Chelsea line up for game against West Brom

9:43am on Friday 2nd April 2021
By Team FC

Chelsea will be looking to maintain their Champions League charge when they welcome West Bromwich Albion to Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

The Blues have been in fabulous form under Thomas Tuchel since the German replaced Frank Lampard as manager at the end of January.

Under the former Paris Saint-Germain boss, the capital club have won 10 of their 14 games in all competitions, only conceding an incredible tally of two goals in that run.

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Their recent run has catapulted them back into top-four contention in the Premier League, with Tuchel's side currently holding a two-point advantage over David Moyes' high-flying West Ham.

Chelsea strung back-to-back victories together over Sheffield United and Atletico Madrid in the FA Cup and Champions League, respectively, before the international break, and they'll be aiming to take that momentum into the league over the weekend.

Edouard Mendy has received dental treatment while the domestic action has been put on pause, but is expected to have fully recovered and should take his usual place between the sticks.

Ahead of him could see the return of Brazil international Thiago Silva, who has been on the treatment table since picking up a thigh problem in February's 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur.

The 36-year-old is likely to be joined by Antonio Rudiger and Cesar Azpilicueta in the centre of defence as Tuchel's tried and tested 3-4-2-1 formation continues to be the setup of choice in West London.

Callum Hudson-Odoi sustained a shoulder injury while away with the England under-21 squad, so Reece James should get another chance to make the right wing-back role his own, while Marcos Alonso is expected to start on the opposite flank given Ben Chilwell's England exploits under Gareth Southgate.

In midfield, Jorginho could return from a minor knee complaint to take his place alongside the impressive Mateo Kovacic due to N'Golo Kante sustaining a hamstring injury in France's 1-1 draw with Ukraine.

Kante's compatriot Olivier Giroud is in contention to lead the Chelsea forward line when Sam Allardyce brings the Baggies to Stamford Bridge and could be supported by Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic as Tuchel keeps one eye on their midweek trip to Porto.