Chelsea predicted XI at Brighton: Lampard goes with signature 4-3-3

Chelsea will be without some key pieces when traveling to England’s south coast, but here is the XI we expect Frank Lampard to field.

Chelsea kicks off Frank Lampard’s second season as the manager with a trip to the Amex Stadium amidst a very busy transfer window. Chelsea has recruited brilliantly this summer, giving Lampard the kind of headache every manager wants to have. The season hasn’t even started yet and the Blues already have injuries to key players though. Who will Lampard give the first chance to impress?

Kepa Arrizabalaga (No. 1) Goalkeeper, Spain

Arrizabalaga has had a rough 2020, everyone will certainly agree with that. Chelsea is closing in on Edouard Mendy and that deal will be announced soon. Nonetheless, Arrizabalaga is still Chelsea’s first choice goalkeeper. Albeit an underperforming first choice, Lampard is fair enough to give the Spaniard a second choice. Arrizabalaga’s road to redemption begins here.

Reece James (No. 24) Right back, England

James still has to work on in significant aspects of his defending, but he has been showing improvements to his overall game. Lampard is integrating James into the first team carefully and he should get the nod against Brighton. James is still learning from Cesar Azpilicueta and the best way to learn is to be on the pitch with him.

Antonio Rudiger (No. 2) Centerback, Germany

This is a tricky one. The one preseason game that Chelsea played did not reflect his better qualities. Thiago Silva is out, so one of Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen has to start; or so it seems. These defenders did not have an excellent last campaign, but they weren’t as bad as some fans would make it sound.

Kurt Zouma (No. 15) Centerback, France

Zouma is arguably Chelsea’s best centerback. Silva is yet to play a Premier League game and until he does, the jury is still out. Zouma was an essential part of Chelsea’s campaign last season and there is no evidence to suggest the same would not be the case this season.

Cesar Azpilicueta (No. 28) Left back, Spain

Azpilicueta is Chelsea’s most reliable defender and has been for the past four or five years. Lampard can afford to play a right-footed left back because he will have enough attacking talents on the pitch, meaning Azpilicueta’s overlapping is a bonus rather than a necessity. Last season, the Blues often found themselves needing to create from the fullback positions, that should not be an issue this year.