Christopher Nkunku starts as Mauricio Pochettino makes five Chelsea changes for Crystal Palace
Mauricio Pochettino has made five changes to his Chelsea side for their Premier League match with Crystal Palace this evening. Christopher Nkunku makes his first start for Chelsea since joining the club in the summer.
The Blues were beaten by Wolverhampton Wanderers on Christmas Eve and Pochettino has now strongly altered his team with some forced changes made. Cole Palmer and Raheem Sterling both picked up their fifth yellow cards of the season in the defeat at Molineux on Sunday and will both sit out because of suspension.
Lesley Ugochukwu sustained a hamstring injury at Wolves and he has not made the squad but Moises Caicedo returns to the side after he missed the game last time out because of illness. Enzo Fernandez remains sidelined due to illness, while Romeo Lavia is once again on the bench as he looks to make his debut for the club after signing in the summer.
Nkunku makes his first start for Chelsea again with the France international coming on in the second period in the west Midlands and netting his first goal for the club. Djordje Petrovic continues his impressive run in goal for Chelsea.
Malo Gusto keeps his place on the right-hand side of the back four with Axel Disasi and Benoit Badiashile the centre-back pairing, with Thiago Silva on the bench. Levi Colwill is at left-back.
Caicedo partners Conor Gallagher in the centre of midfield. Noni Madueke, who impressed during his late cameo at Molineux on Christmas Eve, is not able to break into the side. Instead, Ian Maatsen is there, with Mykhailo Mudryk on the left and Nkunku alongside Nicolas Jackson in the middle.
So a total of four changes for Chelsea and Pochettino. Here is the lineup in full: Petrovic; Gusto, Disasi, Badiashile, Colwill; Caicedo, Gallagher;
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