On Sunday, the Premier League returns, and the question on everyone’s lips is ‘which Chelsea will show up – the good, the bad, or the very awful?’
The bitter 1-0 home defeat to Forest will still be vivid in the thoughts of the SW6 underdogs.
The distraction of international duty will not have blunted their sensibilities, and a trip to Bournemouth will not be something they look forward to.
The Cherries will also be encouraged by their 2-2 draw with Brentford before the break, in which they came seconds close from taking all three points Reported by Daliy mail
Chelsea’s most recent away league defeat was a 3-1 setback to West Ham. The Blues are 12th in the table after four games, with a single league win – a 3-0 victory over Luton Town.
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Head coach Mauricio Pochettino has options in every position except up front, where the Blues have arguably failed to fill the void despite spending over £1 billion on recruits.
Pochettino will have to decide whether to keep young Serbian Djordje Petrovic, 23, who recently arrived from MLS team New England Revolution, or stick with Robert Sanchez, who has preserved only one clean sheet in five appearances since joining from Brighton in the summer.
Depending on whether the Blues hold the ball, the back four or five appear to be the strongest region of the pitch. Levi Colwell will be trying to keep his starting spot alongside Ben Chilwell, Tiago Silva, Axei Disasi, and Malo Gutso.
Pochettino will be praying that lightning does not strike twice, since that was the lineup that lost to Nottingham Forest.
If all of the foreign players return healthy, Pochettino may just tell the same 11 players that lost to Forest to go out and perform against Bournemouth.
With Christopher Nkunku not due back from injury in the foreseeable future, and Armando Broja close to getting back on the field – he will play in the development side in the next week – it’s up to Jackson to spearhead the goal threat.
Jackson could – if a rejuvenated Sterling gets his crosses in quickly and accurately – reap the benefits of his good, but not exceptional, start to his Chelsea career.
Conor Gallagher will be hoping to impress sufficiently to not have to ensure another transfer window like the last one. The club are quite happy to sell the midfielder, but he wants to stay.
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