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Football London
Football London
Sport
Alan Smith

Predicted Chelsea team vs Ajax: Mateo Kovacic to start as Frank Lampard sticks with settled side

Does Frank Lampard dare change a winning formula? Chelsea head into tonight's vital Champions League group H contest away to Ajax with five wins in a row but the Dutch champions represent the biggest that they have faced since losing to Liverpool in the Premier League.

Injuries have forced the head coach's hand a little bit, especially in midfield and at centre back. There is, however, a question over whether he sticks with a back four or reverts to three centre halves against Erik ten Hag's impressive side, who are unbeaten 16 games into their season and won their opening two group games 3-0.

A move to a back three would mean Reece James comes in to the team as right wing back and Cesar Azpilicueta moves inside. However, the back four has appeared solid in recent outings and he may be tempted to stick with the side, while there are no other recognised centre backs in the squad because of injuries to Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger.

The absence of N'Golo Kante and Ross Barkley because of injury means that Mateo Kovacic will return to the starting XI - most likely in a three alongside Jorginho and Mason Mount - having come off the bench in the 1-0 win Newcastle. Billy Gilmour will be on the bench as back-up.

Lampard's front line of Willian, Tammy Abraham and Callum Hudson-Odoi looks settled, although Christian Pulisic's cameo on Saturday may provide food for thought. Pedro Rodriguez did not travel with the team to Amsterdam on Tuesday morning despite taking part in training.

Predicted team: Kepa; Azpilicueta, Zouma, Tomori, Alonso; Kovacic, Jorginho, Mount; Willian, Abraham, Hudson-Odoi. Substitutes from: Caballero, Cumming, Emerson Palmieri, James, Gilmour, Batshuayi, Giroud, Pulisic.

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