It’s mid-December and for the calendar year 2023, Chelsea FC have more players signed than victories. It’s an amazing statistic, courtesy of this site’s former Liverpool writer, Will Willems. Yes, Chelsea have five wins so far this season, heading into the weekend fixture at home versus Sheffield United. Two more if you include the second and third round EFL Cup clashes.
However, last season, during the 2023 part of the campaign, the Blues only registered four total wins, across all competitions.
Sheffield United at Chelsea FC FYIs
Kick: Sat. Dec. 16, 3pm, Stamford Bridge, London, UK
Preview Material: Team News for Both Sides Starting XI Prediction
Google Result Probability: Chelsea win 78% Draw 14% Sheffield United 8%
Transatlantic Passage: How the Premier League Redefined Soccer in America: LINK
PL Standing: Sheffield United 20th, 8 pts Chelsea 12th, 19 pts
PL Form: Sheffield United WLLLD Chelsea LLWLD
So when you put it all together, any way you slice it, Todd Boehly has gone out and bought more than 11 players. Much more when you include both transfer windows!
Speaking of 11, let’s now take look at the best possible first choice 11 (at least according to our logic) that manager Mauricio Pochettino can select to make sure they avoid total disaster against the league’s bottom side.
Up until getting hurt this past weekend, first choice goalkeeper Robert Sanchez has played every single minute for Chelsea this season.
However, now could be the time for Djorde Petrovic, the summer signing from the New England Revolution of America’s Major League Soccer, to shine.
Chelsea FC Starting XI Prediction at Everton
Djorde Petrovic; Ian Maatsen, Benoit Badiashile, Thiago Silva, Levi Colwill; Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez; Cole Palmer, Mykhailo Mudryk, Raheem Sterling; Nicolas Jackson
Paul M. Banks is the owner/manager of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He’s written for numerous publications, including the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. He regularly appears on NTD News and WGN News Now, while writing for the International Baseball Writers Association of America. You can follow the website on Twitter.