Chelsea team news: Expected 4-2-3-1 line-up to face West Brom – Kepa doubt, Zouma partner, Jorginho ousted

Frank Lampard has a goalkeeper problem on his hands, and the Chelsea boss could decide to keep Willy Caballero between the sticks when his side face West Brom on Saturday.

Lampard appears ready to ditch £72m shot-stopper Kepa Arrizabalaga after a string of disappointing performances from the Spaniard this summer culminated in a costly mistake against Liverpool last week.

Lampard’s men head to The Hawthorns in reasonable spirits after their 6-0 thumping of Barnsley in the EFL Cup on Wednesday.

Kai Havertz claimed a hat trick in a display that highlighted his abilities far brighter than the display at Anfield.

And Tammy Abraham boosted his chances of remaining in the XI by bagging the opener.

Yet the goalkeeper position isn’t the only issue Lampard has to deal with here. He has already tried out two formations in Chelsea’s opening two Premier League games and Saturday could see yet another change.

Timo Wener is yet to fully flourish in the top flight and the manager may make life for the German slightly easier by shaking things up.

Here, i looks at how Chelsea could line up at West Brom on Saturday evening.

Chelsea team news Kepa Arrizabalaga
Kepa Arrizabalaga may lose his place in the Chelsea XI (Photo: GETTY)

Defence

The arrival of goalkeeper Edouard Mendy from Rennes has come too late for him to replace Kepa between the sticks on Saturday, but Caballero could come in instead.

The 38-year-old didn’t have much to do against Barnsley but the 90 minutes will have given him some experience playing in front of new defender Thiago Silva.

Silva may start here alongside Kurt Zouma, although fellow centre-back Andreas Christensen is back from suspension.

Reece James is likely to slot back in to replace Cesar Azpilicueta at right-back.

And Ben Chilwell is fresh from making his debut at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday night and should keep to his post on the left.

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Midfield

This is where Lampard could shake things up in an effort to instil a more attacking presence in the midfield.

Jorginho may be dropped, with N’Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic moving to the centre of midfield in a pair.

The boss is unlikely to be too worried about West Brom’s offensive options, so dropping Jorginho and bringing in another forward-thinking player makes sense.

Mason Mount may therefore sit front of Kante and Kovacic, in order to open up a spot for Abraham to lead the line.

Mount’s display on the flank of a forward three at Anfield yielded very little and Lampard could put the ex-Derby loanee into the centre to give him more influence.

Chelsea team news Tammy Abraham
Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham could start up front (Photo: REUTERS)

Attack

Christian Pulisic is still out injured, and so Timo Werner and Wednesday’s man of the match Havertz are set to start here.

The duo should sit either side of Abraham, who has earned the chance to start in this young Blues XI.

Werner was asked to carry the Chelsea forward line against Liverpool even before the side went a man down at Anfield, and the £53m summer acquisition may find life easier on Saturday with a centre forward in front of him.

Lampard also has Ross Barkley and Callum Hudson-Odoi to call upon if West Brom prove resilient against the Blues’ expensive new forward line.

Olivier Giroud, meanwhile, may get minutes following his late goal against Barnsley.

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