Chelsea predicted XI vs Brighton: Graham Potter looks to creep into third

Chelsea need to win against an out of form Brighton. Here’s the team Graham Potter should select to maximise the chances.

It’s that dreaded time of year. As if the schedule for the Premier League big six wasn’t intense enough already, this year they’ve decided to lob a World Cup right in the middle of the season. It means that Chelsea may have to rotate more often than Graham Potter would have liked.

Having played a midweek fixture against Salzburg, this forced the Blues boss into fielding a strong eleven. He got the job done but unsurprisingly, used five substitutions in the second half.

Brighton are in bad form but they have proven this season they are no pushovers. When you combine this with the fact that Chelsea have a game in hand on both Newcastle and Tottenham, you would expect the Blues to push for a comfortable win in this game; fielding a strong eleven will help to achieve this.

Here’s how I predict them to lineup on the South Coast.

GK: Kepa Arrizabalaga

Duh. Kepa Arrizabalaga is the first name on the team sheet. So much so that I no longer need to look at the keyboard when I type his name.

The Chelsea goalkeeper is in fine form and, in my opinion, the best shot stopper in the Top Flight this season. He played exceptionally well last week against Manchester United and would have kept a clean sheet had it not been from a piece of brilliance in the air by Casemiro.

CB: Trevoh Chalobah

Chalobah has to earn his way into the Chelsea XI but he’s done just that in fine fashion. The England international will get another nod of approval in this match, as he stakes his claim to play in the World Cup.

CB: Kalidou Koulibaly

He missed out in against Manchester United last time out and in the Champions League midweek. He has been nursing a minor knee injury and if he is given the all clear before this game, then he has to start. Silva was good in the Champions League but when you’re playing consecutive games, Koulibaly is the player you want in your back three.

CB: Marc Cucurella

Potter likes to tinker with his formation, this goes without saying. Cucurella makes for the perfect option in this case, as he can play a multitude of different positions. I do think in this match, though, he will complete the back three.