The FA Cup is back, featuring a Premier League team facing off against an EFL Championship side in one of the earlier matches. This game also marks a reunion for Liam Rosenior, as his current team goes up against one of his former clubs. Here’s the latest Chelsea team news and a predicted lineup for their FA Cup match against Hull City.
Chelsea Team News & Predicted Lineup vs Hull in FA Cup Clash
Recent Chelsea Lineup
Rob Sanchez has been the starting goalkeeper. The defense has included Marc Cucurella, Jorrel Hato, Trevoh Chalobah, Josh Acheampong, Benoit Badiashile, Wes Fofana, Malo Gusto, and Reece James, adjusting between a back five or a back four based on the opponent.
Moises Caicedo and Andrey Santos have been the key midfield pair, supporting the defense effectively. The attack features Enzo Fernandez, Cole Palmer, Estevao, Pedro Neto, and Alejandro Garnacho.
Joao Pedro is currently the top choice for the striker role, with Liam Delap available for rotation.
Chelsea’s Recent Performance & Tactics
Rosenior has used either a 4-2-3-1 or a 3-5-2/3-4-2-1 formation depending on the rival. The strategy is to build attacks from the back, inviting pressure while keeping the midfield tight. The team is playing with more creativity, attempting riskier passes and using full-backs to stretch the defense, which has led to more penalties, similar to their performance under Mauricio Pochettino.
Since the managerial change, Chelsea has shown good form, only losing to Arsenal. They enjoyed a strong winning streak in both the league and Champions League, which was halted by a 2-2 draw with Leeds. While they have been effective in scoring, their defense has been inconsistent, allowing multiple goals in several matches, with only two clean sheets kept.
Current Team News
According to PremierInjuries, up to nine players might miss this match. Dario Essugo, Levi Colwill, Romeo Lavia, and Mylhailo Mudryk have either missed most or all of the season so far. James, Cucurella, Filip Jorgensen, Tosin Adarabioyo, and Jamie Gittens are dealing with newer or minor injuries and are likely to be rested for this game.
Predicted Chelsea Lineup
Facing a Championship team provides a chance for the coach to rotate players. Many key players have been competing every few days since December, and with a week’s rest following this match, some might be substituted to allow fringe players to start.
GK – Rob Sanchez
LB – Jorre Hato
CB – Mamadou Sarr
CB – Wes Fofana
RB – Josh Acheampong
DM – Moises Caicedo
DM – Enzo Fernandez
AM – Estevao
W – Alejandro Garnacho
W – Pedro Neto
ST – Liam Delap