Chelsea line-ups for Burnley with Cole Palmer agreement and divide over Marc Cucurella dilemma

Chelsea welcome Burnley to Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon with Liam Rosenior’s side hoping to return to the top four if they manage to avoid defeat in west London

The Blues have a fantastic chance to climb into the top four of the Premier League standings when they play Burnley on Saturday afternoon. Liam Rosenior’s team will pass Manchester United, who play on Monday night, if they can avoid losing to the Clarets at Stamford Bridge. The Clarets enter the weekend second-bottom in the rankings.

Liverpool are in action on Sunday afternoon at Nottingham Forest and Chelsea need to ensure they do not allow the Reds any more ground to gain. While the Blues go into Saturday’s game as enormous favourites, Rosenior is aware that the Premier League is about as competitive as it has ever been at the moment.

He will not take Burnley for granted, and when his team plays at Stamford Bridge this weekend, he will make sure they do the same. However, whose squad will Rosenior play for in west London?

Bobby Vincent

Robert Sanchez, of course, in goal – there is no debate about that pick. I would like to see Reece James continue at right-back after the Chelsea captain made his return last week at Hull City, with Jorrel Hato on the other side due to Marc Cucurella’s continued absence.

In the middle of the defence, Wesley Fofana and Trevoh Chalobah. That is despite Mamadou Sarr’s impressive display in the FA Cup fourth round last Friday.

Andrey Santos’ form has been so good of late that he is, for me, one of the first names on the team sheet at the moment. Moises Caicedo should partner the Brazilian as he looks to rediscover the form he was in during the first half of the campaign.

Enzo Fernandez in the No.10 role, though his position can be fluid. Pedro Neto on the left-hand side but the Portuguese attacker showed against Hull, where he scored a hat-trick, that he can also operate in a more central role, so he and Fernandez could alternate. Likewise with Cole Palmer, who should come back into the side on the right wing.

Joao Pedro should start as the No.9. Liam Delap, who impressed in the second half of Chelsea’s win in Hull, can be an option from the bench.

Bobby’s XI: Sanchez; James, Fofana, Chalobah, Hato; Santos, Caicedo; Palmer, Fernandez, Neto; Joao Pedro

Jake Stokes

As bizarre as it may sound, I think Rosenior will see this weekend’s clash as a dress rehearsal for the trip to the Emirates Stadium at the start of next month. I wouldn’t be surprised if he fields the strongest possible starting line-up, barring Cucurella, in an effort to shift back into gear. Chelsea enjoyed a brilliant start to life under the Englishman, and they’ll be determined to pick up from where they left off following a short break. Sanchez should remain between the sticks, with Chalobah and Fofana reuniting at centre-half. As much as I’d like to see Hato continue at left-back, I’ve got a feeling Rosenior will go for Malo Gusto, who was an unused substitute last week in the FA Cup. This weekend, James could start at right-back, with Caicedo and Santos sitting in the pivot. While Alejandro Garnacho may be the Blues’ only senior left-winger on paper, I’d like to see Estevao Willian given another start – albeit not in his natural position. Fernandez can take up a central role, allowing him to drop alongside Caicedo and Santos if needs be, with Palmer tucking inside off the right flank. And, it goes without saying that Joao Pedro should lead the frontline. He’s been in excellent form of late, so it’ll be interesting to see how performs after the mini break. Starting XI: Sanchez; James, Fofana, Chalobah, Gusto; Caicedo, Santos; Palmer, Fernandez, Estevao; Joao Pedro