Having been in charge of Chelsea for just under a year now, it would be fair to assume that Thomas Tuchel has settled on his preferred system.
On regular occasions, the German has begun matches in a 3-4-2-1 system and it has worked relatively well.
Under his stewardship, the Blues have lifted both the Champions League and UEFA Super Cup, whilst they are currently in the midst of a tussle with Liverpool and Manchester City for the Premier League crown.
Despite that success, Chelsea appear to be stuttering at the current time. The Blues have won just two out of their last five Premier League games, with their 3-2 reverse at the hands of West Ham United seeing them relinquish top spot in the table for the first time in over two months.
Whilst it is far too early to consider the small blip at Stamford Bridge a full-fledged crisis, Chelsea need to get back to their best form if they are to keep pace with the relentlessly consistent Manchester City and Liverpool.
Two potential solutions presenting themselves to Tuchel could well be investment in the upcoming transfer window, as well as a slight tweak to his system.
Ahead of the January market opening, Chelsea have been linked to a number of players and a handful of wingers. Two intriguing names apparently on the Blues’ shortlist are that of Barcelona wideman Ousmane Dembele and Blues club icon Eden Hazard.
There will of course be plenty of excitement at the prospect of the Belgian returning, whilst the Frenchman could well be an excellent addition considering the form he displayed under Tuchel at former club Borussia Dortmund.
Should deals be agreed for the pair, it could see an alteration to the current Chelsea system.
As it stands, the Blues do not usually field orthodox wingers; Mason Mount and Kai Havertz usually occupy somewhat withdrawn roles behind a solitary forward.
Now, with Hazard and Dembele both in the Chelsea side, it would see the pair potentially deployed in a somewhat more conventional 3-4-3 system and pushed slightly more forwards than Mount and Havertz would have been before.
It would also not be a surprise to see Tuchel plump for that formation having previously lined up sides that way with Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund and Mainz 05 - albeit that was more of a rarity.
This of course depends on the Blues completing deals for both Hazard and Dembele during the January transfer window but it would certainly be a consideration for Tuchel as he aims to get Chelsea back on track in the title race.
Possible XI (3-4-3): Mendy; Chalobah, Silva, Rudiger; Chilwell, Kante, Jorginho, James; Hazard, Dembele, Lukaku
