Bolton
vs
Chelsea
Match Schedule:
Date:October 31th
Time: 14:00 (GMT)
The Blues ran out comfortable 4-0 winners at Stamford Bridge in midweek, and manager Carlo Ancelotti will be looking for a repeat performance as they try and keep their place at the top of the Premier League table.
Chelsea had four different players on the scoresheet during the Carling Cup victory, Salomon Kalou, Florent Malouda, Deco and Didier Drogba all bagging a goal in the rout, and Bolton boss Gary Megson will hope his defence can do a better job of containing the attacking threat on Saturday.
However, the Trotters should bear in mind that the six times that the Blues have faced back-to-back league and cup games in the last 15 years, the result has been repeated on four occasions.
Both sides are expected to make changes to the teams that were selected in the cup, after a number of players were rested in preparation for the league clash.
Chelsea will welcome back Nicholas Anelka to the starting line-up against his old club as he teams up with strike partner Didier Drogba once again, and in-form midfielder Frank Lampard will also return to the side after being an unused substitute in midweek.
Petr Cech will come in between the sticks as a replacement for Hilario, and Joe Cole could keep his place after impressing on his last two outings as he tries to step up his return to full fitness.
Captain John Terry will also return in the centre of defence, but Ancelotti will have to decide who will partner Terry at the back - with Alex and Ricardo Carvalho vying for a first-team berth.
Salomon Kalou and Branislav Ivanovic are doubts, while Ashley Cole (ankle), Jose Bosingwa (knee), Yury Zhirkov (knee) and John Mikel Obi (knee) are all out.
Bolton news
Gary Megson also tinkered with his starting line-up for the Carling Cup clash, and powerful striker Kevin Davies will come back up front to lead the line.
The big forward has scored five goals against Chelsea during his career, and the Blues will have to be wary of the problems he can cause as the spearhead of Bolton's direct approach.
Davies could be partnered up front by Ivan Klasnic, who played at the Bridge on Wednesday and scored the winner in the Trotters' last league game against Everton last weekend.
Klasnic bagged the decisive goal in the 3-2 win over the Toffees at the Reebok Stadium, and Megson could change the formation to 4-4-2 if he wants to include the Croatian forward.
Possible starting XIs:
Bolton: Jaaskelainen, Samuel, Ricketts, Cahill, Knight, Taylor, Muamba, Cohen, Gardner, Davies, Klasnic
Chelsea: Cech, Belletti, Terry, Carvalho, A Cole, Essien, Ballack, Lampard, J Cole, Anelka, Drogba
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