We don’t know Enzo Maresca’s team for today’s game, but we can infer pretty well from the line-up that played against Barrow in midweek who’s going to line up today.
After getting his first start against West Ham last weekend and impressing, Jadon Sancho looks set to start again on the left wing. That gives him a unique chance to join two of Chelsea’s most successful and creative players of the last century.
In his debut, coming on as a sub, Sancho poked the ball inside to Christopher Nkunku, who scored the winner late on. He then got an assist for Nicolas Jackson in the win over West Ham. This one was even less involved – Sancho just played a short pass on the halfway line and watched Jackson run it the length of the pitch.
But both were just rewards for strong overall creative performances.
If he gets a third assist today, he will join Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas in having notched 3 assists in his first 3 games for the club. That’s pretty esteemed company given how well those players went on to play for us.
Sancho can have strong stat season after solid start
We had our doubts about Sancho playing wide left, but when he’s allowed to come inside and play quick 1-2s with his other attackers he’s a real menace, and his quick feet and quick thinking probably mean he’s in line to pick up a few assists like the ones he’s got already – not a spectacular long pass or a cross, just a well timed little poke through to someone with a shooting chance.
After tough times at Man U, Sancho has had the best possible start at Chelsea, and another good performance today – whether he gets an assist or not – would keep that going.