Chelsea predicted lineup vs Everton - Premier League | OneFootball

Chelsea's opening fixture of the 2022/23 campaign sends them north to face Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday evening.

Thomas Tuchel isn't a manager that often pulls his punches in the press and blasted a lack of “commitment physically and mentally” after his side were dispatched 4-0 in a preseason friendly against Arsenal.

Despite admitting he had an increased role in recruitment earlier in the summer, Tuchel made an “urgent appeal” for more “quality players” a fortnight before his side's trip to Merseyside.

Here's the XI Tuchel may cobble together from Chelsea's apparently threadbare squad.

1.

Edouard Mendy (GK) - With his international teammate Kalidou Koulibaly installed in front of him, Mendy may be able to quell the skittish distribution that had begun to seep into his game.Cesar Azpilicueta (CB) - In stark contrast to the backwards logic most footballers adopt when they want a move, Chelsea's skipper (for now) hasn't downed tools during pre-season as he continues to lead the team out with the armband intact.Thiago Silva (CB) - Now into his second decade as a professional footballer, Silva made his senior debut while Concorde was still commercially available.Kalidou Koulibaly (CB) - Chelsea's summer recruit from Napoli will become the first player to wear number 26 not called John Terry since Laurent Charvet in 1998.Reece James (RWB) - Chelsea's goal-getting (and making) wingback has been beaten by Everton (three times) more often than Manchester City and Manchester United (both twice).N'Golo Kante (CM) - Across his first four seasons of Premier League football, Kante missed 14 games via injury. Fitness concerns sidelined him for 16 matches last season alone.Jorginho (CM) - The club's vice-captain saw his game time dwindle as the season wore on but lingering fitness doubts over Mateo Kovacic may earn him an opening day selection.Ben Chilwell (LWB) - After a gruelling rehabilitation from a ruptured cruciate ligament, Chilwell could be in line for his first Premier League start since November.Mason Mount (RW) - The 23-year-old became the first Chelsea player since Eden Hazard in 2018/19 to hit double digits for Premier League goals (11) and assists (ten) last season.Kai Havertz (ST) - The de-facto centre-forward in Romelu Lukaku's absence was roughed up by Everton's physical rearguard on his last trip to Goodison Park, leading him to reveal his preference is to "sneak around" centre-backs.Raheem Sterling (LW) - In the best possible way, Tuchel leant upon one word to sum up the experience of playing against Sterling: "Horrible!" There are now 50 million reasons why he won't have to endure that again in the near future.