Chelsea play their eighth and penultimate match of October when they face FC Salzburg in the Champions League. Graham Potter and co will be hoping to seal qualification to the last 16 of the competition after back-to-back wins over AC Milan.
The Blues have come some way under Potter since their draw against the Austrian champions in September and remain unbeaten but have been tested by injuries to N'Golo Kante, Reece James, Wesley Fofana and now Kalidou Koulibaly.
Chelsea will have been disappointed to start slowly against Manchester United until the introduction of Mateo Kovacic and even more disappointed to give away their 1-0 lead in stoppage time to record consecutive draws in the Premier league.
READ MORE : Predicted Chelsea team vs FC Salzburg – Kovacic decision made, Potter shakes up the attack
Chelsea will be looking to get back to winning ways and football.london looks at the changes Potter may make to manage his squad and earn three points to ensure his side remain at the top of Group E.
Return to a familiar tactical ploy
In Potter's opening match as Chelsea's head coach, he sprung a surprise and started Raheem Sterling as a wing-back on the left flank. The Blues could not earn three points, but it was a tactical option that worked very well during the winger's time on the pitch as he recorded the game's opening goal.
The system also saw two players helping to lead the forward line in Kai Havertz and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, though neither flourished on that occasion. That may leave Armando Broja in contention for a place, but Aubameyang has since shown his ability to find the net in Europe, while Havertz was completely rested against Manchester United and may be considered among Chelsea's freshest players.
It may even be Sterling's position that is vulnerable in such a system after he struggled to have an impact against the Red Devils. Christian Pulisic has shown hints of his ability as a substitute under Potter, and while wing-back may not be his favoured role, if he has as few defensive responsibilities as Sterling did, he may be able to thrive.
Four at the back
While the Blues had to shift to a formation with four defenders against Manchester United to try and exert more control on the game, against Salzburg, it may be favourable just to try and give one of his defenders a rest and also to be able actually to have a defender on the bench.
Cesar Azpilicueta, Trevoh Chalobah and Thiago Silva feel guaranteed to start, but one of Marc Cucurella and Ben Chilwell could then be rested, while ahead of them, Potter will undoubtedly be keen to rest his players if possible.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Mateo Kovacic would retain their place, while Mason Mount could operate centrally ahead of the pair, while Conor Gallagher headed into the starting lineup to support Azpilicueta in the manner he did versus Wolves.
Armando Broja chance?
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has netted three times in eight games for Chelsea, including in his last two matches in the Champions League. However, against Manchester United, he showed plenty of industry but looked just a yard or so off the pace when looking to arrange his feet in the final third. Playing through those moments may prove to be the best answer, and he showed a great deal of quality in his short cameo against Brentford.
Perhaps Potter could be tempted to offer Broja his second start of the season, however. The youngster may be able to provide more of a focal point, and with the acknowledgement that the Albania international may only be capable of around an hour when starting, Aubameyang could still bring plenty of threat for the final 30 minutes if required.
READ NEXT:
Ruben Loftus-Cheek reveals the Chelsea impact Graham Potter had when replacing Thomas Tuchel
Graham Potter sets Chelsea timeline for Kalidou Koulibaly injury return amid FC Salzburg blow
Every word Graham Potter said on FC Salzburg vs Chelsea, Koulibaly, Cucurella, Sterling, more
Kovacic boost, goalkeeper quirk - Behind the scenes in Chelsea training before Red Bull Salzburg
Chelsea Christmas TV fixtures revealed as Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest and Man City games move
