Lille vs Chelsea LIVE: Line ups confirmed, Frank Lampard makes Champions League changes

LILLE vs CHELSEA – CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LIVE!

Lille XI: Maignan, Celik, Fonte, Gabriel, Mandava, Ikone, Soumare, Andre, Bamba, Araujo, Osimhen.

Chelsea XI: Kepa, James, Azpilicueta, Zouma, Tomori, Alonso, Jorginho, Kante, Mount, Willian, Abraham.

Ten minutes…

19:50: Nearly underway in Lille folks. Chelsea’s home defeat by Valencia means both sides know another loss will leave their hopes of progressing hanging by a thread.

Who knows… Arsenal and Manchester United could have company on a Thursday night.

Lille vs Chelsea LIVE: Champions League latest score, goals, fixtures and updates

Lille vs Chelsea LIVE: Champions League latest score, goals, fixtures and updates (Image: GETTY)

Remy returns!

19:45: Chelsea will come up against a familiar face tonight – if he gets off the bench of course.

Striker Loic Remy may have something to prove to his former club, having spent three years at Stamford Bridge without managing to hold down a regular place.

Now 32, Remy joined Lille from Las Palmas in 2018 and scored seven goals last season before getting off the mark for this term against Strasbourg last week.

“Remy was very good against Strasbourg, his experience is important in that kind of match,” said Lille boss Christophe Galtier.

“Sanches joined us recently, and he was very good against Strasbourg, but he still needs to find his feet. Both players could be useful.”

Lille vs Chelsea LIVE: Champions League latest score, goals, fixtures and updates

Lille vs Chelsea LIVE: Champions League latest score, goals, fixtures and updates (Image: GETTY)

Tammy for England!

19:40: In-form Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham is in line for an England call-up.

Gareth Southgate will name his squad for the upcoming Euro 2020 qualifiers away to the Czech Republic and Bulgaria at Wembley on Thursday.

The Three Lions boss named a 25-man group for last month’s qualification double header, with Abraham a somewhat surprising omission given his fine start to the season at Chelsea.

The 22-year-old has continued to show promise and the striker is under strong consideration ahead of Thursday’s announcement.

Lille vs Chelsea LIVE: Champions League latest score, goals, fixtures and updates

Lille vs Chelsea LIVE: Champions League latest score, goals, fixtures and updates (Image: GETTY)

What’s on?

19:30: It’s a veritable buffet of Champions League action this evening folks.

There’s only been one goal in the early kick-offs. Borussia Dortmund lead Slavia Prague 1-0 away from home. Genk and Napoli is still goalless – a scoreline that’s probably killing a few accumulators I suspect.

Later tonight is Barcelona vs Inter, Liverpool vs Salzburg, RB Leipzig vs Lyon, Valencia vs Ajax and Zenit vs Benfica.

So…

19:25: We have to talk about the chips…

Photos of Barkley appearing to argue with a taxi driver, having apparently spilt chips in the back of a cab, were published in newspapers ahead of tonight’s clash.

But Frank Lampard was fairly understanding about it. In public at least.

“In terms of permission, I don’t expect people to ask permission to be in Liverpool on their day off. That’s not a problem,” Lampard said.

“He hasn’t committed a crime – other than eating chips in the back of a cab which is probably a bit out of order for the cabbie!”

Team news – Chelsea

19:20: N’Golo Kante returns to the Chelsea line-up for the trip to Lille, but there is no place in the squad for Ross Barkley.

France midfielder Kante has had an injury-interrupted season and missed Saturday’s win over Brighton with a hamstring problem.

Barkley, who was pictured arguing with a taxi driver during a night out in Liverpool on Sunday, travelled to France with the squad but was left out by boss Frank Lampard.

Teenager Reece James is handed his Champions League debut at right wing-back.

Former Chelsea striker Loic Remy is among the substitutes for Lille.

Lille vs Chelsea LIVE: Champions League latest score, goals, fixtures and updates

Lille vs Chelsea LIVE: Champions League latest score, goals, fixtures and updates (Image: GETTY)

Twitter round-up

Ginny: I cannot express this enough. I am DELIGHTED to see that Kante start. & Reece James. I also cannot express my lack of enthusiasm in that Willian start of CHO or Pulisic? Alas, it is what it is. All I can say is come on Chelsea!

Ewan: Why is everyone disturbing with this Pulisic issue. Why can’t we Chelsea fans be happy for this squad and stop this Pulisic agenda. It’s high time Chelsea fans stop nagging and support this young and ambitious team.

Gary: The lack of game time for Pulisic is definitely frustrating, but with Willian performing lately and Mount proving he’s as versatile as he is, it’s understandable and we just have to be patient and back Super Frank!

Ginny sounds an excitable lady. I’m DELIGHTED to have your contribution.

Lille vs Chelsea LIVE: Champions League latest score, goals, fixtures and updates

Lille vs Chelsea LIVE: Champions League latest score, goals, fixtures and updates (Image: GETTY)

Encouragement for Lampard in Lille

19:10: Chelsea appear to be running into some form after two confidence-boosting wins in a week ahead of their trip to Lille.

That is exactly what they need as they head to the Stade Pierre Mauroy, where their opponents have not lost since March.

However, Ligue 1’s fourth-placed side – who have former Chelsea striker Loic Remy in their squad – have been inconsistent so far this season and that offers Blues boss Frank Lampard hope, especially after seeing 10 different players score in their last three matches.

Lille vs Chelsea LIVE: Champions League latest score, goals, fixtures and updates

Lille vs Chelsea LIVE: Champions League latest score, goals, fixtures and updates (Image: GETTY)

Starting XI…

19:00: Hello folks, a late change in the office leaves you stuck with me taking you through the action this evening – sorry!

Lille XI: Maignan, Celik, Fonte, Gabriel, Mandava, Ikone, Soumare, Andre, Bamba, Araujo, Osimhen.

Subs: Cesar, Soumaoro, Xeka, Remy, Yazici, Sanches, Bradaric.

Chelsea XI: Kepa, James, Azpilicueta, Zouma, Tomori, Alonso, Jorginho, Kante, Mount, Willian, Abraham.

Subs: Caballero, Christensen, Kovacic, Pedro, Hudson-Odoi, Batshuayi, Giroud.

source: express.co.uk