Chelsea are all set to play their final game of the 2022/23 Premier League season when they host Newcastle United on Sunday, 28 May. Last Word on Sports tries to put together a Chelsea Predicted Lineup as Frank Lampard aims to end his interim manager stint with a win.
Chelsea Predicted Lineup vs Newcastle United
Sights on tomorrow. 🔵#CheNew pic.twitter.com/UKscPr18T4
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) May 27, 2023
How Chelsea Have Lined-up Recently
Lampard has chopped and changed his Chelsea side so much in recent weeks that even fans are not sure about what to expect in every game. He has a large squad of players at his disposal but appears to only fully trust in a selected few to start all the games.
That includes expensive January signing Enzo Fernandez, Conor Gallagher, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Trevoh Chalobah and Noni Madueke – the latter of whom has only won over the gaffer recently. Lampard has mostly played with a 4-3-3 system in recent games, but it’s perhaps time for him to change that out.
Chelsea Recent Form and Tactics
The Blues have only won one of their last five games across all competitions and have a rather terrible record under Lampard, who has only won one of the 10 matches he’s been in charge of since taking over as interim boss.
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In terms of tactics, Lampard just keeps changing things so much that his players seem to lack the clarity to attack clinically. Under his 4-3-3 system, Chelsea aim to sustain pressure and hit on the counter-attack, which hasn’t worked at all.
Lampard may go back to basics for this final game against Newcastle as the Magpies will throw the proverbial kitchen sink at Chelsea in an attempt to win their final game and keep their top-3 dreams alive.
Chelsea could move to a 4-2-3-1 system where they have a solid midfield pivot that is able to protect the backline from trouble as well as play the ball around smoothly while having more options in the middle. Having two genuine wingers can also help in creating more through the wide areas, while the No.10 can look to create chances in the final third for the centre-forward and the wingers to pounce upon.
Chelsea Key Players
Thiago Silva is expected to return for this one and he’s certainly been one of Chelsea’s best players this season. He’ll need to be at his very best against Newcastle, tracking their attacking patterns properly and making last-ditch challenges to avert disaster. He’ll also need to hold the Blues’ backline together strongly such that they don’t concede any more cheap goals.
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The Blues definitely need to be more clinical in the final third and perhaps a few changes could help in doing that.
Christian Pulisic is blessed with an impressive dribbling ability but needs to be more ruthless with his work in the final third. Madueke has been among the Blues’ most exciting stars in the last few weeks and needs to use his fast pace and unpredictable final product to set up chances.
Joao Felix scored a smashing goal against Manchester United and has to maintain that good form by producing that special something more consistently to stun Newcastle.
Chelsea Injuries to Consider
To make matters worse for Chelsea, they are missing a number of key players for the final game of the season. The likes of Reece James, Mason Mount, Mateo Kovacic, N’Golo Kante, Benoit Badiashile and Ben Chilwell (who recently signed a new contract) are all out of this game.
Chelsea Predicted Lineup
Kepa Arrizabalaga, Trevoh Chalobah, Wesley Fofana, Thiago Silva, Lewis Hall, Enzo Fernandez, Conor Gallagher, Noni Madueke, Joao Felix, Christian Pulisic, Kai Havertz
