Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea are pretty much running away with the title before the Premier League has barely entered into the busy December period. Midweek’s game against Tottenham saw a Chelsea side without Diego Costa reignited a sense of deja vu as they whacked Tottenham 3-0 at Stamford Bridge, barely made to sweat and barely challenged. Chelsea sit atop the Premier League on 36 points, 6 clear of Manchester City, and looking comfortably the favorites for the title, thanks to a watertight defence, top quality attackers and strength in depth only the blue half of Manchester can match. Chelsea visit Newcastle on Saturday, looking to continue their ruthless streak at one of the trickiest away venues in the Premier League.
Let’s put ourselves in Mourinho’s shoes and pick his team for the trip to Tyneside.
Goalkeeper
Thibaut Courtois
Courtois was barely made to flex his muscles against Tottenham as the North London side failed to convert their possessional dominance into goal scoring opportunities.
Defence
Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta.
No need to tinker with the tried and tested formula. Chelsea have looked rock solid at the back this season and the back four against Newcastle should have an all too familiar look about it. Chelsea haven’t had their goal breached in the last three matches after Mourinho’s public criticism of his defence leaking cheap goals. Gary Cahill and John Terry have been a rock at the back for the last three seasons, and the full backs Branislav Ivanovic and Cesar Azpilicueta are a pillar of strength in their particular roles, combining defensive discipline with attacking fluidity.
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