Enzo Maresca has rung the changes for today’s meeting with Newcastle United, with only one of the XI which started at Cardiff City in midweek doing so again at St James’ Park.
That means Robert Sanchez minds the Chelsea net, protected by a back line of Malo Gusto, Wesley Fofana, Trevoh Chalobah and Marc Cucurella, all coming back into the team.
Reece James returns to captain the side and is expected to line up in a midfield role, partnering Moises Caicedo, the only player retaining his place from our midweek Carabao Cup win, in the centre of the pitch.
In attack, Joao Pedro looks set to lead the line, supported by the trio of Pedro Neto, the in-form Alejandro Garnacho and Cole Palmer, who netted his first goal since returning from injury in last week’s victory over Everton.
Newcastle have made four changes to the team which beat Fulham in their own midweek Carabao Cup tie. Tino Livramento, Joe Willock, Yoane Wissa and Ashley Barnes drop out, as Lewis Hall, Sandro Tonali, Nick Woltemade and Anthony Gordon come back into their side.
Chelsea: Sanchez, Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella, James (c), Caicedo, Neto, Palmer, Garnacho, Joao Pedro
Substitutes: Jorgensen, Badiashile, Tosin, Acheampong, Hato, Fernandez, Santos, Buonanotte, Guiu
Newcastle United: Ramsdale, Miley, Schar, Thiaw, Hall, Guimaraes (c), Tonali, Ramsey, J Murphy, Woltemade, Gordon
Substitutes: Ruddy, A Murphy, Joelinton, Willock, Barnes, Elanga, Shahar, Wissa
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