Lampard looks for response with season in sight
Connor O'Neill: It may only be a pre-season friendly, but following the 4-0 hammering at the hands of Minnesota United on Wednesday night, Frank Lampard will no doubt be looking for a response from his side at Bloomfield Road this afternoon.
I would like to see, Jordan Pickford in goal, Nathan Patterson at right-back, James Tarkowski and Michael Keane in the centre, with Vitalii Mykolenko at left-back.
In midfield, Lewis Warrington should be given the nod next to Abdoulaye Doucore with Alex Iwobi in front of them. Anthony Gordon should start on one wing, with Demarai Gray on the other, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin should be tasked with leading the line.
My team (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Patterson, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko; Warrington, Doucoure; Gordon, Iwobi, Gray; Calvert-Lewin.
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Mills given chance to stake a claim
Sean Bradbury: There are still plenty of big questions for Frank Lampard as the Chelsea curtain-raiser edges closer. Today presents an opportunity to find a few answers - and hopefully some consistency.
With that in mind, I would make the line-up as close to an expected starting eleven for the first game of the season as possible.
Jordan Pickford is of course in goal with a defence of Nathan Patterson, James Tarkowski, Michael Keane and Vitalii Mykolenko in front of him.
Abdoulaye Doucoure starts in a two-man midfield, alongside Jean-Philippe Gbamin. Lewis Warrington will be poised to come on later in the match for another chance to shine.
Anthony Gordon, Alex Iwobi and the emerging talent of Stanley Mills complete an attacking trio behind Dominic Calvert-Lewin as the focal point up front.
My team (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Patterson, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko; Gbamin, Doucoure; Gordon, Iwobi, Mills; Calvert-Lewin.
Momentum needed after Minnesota
Hannah Pinnock: Frank Lampard will want his side to build some momentum heading into the new season, especially on the back of two defeats on the US pre-season tour.
I expect he'll keep the team similar, if not the same, as last time out against Minnesota United. Pickford will keep his place with the same back four of Patterson, Tarkowski, Keane and Mykolenko.
Doucoure and Davies in midfield, with Iwobi in front of them and Gordon and Gray on the wings. It could also provide some more crucial minutes for Calvert-Lewin up front.
My team (4-2-3-1): Pickford; Patterson, Tarkowski, Keane, Mykolenko; Doucoure, Davies; Gordon, Iwobi, Gray; Calvert-Lewin.
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