Predicted Chelsea Line-Up vs Juventus - Welbeck & Mudryk In Contention As Palmer & Colwill Decision Made | OneFootball

Previewing Chelsea's pre-season fixture against Juventus. Video Credit: Absolute Chelsea

Xabi Alonso is expected to make some changes to his starting line-up for Wednesday’s friendly against Juventus in Hong Kong.

Several more players have now joined the Chelsea squad for their pre-season tour in Asia, including Mykhailo Mudryk and summer signing Danny Welbeck.

This presents Alonso with an opportunity to rotate his team after a tough battle that ended in a 2-1 loss to London rivals Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

Moises Caicedo and Nicolas Jackson, who missed the Spurs game since they had just joined the squad, are also available for this match.

Similar to Spurs, Juventus are expected to provide the challenge needed for Alonso to test out his system and players heading into the season.

Therefore, Alonso will likely continue to use the 4-2-3-1 formation he has used in the first two pre-season games.

Who are the likely starters?

Robert Sanchez nursed a minor injury last weekend and was expected to be available against Juventus.

Sanchez was back in training on Tuesday and will be pushing for a return. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

In Tuesday’s press conference, Alonso could not confirm if the goalkeeper would play despite him being 'much better' already. Depending on Sanchez’s fitness, young goalkeeper Mike Penders may start in goal in his first pre-season game instead.

Some changes are expected in defence, too.

Levi Colwill surprisingly did not participate in Chelsea’s open training session on Tuesday, so he is unlikely to keep his starting spot. Tosin Adarabioyo and Josh Acheampong could return to the starting line-up as a centre-back pair.

Aaron Anselmino may get his first start in the pre-season as left-back, while on the right, Marco Palestra will hope to keep his spot.

Caicedo should start in midfield alongside either Dario Essugo or Romeo Lavia.

Similar to Colwill, Cole Palmer also did not train with the group on Tuesday and instead did some individual training.

Alonso has several options in the pre-season squad to replace Palmer in the number 10 role, including Estevao, Joao Pedro and Dastan Satpayev.

Using Joao Pedro in this position makes sense since it allows Alonso to give opportunities to the likes of Welbeck, Jackson, and Liam Delap.

Welbeck will be keen to make an immediate impression after his transfer from Brighton. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu

Another option is to play two number nines without a number 10 in a 4-4-2 system. Using two strikers should be an easy adjustment as well since Chelsea have been playing in a 4-4-2 structure off the ball under Alonso.

On the right wing, Geovany Quenda is due an opportunity to prove himself, while on the left, Satpayev could get another chance to start.

Penders, Palestra, Adarabioyo, Acheampong, Anselmino, Caicedo, Essugo, Quenda, Joao Pedro, Satpayev, Jackson