Chelsea shake things up ahead of Real Madrid as new midfield pair tested

By Conor Laird


Published: May 1, 2021 5:03 pm

Last Updated: May 1, 2021 5:07 pm

The starting XI set to take to the pitch for Chelsea versus Fulham this evening has been unveiled, featuring a host of changes.

Cottagers clash

Thomas Tuchel’s men are of course set to return to action shortly.

The Blues will play host to London rivals Fulham, in a Premier League derby clash.

Chelsea head into proceedings with spirits high in the club’s camp, on the back of a crucial victory over West Ham last weekend.

In turn, with Leicester City having dropped points at Southampton on Friday, the Pensioners are aware that a 2nd consecutive league win this evening would guide them to within two points of Brendan Rodgers’ men, in 3rd.

Chelsea’s Timo Werner (left) celebrates scoring their side’s first goal of the game during the Premier League match at London Stadium. Picture date: Saturday April 24, 2021. (Photo by Andy Rain/PA Images via Getty Images)

Gilmour in/Kante out

Whilst securing all 3 points versus Fulham is therefore of the utmost importance for Chelsea, Thomas Tuchel nevertheless appears to have one eye on matters in midweek.

The Blues are of course set to welcome Real Madrid to west London, for the 2nd-leg of the Champions League semi-final showdown between the clubs.

As things stand, the tie sits on a knife-edge, on the back of a 1-1 first-leg result.

THUNDEROUS FINISH! ⚡️

Benzema smashes the ball home on the turn and volley. Such a clinical strike!

Against the run of play Real Madrid are level… pic.twitter.com/byfE5d9wt6

— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 27, 2021

In turn, Tuchel has opted to shake things up this evening.

The German’s latest starting XI features a number of changes, with the likes of Cesar Azpilicueta, Jorginho, N’Golo Kante and Christian Pulisic dropped to the bench.

Stepping in, meanwhile, are an untested midfield pairing of Mason Mount and Billy Gilmour, Kurt Zouma as part of a 3-man backline, and both Hakim Ziyech and Kai Havertz.

Olivier Giroud’s latest squad omission, though, would appear to suggest that the Frenchman’s time at Stamford Bridge is coming to an end:

Team: Mendy; Christensen, Thiago Silva (c), Zouma; James, Gilmour, Mount, Chilwell; Ziyech, Havertz, Werner.

Subs: Kepa, Alonso, Azpilicueta, Jorginho, Kante, Anjorin, Hudson-Odoi, Pulisic, Abraham.

— CFCDaily (@CFCDaily) May 1, 2021

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Premier League table

#	Team	MP	D	P
1	Manchester City FC	33	45	77
2	Manchester United FC	33	29	67
3	Leicester City FC	33	22	62
4	Chelsea FC	33	20	58
5	West Ham United FC	33	10	55
6	Liverpool FC	33	16	54
7	Tottenham Hotspur FC	33	18	53
8	Everton FC	32	4	52
9	Leeds United	33	0	47
10	Arsenal FC	33	7	46
11	Aston Villa FC	32	9	45
12	Wolverhampton Wanderers FC	33	-13	41
13	Crystal Palace FC	32	-20	38
14	Burnley FC	33	-15	36
15	Southampton FC	32	-18	36
16	Newcastle United FC	33	-18	36
17	Brighton & Hove Albion FC	33	-6	34
18	Fulham FC	33	-18	27
19	West Bromwich Albion	33	-34	25
20	Sheffield United FC	33	-38	17

Player	Team	Goals
Kane, Harry	Tottenham Hotspur FC	21
Salah, Mohamed	Liverpool FC	20
Fernandes, Bruno	Manchester United FC	16
Son, Heung Min	Tottenham Hotspur FC	15
Bamford, Patrick	Leeds United	14
Calvert-Lewin, Dominic	Everton FC	14
Vardy, Jamie	Leicester City FC	13
Lacazette, Alexandre	Arsenal FC	13
Watkins, Ollie	Aston Villa FC	12
Gundogan, Ilkay	Manchester City FC	12
Rashford, Marcus	Manchester United FC	10
Wilson, Callum	Newcastle United FC	10
Ings, Danny	Southampton FC	10
Wood, Chris	Burnley FC	10
Zaha, Wilfried	Crystal Palace FC	10
Iheanacho, Kelechi	Leicester City FC	10
Sterling, Raheem	Manchester City FC	9
Pereira, Matheus	West Bromwich Albion	9
Mahrez, Riyad	Manchester City FC	9
Barnes, Harvey	Leicester City FC	9

Player	Team	Red Cards	Yellow Cards
Maguire, Harry	Manchester United FC	0	10
Gallagher, Conor	West Bromwich Albion	0	9
Milivojevic, Luka	Crystal Palace FC	1	8
Lundstram, John	Sheffield United FC	1	8
Bellerin, Hector	Arsenal FC	0	8
Luiz, Douglas	Aston Villa FC	0	7
Holgate, Mason	Everton FC	0	8
Hayden, Isaac	Newcastle United FC	0	8
Soucek, Tomas	West Ham United FC	1	6
McGoldrick, David	Sheffield United FC	0	7
McGinn, John	Aston Villa FC	0	7
Shaw, Luke	Manchester United FC	0	7
Neves, Ruben	Wolverhampton Wanderers FC	0	7
Reid, Bobby	Fulham FC	0	7
Evans, Jonny	Leicester City FC	0	7
Hojbjerg, Pierre	Tottenham Hotspur FC	0	7
Xhaka, Granit	Arsenal FC	1	6
Alioski, Ezgjan	Leeds United	0	7
Kante, N`Golo	Chelsea FC	0	7
Andersen, Joachim	Fulham FC	1	6

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Player	Team	Assists
Kane, Harry	Tottenham Hotspur FC	13
Fernandes, Bruno	Manchester United FC	11
Grealish, Jack	Aston Villa FC	10
De Bruyne, Kevin	Manchester City FC	10
Son, Heung Min	Tottenham Hotspur FC	9
Rashford, Marcus	Manchester United FC	8
Vardy, Jamie	Leicester City FC	7
Cresswell, Aaron	West Ham United FC	7
Bamford, Patrick	Leeds United	6
Sterling, Raheem	Manchester City FC	6
Pereira, Matheus	West Bromwich Albion	6
Ward-Prowse, James	Southampton FC	6
Mane, Sadio	Liverpool FC	6
Harrison, Jack	Leeds United	6
Werner, Timo	Chelsea FC	6
Raphinha	Leeds United	6
Neto, Pedro	Wolverhampton Wanderers FC	6
Gross, Pascal	Brighton & Hove Albion FC	6
Silva, Bernardo	Manchester City FC	6
McNeil, Dwight	Burnley FC	6