can be fluid, it shifted to a 4-4-2 at times against Sheffield United for example. Results have been inconsistent with defeats to Manchester United and Newcastle sandwiching wins against the Blades and Brighton & Hove Albion.

The defence has emerged as an issue for Pochettino with the weekend’s shutout being their first clean sheet since November 1, which was in the EFL Cup against Blackburn Rovers.

Chelsea Injuries to Consider

It wouldn’t be Chelsea if there wasn’t a lengthy injury list. The latest update has nine different names unavailable with one set to return to action. Noni Madueke has “returned to full team training” and could feature on the bench. Romeo Lavia is also in partial training but likely won’t be ready for this fixture.

The players who definitely won’t take part in this cup tie are Sanchez, James, Cucurella, Trevoh Chalobah, Wesley Fofana, Ben Chilwell, Carney Chukwuemeka, and Lesley Ugochukwu.

Chelsea Predicted Lineup vs Newcastle United

Christopher Nkunku made an appearance on the substitutes bench on Saturday and could feature here but likely won’t start. Leaving the projected eleven as follows:

GK – Djordje Petrović

LB – Levi Colwill

CB – Benoit Badiashile

CB – Axel Disasi

RB – Malo Gusto

DM – Moises Caicedo

DM – Enzo Fernandez

AM – Raheem Sterling

AM – Conor Gallagher

AM – Cole Palmer

ST – Nicolas Jackson