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Chelsea logo
Premier League | Gameweek 5
Sep 15, 2018 at 3pm UK
 
Cardiff City logo

4-1

Hazard (37', 44', 80' pen.), Willian (83')
FT(HT: 2-1)
Bamba (16')

How Chelsea could line up against Cardiff City

Sports Mole looks at how Maurizio Sarri may set out his Chelsea side for Saturday's visit of Cardiff City in the Premier League.

Chelsea will be aiming to make it five wins from five under new boss Maurizio Sarri in the Premier League when they welcome Cardiff City to Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon.

The Blues have already overcome Huddersfield Town, Arsenal, Newcastle United and Bournemouth in the season's opening month to join Liverpool and Watford on maximum points.

Momentum has been disrupted somewhat by the international break, however, and Sarri will be wary of a Cardiff side that pushed Arsenal all the way in their most recent outing.

Ahead of this weekend's meeting in West London, Sports Mole predicts how Chelsea will line up.



Possible CHE XI vs. CAR
Doubtful: Cesc Fabregas

Fabregas remains Chelsea's only injury doubt, giving Sarri plenty of options to choose from right across the field, particularly in central midfield.

Jorginho has played a pivotal role in making the Blues the most pass-happy side in the Premier League this season, while Mateo Kovacic has adapted well and N'Golo Kante has been as good as ever in a more attacking role.

Left-back Marcos Alonso has hit the ground running this term by scoring one and setting up two more, meanwhile, but reports suggest that Sarri is not so happy with his central-defensive duo of David Luiz and Antonio Rudiger.

After keeping a clean sheet against Bournemouth last time out, however, any changes in the backline - injury dependent - are unlikely for this weekend's match.

It is in attack that Sarri has his biggest decision to make, as Pedro scored a key goal from the bench against the Cherries to make it three strikes in four matches for him, so Willian could well make way out wide.

> Click here to see how Cardiff could line up for this fixture

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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool18143145172845
2Arsenal19116238172139
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest1911442619737
4Chelsea19105438231535
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle1995532211132
6Manchester CityMan City199463226631
7Bournemouth198652923630
8Fulham197842825329
9Aston Villa198562831-329
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton196942928127
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1973941281324
12Brentford197393335-224
13West Ham UnitedWest Ham196582335-1223
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd196492126-522
15Crystal Palace194872027-720
16Everton183871524-917
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1944113142-1116
18Ipswich TownIpswich1936101833-1515
19Leicester CityLeicester1935112242-2014
20Southampton1913151239-276


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