Although it has only been one game, the #LampardOut chatter has already started among some Chelsea fans on social media. Yes, this concept is so ridiculous that we won’t be spending any additional time on it, but Chelsea FC manager Frank Lampard certainly does need a good result and he needs it now.
The Blues were absolutely thrashed at Manchester United 4-0 yesterday, but probably out-played the hosts for the first half, even in spite of what that scoreline conveys. Now comes their second all-big six clash in just four days as they’ll take on Liverpool FC in the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday night.
https://twitter.com/PaulMBanks/status/1160653302574587905
Liverpool FC Team News, Starting XI Prediction
Chelsea FC Team News
Ex-Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho (now working as a pundit for Sky Sports) was highly critical of his former player, Lampard, taking issue with the first team selected by the current Blues boss in yesterday’s disaster.
Lampard discredited this take maintaining that N’Golo Kante, Olivier Giroud and Willian were not available to play starter minutes today. Of course this still doesn’t explain why he didn’t start the $73 million January signing, winger Christian Pulisic.
Lampard said he wasn’t ready to throw the 20-year-old American out there just yet, but that doesn’t really make a ton of sense. Pulisic joined the Blues just a few days after an outstanding Gold Cup with the USMNT and he’s been with the club for well over a month of preseason activities, so he should have been ready by the season opener.
Willian is progressing back towards full fitness while Callum Hudson-Odoi and Ruben Loftus-Cheek remain out of commission.
Central defender Antonio Rudiger is also out, and you saw yesterday what a massive downgrade it is from him to Kurt Zouma. Given the calamity of yesterday, the pressure starting to mount already and the fact that there’s a trophy on the line, Lampard will have no choice but to field the strongest, most experienced side he can in midweek.
Unfortunately, he’ll likely have to pick Zouma again in his first team.
Chelsea FC Starting XI Prediction for UEFA Super Cup vs Liverpool
Centre Forward: Olivier Giroud
Attacking Midfield: Christian Pulisic, Ross Barkley, Willian
Holding Midfield: Jorginho, N’Golo Kante
Defense: Cesar Azpilicueta, Kurt Zouma, Andreas Christensen, Marcos Alonso
Goalkeeper: Kepa Arrizabalaga
UEFA Super Cup FYIs
Kickoff: Wednesday, August 14, 8pm, Vodafone Arena
Match official: Stephanie Frappart
TV: BT Sport 2
Score prediction: Liverpool 3, Chelsea FC 1
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, the author of “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry,” regularly appears on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
You can follow Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com on Twitter here and his cat on Instagram at this link.