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George Smith & Oliver Harbord & Alan Smith

Loftus-Cheek decision and Abraham back - The Chelsea team Frank Lampard should pick vs Man City

After getting their Premier League restart under way with a comeback win over Aston Villa, Chelsea take on Manchester City on Thursday night.

It will be a huge test for Frank Lampard's side at Stamford Bridge, with Pep Guardiola's start having made a superb start over the past week.

While the Blues won the game at Villa Park on Sunday, there were still some issues which need resolving for the Blues boss, which might mean some changes.

But what should the starting XI be for the Blues head coach this week?

Frank Lampard praises Cesar Azpilicueta

Oliver Harbord - Chelsea correspondent

Sunday wasn't the perfect performance from Chelsea and there might have to be some changes at the back, and I would take Andreas Christensen out of the team to be replaced by Kurt Zouma.

Meanwhile, Reece James had a rusty five minutes when he came on, but the extra pace might be needed and he should come in at right-back, with Cesar Azpilicueta shifted to left-back.

I wouldn't change anything in the midfield three, with a solid performance from N'Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic and Mason Mount.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek got his fist Premier League minutes in more than a year, but he should come out of the starting XI to be replaced with Christian Pulisic.

Harbord's team (4-3-3): Kepa; James, Zouma, Rudiger, Azpilicueta; Kovacic, Kante, Mount; Willian, Giroud, Pulisic.

Alan Smith - Senior Writer

Frank Lampard may have got bits of his starting XI wrong at Villa Park.

Giroud instead of Abraham? Christensen instead of Zouma? But his substitutes worked and Kante was terrific at the base of midfield.

The Frenchman should stay there despite Jorginho’s return from injury and if so the other two midfielders will retain their places.

If not then Kovacic will drop out with Kante on the right or Mount might move to the left of the front three.Up front Abraham should come back in, with Christian Pulisic starting in place of Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

After so long out, the England man should not start a second consecutive game in five days and the American offers more in terms of pressing too.

A Smith's team (4-3-3) Kepa; Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Zouma, Alonso; Kante, Kovacic, Mount; Willian, Abraham, Pulisic.

George Smith - Football writer

After the way Chelsea turned the game on its head against Aston Villa on Sunday, it's only natural that the fans will call for Christian Pulisic to be included in the starting line-up against Manchester City.

He swung the game in Chelsea's favour after coming off the bench against Villa, scoring and grabbing an assist, so it's only right he receives a start from Frank Lampard.

Of course, City are going to be a completely different kettle of fish than Villa, everyone knows that, but I don't think Lampard should change too much from the side that beat Villa.

However, bringing Pulisic in is a must. He should come into the side in place of Willian.

The only other two changes Lampard should consider is bringing Tammy Abraham back in for Olivier Giroud, as I think Abraham's pace could cause City's defence more problems than Giroud's physicality, and consider replacing Ruben Loftus-Cheek with Ross Barkley.

Loftus-Cheek did okay in his first game back against Villa but I think going up against City so soon after such a lengthy lay-off could cause more harm than good.

I would replace him with Barkley's creativity.

G Smith's team (4-3-3): Kepa; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger; Alonso; Kovacic, Kante, Barkley; Mount, Abraham, Pulisic.

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