How Chelsea Will Line Up Against Norwich City at Carrow Road

Chelsea return to their Premier League campaign against Norwich City at Carrow Road in the Sunday lunchtime kick-off on October 6. The Blues will be hoping to continue their four-match unbeaten run at a ground where they have found goals hard to come by in recent years. Jose Mourinho was still in his first spell in charge the last time Chelsea scored more than one goal at Carrow Road, a 3-1 victory on their way to the title in 2005.

Following their comprehensive 4-0 defeat of Steaua Bucharest in midweek, The Special One will feel closer to finding his preferred starting 11, although circumstances will force his hand somewhat on Sunday.

Eden Hazard did not travel to Romania with the rest of the squad, having picked up a knock at Tottenham Hotspur last weekend, and it is unlikely that he will be risked against the Canaries. Andre Schurrle, the player deputising for Hazard on the left of midfield, was voted Man of the Match in Bucharest, and high praise from Mourinho in his post-match press conference suggests that he will retain his place in the starting lineup.

Juan Mata’s relegation to the bench seems to have been a temporary glitch, with the improvements that he has made to his all-round game impressing his manager. There is nobody else in the squad who can be quite as effective as an inside-out right winger, and his new-found affinity for tackling will help to smother the wide threat posed by Anthony Pilkington.

Even before he sustained the knee injury that will rule him out for three weeks, Fernando Torres was unavailable for this match. Although the fact that the FA have ruled that his one-match ban will not be extended, despite his apparent scratching of Jan Vertonghen’s face, represents a glimmer of hope, the beleaguered striker just cannot catch a break.

This leaves Samuel Eto’o to replace Torres up front. The veteran goalscorer is still adjusting to life at Chelsea but got an assist for Ramires in the Champions League. His off-the-ball movement will be the key to unlocking what is likely to be a solid defensive wall from the Canaries.

Frank Lampard and Ramires have formed Mourinho’s favoured holding pair so far this season, and, with the excellent performances they have both put in, that is unlikely to change.

David Luiz made 10 effective clearances against Bucharest and showed that he is perfectly in sync with John Terry, which will give him the edge in Mourinho’s meritocracy, leaving the starting 11 looking like this.

Norwich will put in a solid defensive performance, but this Chelsea side would ultimately be disappointed to come away from East Anglia with less than maximum points this weekend.