Cucurella debut decision, Sterling leads the attack

Cucurella debut decision, Sterling leads the attack – predicted Chelsea team vs Everton

Thomas Tuchel knows full well what is waiting for Chelsea at Goodison Park this afternoon. Yet that was also the case in May when Everton recorded a 1-0 victory over his side. The German coach hopes things will be different this time around.

"We remember very well," Tuchel said during his pre-match press conference. "We need nothing more to know what is coming: a fantastic atmosphere, a very emotional crowd, a very emotional team. And of course, we know some familiar faces on the other side of the bench."

One of those is, of course, Frank Lampard; a club legend from his playing days at Stamford Bridge and the man Tuchel replaced in the Chelsea dugout. "We have nothing but respect for Frank and his staff – a lot of people with Chelsea history. It was very respectful between the two benches and it will be again, but at the same time will be very competitive."

The opening weekend of the Premier League season is always something of an unknown, but there are unlikely to be many surprises in the Chelsea team that Tuchel picks for the game in Merseyside, which is a 5:30pm kick-off.

Edouard Mendy's form may have dipped since the start of 2022 but there is no doubt the Senegal international will take his place in the Chelsea goal. And Mendy has little in the way of a genuine challenge at the minute with Kepa Arrizabalaga unlikely to feature in the immediate future amid interest from Napoli.

Tuchel is expected to stick with his tried and trusted 3-4-2-1 system and will likely turn to experience in his defence as Chelsea attempt to end their Goodison Park hoodoo. That will result in Cesar Azpilicueta – fresh off his contract extension – starting on the right of a back, Thiago Silva will occupy his usual central role, and new signing Kalidou Koulibaly will be deployed on the left.

There is no doubt as to who will take up the right wing-back role: Reece James. Who lines up on the opposite flank is more difficult to call. Ben Chilwell hasn't quite yet regained his match sharpness following his knee ligament injury and Tuchel said ahead of the game that Chelsea will be patient with the England international.

"Ben is very ambitious," the Chelsea head coach said. "He couldn’t wait to come back to team training and he looks better and better, but at the same time, it looks like he needs more time to adapt to the physicality of matches, which is absolutely normal. It is not only about training and training exercises on little pitches.

"It is a very demanding league and we have to take care of him. It’s our responsibility. We can’t throw him in and see what happens. He is impatient; we never expect him to be fully patient. He knows and we speak a lot about it. Everything needs its time. He will get the time and still, we will try to put him on the pitch as soon as possible."

Perhaps that will still come at Goodison, especially as new signing Marc Cucurella has had just one training session with his new teammates and Marcos Alonso is hopeful of completing a move to Barcelona before the transfer window comes to an end. Emerson Palmieri is another potential option, although he didn't feature at wing-back in pre-season.

In midfield, N'Golo Kante's starting role is a given. Who partners the Frenchman is never an easy decision for Tuchel with Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic, Conor Gallagher, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, and Carney Chukwuemeka all in contention. But his performance in the friendly matches, Jorginho may get the nod.

The front three pretty much picks itself. Mason Mount will occupy the left flank after impressing against Udinese with Kai Havertz likely to be used off the right. England international Raheem Sterling can then take up the central role, although with the freedom to drop deep or move into wide areas when the opportunity presents itself.

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