Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has to turn things around to keep his job beyond this season. Next at Stamford Bridge is Newcastle United who come into this one at the back of a 3-0 win over Wolves.
Pochettino's side are 19 points behind fourth-placed Aston Villa, so securing Champions League football next season is almost impossible at this stage, but they can go on a run and snatch a Europa League spot or at least Conference League football.
The Argentinian's preparation for the game has been derailed by the news that Ben Chilwell who was signed from Leicester in 2020 for £45million, Levi Colwill who returned from Brighton this summer and Conor Gallagher have all not trained consistently this week. Gallagher's absence is due to illness.
Pochettino said: "He hasn't trained all week because he has a virus. We will see tomorrow and if he will be available and what form he will be available."
But Chilwell's injury especially sounds very disturbing with the club saying he's "undergoing specialist medical assessment."
They add to Reece James, Romeo Lavia, Wesley Fofana and Christopher Nkunku who will all not be part of the squad.
Gallagher has missed only one league game all season and his press and energy will be key to Chelsea's game on Monday night. So with his availability in doubt, here is the team we anticipate Pochettino will put out there.
1. Djordje Petrovic
Seems to be the new number one now.
2. Axel Disasi
Had a difficult game and then made up for it by equalising late on to rescue a point.
3. Thiago Silva
Comes back in for Levi Colwill
4. Marc Cucurella
Comes in for Ben Chilwell