Chelsea face Burnley next up in the Premier League as the Blues hope to get some momentum in the league. Chelsea played well in their Champions League game against Krasnodar as Lampard’s men will look to carry forward that form into the Premier League as well. Burnley will be a tough game though, as they will sit back, defend deep and play on the counter-attack.
Chelsea will be expected to win and get their Premier League campaign back on track. Players like Ziyech, Havertz, Mount and Werner look sharp and set to be back to winning ways in the league. It will be interesting to see how Frank Lampard chooses his team, as most of his players have been playing well.
Let us now have a look at how Frank Lampard might set his Chelsea side up against a well-drilled Burnley side, against whom taking out a point will be difficult.
THE 4-2-3-1
On paper, this is surely Chelsea’s best starting XI and system, with all the almost all the new signings stacked into the team. Almost all of the front-four is in good form and shape, as they have taken their time to mould into the Chelsea side. Lampard will have a tough time to select his midfield pivot as Kante, Jorginho and Kovacic all have been in good form and look to help the team.
The right-back spot will be another place of headache for Lampard, as both Reece James and Azpilicueta have played well recently. It is likely for the latter to play, as Burnley don’t have pacy wingers who can outrun the Spanish veteran. This system will also give the front-four the license to do their thing as they are best at creating and scoring goals.
Burnley will try their best to score from set-pieces and thus Thiago Silva and Mendy will have to rally the troops well on the pitch.
THE 4-3-3
The 4-3-3 is a more attacking formation and system than the previous 4-2-3-1, as it will only have one holding midfielder in it. Jorginho has done extremely well this season in this system and is almost guaranteed a place in the starting XI. But the box-to-box role might be a problem for Lampard as Kante, Kovacic and Mount all can play in the position and do very well.
On the right-wing, the Chelsea boss will face another headache of starting with Havertz or Ziyech, as both have shown sign of good form. He is likely to go with Havertz, as the German is more mobile and versatile on the pitch than Ziyech. Christian Pulisic and Timo Werner are almost a surety in the lineup as both the speed merchants can cause havoc in any defence.
THE 3-4-3
The 3-4-3 might be an option for Lampard but it is highly unlikely to be used looking at the nature of the opposition. But, if Lampard goes for it, this is likely to be his starting XI, very similar to that which started and drew against a strong Manchester United side. This system surely gives the wing-backs to express themselves in the final third, where they can threaten the opposition with crosses.
