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How Chelsea could line up against Everton amid injury problems

Midweek test | Chelsea will play an Everton side who have just sacked Ronald Koeman: Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Midweek test | Chelsea will play an Everton side who have just sacked Ronald Koeman: Chelsea FC via Getty Images

Antonio Conte is set to heavily rotate his starting line-up when Everton visit Stamford Bridge on Wednesday - with the Chelsea boss not prioritising the League Cup this season.

Conte has admitted he will rest his regular starters for Chelsea's fourth-round tie against Everton in midweek with trips to Bournemouth in the league and Rome in the Champions League to come for the Blues in the next seven days.

However, two players who will benefit from the League Cup fixture against Everton are Charly Musonda and Kenedy - who are set to start as they did in the 5-1 win over Nottingham Forest in September.

Musonda is likely to play on the right wing while Willian could play on the left flank - giving Conte the chance to rest star man Eden Hazard.

Michy Batshuayi is set to start up front following his match-winning brace against Watford and, indeed, his hat-trick against Nottingham Forest in the last round of this competition.

Kenedy, meanwhile, is set to take up Marcos Alonso's left wing-back role with Davide Zappacosta playing on the other flank in the absence of the injured Victor Moses.

Danny Drinkwater (calf) and N'Golo Kante (hamstring) are still sidelined with their respective issues, which restricts Conte's options in midfield.

Tiemoue Bakayoko and Cesc Fabregas are the likely midfield pairing on Wednesday, therefore, but Kyle Scott or Ethan Ampadu could be surprise starters.

Further back, and Andreas Christensen could be recalled to the side after starting against Roma but being dropped for the visit of Watford.

If he is recalled, he is likely to play alongside Antonio Rudiger and captain Gary Cahill while Willy Caballero starts in goal as he did against Forest.

Chelsea predicted starting XI vs Everton: Caballero, Rudiger, Christensen, Cahill, Zappacosta, Fabregas, Bakayoko, Kenedy, Musonda, Batshuayi, Willian.