- Chelsea’s team news is in for today’s early Premier League kick-off against Newcastle
- David Luiz and Willian are both out of the first XI amid rumours linking them with Manchester United
- Chelsea are in a 3-5-2 formation with Eden Hazard and Alvaro Morata leading the line
- READ MORE: Chelsea star accepts transfer offer from Champions League giants despite key demand
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has left David Luiz and Willian out of his team again today amid rumours linking them with transfers to Manchester United.
The Manchester Evening News recently claimed Jose Mourinho had enquired about Willian, who has not been as much of a regular this season despite some impressive recent cameos.
The Daily Express, meanwhile, have linked Luiz with United as well, and he’s not even among the substitutes for Chelsea this afternoon.
Today’s team: Courtois; Azpilicueta (c), Christensen, Rudiger; Moses, Kante, Drinkwater, Fabregas, Alonso; Hazard, Morata. #CHENEW pic.twitter.com/u39Qj7GF8Y
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 2, 2017
Chelsea line up in a 3-5-2 formation that leaves no room for either Willian or Pedro, with the wing-backs providing more of the width in this slightly tinkered system.
This means Eden Hazard and Alvaro Morata are up front, and there’s an extra space in midfield for Cesc Fabregas.
Summer signing Danny Drinkwater also gets another start, as he slowly seems to work his way into Conte’s plans after his summer switch from Leicester City.
Chelsea fans may be concerned, however, at the lack of action for the much-loved Brazilian duo, though Conte has insisted Luiz is injured.
This, however, is despite video footage appearing to show him taking part in full training very recently, with the video going up on the club’s YouTube channel yesterday.