Predicted Chelsea lineup against Burnley: Ziyech set for first Premier League start; Pulisic, Silva return

Hakim Ziyech is set to make his first Premier League start while Thiago Silva and Christian Pulisic will return when Chelsea take on Burnley on Saturday.

Chelsea will hope to get back to winning ways in the Premier League when they lock horns with Burnley at Turf Moor on Saturday evening. And, Frank Lampard is on the cusp of having a full-strength squad at his disposal.

Kepa Arrizabalaga has resumed light training while Billy Gilmour is back in full training, meaning Chelsea have no player in the treatment room. So, one could expect Lampard to name his strongest side when the Blues face Burnley.

In goal, Edouard Mendy has nailed down the goalkeeping spot following a strong start to his Chelsea career and will take his place between the sticks once again at Turf Moor. As for defence, Thiago Silva ought to return to the starting lineup after being rested for the trip to Krasnodar.

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Silva will replace Antonio Rudiger at the heart of the Chelsea defence, where Kurt Zouma will be his partner. Reece James ought to be recalled as well, starting on the right flank, with Ben Chilwell being the Chelsea left-back.

Up ahead in midfield, Jorginho should make way for N’Golo Kante, with Mateo Kovacic keeping his place in the double pivot. Meanwhile, Kai Havertz has been an ever-present for Chelsea and will reprise the no. 10 role against Burnley as well.

A key talking point for Lampard during his pre-match press conference was Hakim Ziyech and the value he brings to his squad. The Chelsea boss said, “‘A lot of people have questioned the attacking side of our game in the early parts of the season.”

“We’ve scored a lot of goals but I always felt when Hakim Ziyech is fit and when Christian Pulisic is fit we’d start to see the side of our game that I would like to see. With Hakim, we have the potential to bring in someone with a real different quality to what we’ve had here in recent years in terms of a left-footed right-sided player, which is his main position for me.”

Ziyech did impress on his full debut for Chelsea earlier this week in the UEFA Champions League and is now set to make his first Premier League start when the Blues take the field against Burnley. On the left flank, Christian Pulisic will replace Callum Hudson-Odoi while Timo Werner will be the central striker.

Chelsea Predicted XI: Mendy; James, Silva, Zouma, Chilwell; Kante, Kovacic; Ziyech, Havertz, Pulisic; Werner