Third time was not the charm for Chelsea at Wembley, as after losing to Arsenal in the 2020 FA Cup final and their upcoming opponents Leicester last year, the Blues once again fell short in the showpiece event.

Three months on from being defeated by Liverpool in the EFL Cup final via a penalty shootout, Chelsea and the Reds did not bring their best shooting boots to Wembley for the FA Cup final, where Cesar Azpilicueta and Mason Mount's missed spot kicks proved fatal.

The Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup will therefore represent Chelsea's only pieces of silverware this season, but Arsenal's defeat to Newcastle United on Monday night means that Thomas Tuchel's side are guaranteed to finish in the top four and will seal third with all three points in midweek.

A 3-0 thumping of Leeds United did at least end a three-game winless run in the Premier League for Chelsea last week, but Stamford Bridge has not been kind to the Blues in recent months, with Tuchel's side winning just four of their last 12 in front of their own fans.

Chelsea stormed to a 3-0 win over Leicester at the King Power earlier this season, although their most recent league double over the Foxes came all the way back in 2016-17, and morale will not be at an all-time high in the Blues camp in the wake of further reports concerning the future of the club, or lack of.

Chelsea have been rocked by allegations of Andreas Christensen refusing to play in the FA Cup final and disappearing from the team hotel on the morning of the game, and he could have pulled on the blue jersey for the final time ahead of his summer exit.

Ben Chilwell and Callum Hudson-Odoi both remain out of contention, and Tuchel will also need to assess the fitness of Timo Werner and Kai Havertz after both attacker were last-minute absentees from the FA Cup final.

N'Golo Kante's return to fitness could see the Frenchman return to the engine room after a bright cameo at Wembley, while Cesar Azpilicueta and Hakim Ziyech's fresh legs could come in handy after two hours of action in the capital.

Chelsea Predicted XI:

Mendy; Azpilicueta, Chalobah, Rudiger; James, Kante, Jorginho, Alonso; Ziyech, Mount; Lukaku