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Football London
Football London
Sport
Adam Newson

Confirmed Chelsea team vs Man City: Humphreys handed debut, Hall starts, Zakaria steps out

Bashir Humphreys has been handed his senior debut by Graham Potter in one of six changes to the Chelsea side for this afternoon's FA Cup third-round tie against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

The two clubs faced off in the Premier League on Thursday evening and it was Pep Guardiola's side that came away with victory; a second-half strike from substitute Riyad Mahrez was enough for the reigning champions to leave Stamford Bridge with all three points.

Chelsea suffered two injuries in the 1-0 defeat with wingers Raheem Sterling and Christian Pulisic limping out with hamstring and knee issues respectively. Neither feature this afternoon. They have forced Potter's hand and forced him into further rotation than was perhaps planned for the FA Cup clash.

READ MORE Every word Graham Potter said on Todd Boehly backing, Chelsea vision, FA Cup, injuries, more

Kepa Arrizabalaga starts in goal for the Blues once more. Edouard Mendy is currently sidelined after undergoing surgery on a fractured finger this week.

Chelsea are expected to line-up in a 4-2-2-2 shape, at least in possession. Trevoh Chalobah is set to start at right-back with a central defensive partnership of Humphreys and Kalidou Koulibaly. Lewis Hall, who impressed off the bench on Thursday, starts at left-back.

Jorginho returns to the Chelsea midfield in place of Denis Zakaria while Mateo Kovacic keeps his place and will be deployed alongside the Italian. Conor Gallagher comes in for Pulisic while Mason Mount, absent from the midweek defeat due to injury, returns to the starting XI.

Hakim Ziyech starts in the Chelsea attack once more, as does Kai Havertz. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who was substituted as a substitute three days ago, is only one the bench once again.

Chelsea starting XI: Kepa; Chalobah, Humphreys, Koulibaly, Hall; Kovacic, Jorginho; Gallagher, Mount; Ziyech, Havertz

Chelsea substitutes: Bettinelli, Badiashile, Silva, Azpilicueta, Cucurella, Zakaria, Chukwuemeka, Hutchinson, Fofana

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