CHELSEA will look to make it two wins from two since the return of the Premier League as they take on lowly Nottingham Forest.
The Blues beat Bournemouth 2-0 in their most recent clash while Forest lost 3-0 to Manchester United.
And Graham Potter will be keen for his side to start pushing for a place in the top four.
- Start time: 4.30pm
- TV/Live stream: Sky Sports Premier League
- Forest XI: Henderson, Aurier, Worrall, Boly, Lodi, Yates, Freuler, Mangala, Johnson, Gibbs-White, Awoniyi
- Chelsea XI: Kepa, Azpilicueta, Koulibaly, Silva, Cucurella, Zakaria, Jorginho, Mount, Sterling, Havertz, Pulisic
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New Year, New Chelsea?
Start as you mean to go on, that’s what they say.
However, Chelsea fans have spent the last few new years hoping that’s not the case.
In fact, the Blues have not won their first league game in any of the last six calendar years, drawing four and losing two.
The London club last had a longer winless run in their opening match of the year between 1929 and 1938 when going ten without success.
Azpilicueta in for injured James
It’s just one change for Chelsea and Graham Potter, and it’s an unfortunate one.
Reece James hobbled off 50 minutes into his return against Bournemouth on Tuesday, and faces another four weeks on the sidelines.
In his place comes the experienced Cesar Azpilicueta, who slots in at right-back and takes the captain’s armband from Jorginho.
Kai Havertz continues in attack after impressing against Bournemouth last time out.
Chelsea (4-3-3): 1 Kepa; 28 Azpilicueta, 25 Koulibaly, 6 Thiago Silva, 32 Cucurella; 20 Zakaria, 5 Jorginho, 19 Mount; 17 Sterling, 29 Havertz, 10 Pulisic
Subs: 13 Bettinelli, 8 Kovacic, 9 Aubameyang, 14 Chalobah, 22 Ziyech, 23 Gallagher, 30 Chukwuemeka, 56 Hutchinson, 67 Hall
Henderson returns for Nottingham Forest
Steve Cooper makes two changes to his Nottingham Forest side that huffed and puffed at Manchester United to no avail on Tuesday.
Dean Henderson is back between the sticks – replacing Wayne Hennessey – after he was ineligible to face his parent club at Old Trafford.
Meanwhile, Jesse Lingard limped off against his former side last time out, and has not recovered in time to start today.
Instead, the line is lead by Taiwo Awoniyi at the top of Forest’s 4-3-3 formation; Joe Worrall has the captain’s armband.
Nott’m Forest (4-3-3): 1 Henderson; 24 Aurier, 4 Worrall, 30 Boly, 32 Lodi; 22 Yates, 23 Freuler, 5 Mangala; 20 Johnson, 9 Awoniyi, 10 Gibbs-White
Subs: 13 Hennessey, 3 Cook, 7 Williams, 8 Colback, 14 O’Brien, 15 Toffolo, 16 Surridge, 25 Dennis, 26 McKenna
Magnificent seven for Blues
This afternoon’s meeting between Nottingham Forest and Chelsea will be their first in the league since they were paired together in the Premier League back in 1998-99.
However, they did meet on five occasions in cup competitions in the 25 years since while Forest were languishing in the Football League.
Each of those cup ties were staged at Stamford Bridge, helping the Blues to rack up a seven-game winning streak against the East Midlanders.
- Chelsea 2-0 Nott’m Forest (FA Cup, Jan 2020)
- Chelsea 2-0 Nott’m Forest (FA Cup, Jan 2019)
- Chelsea 5-1 Nott’m Forest (League Cup, Sept 2017)
- Chelsea 3-0 Nott’m Forest (FA Cup, Jan 2007)
- Chelsea 2-0 Nott’m Forest (FA Cup, Jan 2000)
- Nott’m Forest 1-3 Chelsea (Premier League, Feb 1999)
- Chelsea 2-1 Nott’m Forest (Premier League, Sept 1998)
Forest 5/1 for the win
If Nottingham Forest are going to survive in the Premier League, then their home form is going to be crucial during the run-in. They’ve already beaten West Ham, Liverpool and Crystal Palace at the City Ground, and the bookies have made them an attractive 5/1 to add Chelsea to the list.
- Nott’m Forest win 5/1
- Draw 29/10
- Chelsea win 6/10
Odds from Betfair correct at the time of post publication.
Happy New Year from Nottingham
Good afternoon and welcome to live Premier League football on the first day of 2023 with our coverage of Nottingham Forest versus Chelsea from the City Ground.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
