Trio ruled out as Lampard makes 2 changes | Expected Chelsea line-up vs Ajax

Chelsea will look to secure a positive result when they take on Ajax in the Champions League group stages in Amsterdam on Wednesday evening. Here is the team we expect Frank Lampard to select for the game:

Goalkeeper: Kepa Arrizabalaga is certain to keep his place between the sticks with Willy Caballero once again having to settle for a place on the bench.

Defence: Lampard is expected to stick with a 4-3-3 system that’s served him well lately and he may be reluctant to change the back four that started during the 1-0 win over Newcastle United at the weekend.

Reece James is pushing for a recall but I think Cesar Azpilicueta will retain his place at right-back while Marcos Alonso is likely to start ahead of the fit-again Emerson on the left after scoring the winner on Saturday.

Andreas Christensen remains out through injury while Antonio Rudiger hasn’t travelled to Holland despite taking part in full training on Tuesday as Lampard feels he’s still lacking match fitness. Therefore, Kurt Zouma should continue alongside Fikayo Tomori in the middle of the Chelsea back four.

Midfield: N’Golo Kante hasn’t travelled as the Frenchman remains on the sidelines with a groin injury while Ross Barkley has also been ruled out after limping off with an ankle problem against Newcastle at the weekend.

Jorginho is certain to keep his place at the heart of the Chelsea midfield while Mateo Kovacic should be recalled to start alongside Mason Mount but Ruben Loftus-Cheek remains a long-term absentee.

Attack: Tammy Abraham has made the striker role his own this season under Lampard so Olivier Giroud and Michy Batshuayi will have to settle for places on the bench against Ajax.

Callum Hudson-Odoi appears to have played his way into Lampard’s plans after making an impressive return from injury in recent games so I expect he’ll keep his place on the wing tomorrow evening.

However, we could see Chelsea make one change in attack with Christian Pulisic pushing for a recall so Willian may drop out. Pedro hasn’t made the trip to Amsterdam after seemingly falling out of favour as he’s only featured in two of Chelsea’s last eight games.

Here is how we think Chelsea will line-up: