The United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) has been overshadowed by the achievements of their women counterparts in recent years. The United States Women’s National Team (USMNT) are four-time FIFA World Cup winners and have dominated the sport over the past few years, while the men failed to even make it to the last edition of their FIFA World Cup. However, with plenty of promising young talent coming through the ranks in recent years, the USMNT have reason to be optimistic. Here, we have a look at a few American talents who are plying their trade across Europe’s best leagues and point towards a bright future for the men’s team.

DeAndre Yedlin

Powerful with a good turn of pace, American full-back DeAndre Yedlin has more than 60 caps for his country and has been playing his football in England since 2014. Brought to England by Tottenham Hotspur, Yedlin had a slow start to life in England before finding his feet during a loan move to Sunderland. After proving himself for Sunderland, he moved to their rivals Newcastle United in 2016 and went on to establish himself as their first-choice right-back option. Even though he seems to have fallen down the pecking order this season, having mostly appeared in EFL Cup matches for Newcastle, Yedlin’s experience abroad makes him a crucial member of the men’s squad.

Sergino Dest

Another American full-back, Sergino Dest is a young and highly-rated prospect who looks destined to make the right-back spot in the national team his own for years to come. The 20-year-old is defensively sound and a threat while moving forward. A part of Ajax’s famed youth set-up after the Eredivisie giants recognised his talent from an early age, Dest made his senior team debut for them last season and was impressive, finishing the campaign with two goals and six assists from the back. Assured while manning their backline as well, Dest joined Catalan giants Barcelona in the last transfer window and will be looking to kick on in the ongoing La Liga season.

Weston McKennie

Weston McKennie is another promising and young American talent who honed his skills in the youth academy of a European club. After joining Schalke 04’s youth academy from FC Dallas in 2016, the midfielder graduated to the German club’s senior team in 2017 and has gone from strength to strength since. McKennie has played 91 games for Schalke’s senior team and developed his all-round game. His defensive strengths aside, the 22-year-old notched five goals as well as seven assists during his time with Schalke and joined Serie A giants Juventus ahead of the new season. The fact that he was roped in by Juventus speaks volumes about his potential and it’ll be interesting to track his progress in the 2020-21 campaign.   

Christian Pulisic

The USMNT’s blue-eyed boy, Christian Pulisic is their go-to man when the chips are down. Pulisic joined Borussia Dortmund’s youth set-up as a 16-year-old in 2015 and made his debut for the club in January 2016. He enjoyed success at Dortmund, lifting the 2017 DFB-Pokal with them before signing for Chelsea in the 2019 January transfer window despite only joining up with the Blues at the start of the 2019-20 campaign. Although injuries have hampered his progress of late, his time in England has seen him enjoy plenty of individual success so far. He finished his first season at Chelsea with 11 goals as well as 10 assists across all competitions and netted a perfect hat-trick during a win over Burnley.

Giovanni Reyna

Only 17 years of age, Giovanni Reyna is the son of former American players Claudio Reyna and Danielle Egan. Like Pulisic, Giovanni joined Borussia Dortmund’s youth set-up and seems to be developing at a rapid pace with the Bundesliga giants. He made his debut for the club in January to break Pulisic’s record of being the youngest American to appear in a Bundesliga game, at 17 years and 66 days of age. Giovanni also became the youngest American to play and register an assist in the UEFA Champions League after he set up a goal in Dortmund’s first leg encounter in their round-of-16 match against Paris Saint-Germain last season. The ongoing campaign has seen him start the season like a house on fire. His five appearances for Dortmund so far this season have seen him net twice and set up four more goals, including a hat-trick of assists in one match.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Adrian Dennis

The United States of America isn’t what you can consider a powerhouse in men’s football but that hasn’t stopped them from producing some top-class footballers over the years. Landon Donovan, Michael Bradley, Claudio Reyna, Brad Friedel and Kasey Keller are just a few names that have done the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) proud in recent years. However, here we look at five of their best talents that made Europe take notice of their ability.

Clint Dempsey

The USMNT‘s joint all-time leading scorer with 57 goals and their fourth-most capped (140) player, Clint Dempsey will go down as one of the best talents to have emerged from his nation. After getting noticed by European scouts courtesy his performances for New England Revolution, Dempsey moved to England and represented Fulham before signing for Tottenham Hotspur.

During his time with Fulham, Dempsey became the club’s go-to man and was their biggest threat, scoring regularly in the league. His sole season with Spurs saw him find the back of the net seven times. Dempsey also holds the distinction of being the first American to score a hat-trick in the Premier League. On the international stage, he’s won CONCACAF Gold Cups, scored in all three FIFA World Cups that he was a part of and was also a runner-up in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.     

Tim Howard

A record holder for most saves (16) in a FIFA World Cup match, Tim Howard began his career with North Jersey Imperials before joining MetroStars. After impressing scouts, Howard moved to European heavyweights Manchester United in 2003 but found it difficult to break into the first team. His lack of game time with the Red Devils prompted him to move to Everton, where he enjoyed a fruitful 10-year spell.

During his time with Everton, Howard finished as runner-up in the FA Cup final �?a tournament he had earlier won with Manchester United in 2003. Howard also won the League Cup in 2006 with United and on the international front, won two CONCACAF Gold Cups besides finishing as runner-up in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.

Christian Pulisic

The undisputed talisman of the USMNT at present, 21-year-old Christian Pulisic seems to be just getting started after finding some consistency in his game ever since his move to Chelsea from Borussia Dortmund. Pulisic joined Dortmund’s youth set-up as a 16-year-old in 2015 and made his debut for the club in January 2016.

He won the 2017 DFB-Pokal with Dortmund but signed for Chelsea in the January transfer window last year despite only moving to the club in the subsequent summer. His first season at Chelsea has seen him set the league ablaze and he even scored a perfect hat-trick during a win over Burnley last season. He finished with 11 goals as well as 10 assists across all competitions last season and if he continues the upcoming campaign in a similar vein of form, expect him to better his numbers in the 2020-21 season.   

Brian McBride

Before Dempsey had become a hero at Craven Cottage for Fulham, another player from across the Atlantic was a fan-favourite. American striker Brian McBride came with more European experience than Dempsey though having moved to VfL Wolfsburg for a brief stint following his debut for Milwaukee Rampage.

He had also played for English outfits Preston North End and Everton before joining Fulham, but it was at the London club where McBride truly found his footing in English football. With the west Londoners, McBride scored 36 goals and provided nine assists in the Premier League. His most successful international tournament was the 2002 CONCACAF Gold Cup, which he helped America win after finishing the competition as the Golden Shoe winner and the Most Valuable Player (MVP).

Giovanni Reyna

Giovanni Reyna is a highly rated youngster and was a part of The Guardian's 'Next Generation 2019'. Still just 17 years of age, he is the son of former US players Claudio Reyna and Danielle Egan. Named after his father’s former Rangers teammate Giovanni van Bronckhorst, the promising youngster has followed in Pulisic’s footsteps in signing for Borussia Dortmund.

After making his debut for Dortmund in January, he broke Pulisic’s record to become the youngest American to appear in a Bundesliga game, at 17 years and 66 days of age. He’s also the youngest American to play and register an assist in the UEFA Champions League after coming off the bench and setting up Erling Haaland to score a winner in the first leg of their round-of-16 match against Paris Saint-Germain. Reyna looks primed to enjoy a bright future with Dortmund and his first-ever professional goal came in a 2�? defeat to Werder Bremen in the DFB-Pokal last season.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Paul Childs

As many as eight Chelsea players have been put into quarantine after six of them were reportedly tested positive for the ongoing global virus. The likes of Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham, Christian Pulisic and Fikayo Tomori are said to be in self-isolation after returning from the Greek island of Mykonos before pre-season training began last weekend.

Meanwhile, Jorginho, Ross Barkley, Emerson and Michy Batshuayi have also been advised to stay away from Chelsea's Cobham base. No names have been confirmed so far, but Telegraph reports that six players have contracted the virus, while the remaining two are in isolation because of close contact with those affected.

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The players returned to training on Monday after a slightly extended break, but those who have mild symptoms or are asymptomatic will report after their isolation period gets over. Those tested positive will have to self-isolate themselves for 10 days and need to return with a negative test result before they can resume training. 

The number of positive cases has been on a rise amongst the Premier League clubs during the summer break, with 14 new cases recorded at 12 different clubs. Meanwhile, Sheffield United, Brighton and West Ham United have also reported cases in recent weeks.

Chelsea, who finished fourth in the 2019/20 Premier League season, have been quite active in the transfer market. Having already concluded the deals of Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech and Ben Chilwell, they are also said to be in the final stages of roping in the likes of Thiago Silva from PSG and Kai Havertz from Bayer Leverkusen. 21-year-old defender Malang Sarr has also reportedly agreed a five-year contract with the Blues. The former Nice defender will join Chelsea on a free transfer.

Meanwhile, the Blues are set to kick off their 2020/21 Premier League campaign against Brighton and Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium on Monday, September 14. But before that, Lampard's side will square off against the same opponent in a friendly on Saturday, with Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech expected to debut.

The quarantine news, however, is a blow to Chelsea as they were a part of the UK government's pilot scheme of welcoming the football fans back into stadiums for the first time since March.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / GLyn Kirk

Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-1 thanks to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's brace in the FA Cup final on Saturday, and we look at three things we learned from the Wembley clash:

Irreplacable Aubameyang

In what could be his last game for Arsenal, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang showed why the Gunners must do everything in their power to keep the Gabon forward.

The 31-year-old is out of contract at the end of next season and has been linked with a move amid reports he wants to play for a club in the Champions League.

Coach Mikel Arteta insists Aubameyang wants to stay, but he also conceded winning the FA Cup would be a useful way to show him the club are heading in the right direction.

1 - Mikel Arteta is the first Arsenal manager to win a major trophy in their first season in charge of the club since George Graham in 1986-87. Natural. #FACupFinal #ARSCHE pic.twitter.com/UX3B0t36K3

�?OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 1, 2020

Arsenal did their part and it was Aubameyang who provided the crucial cutting edge.

The first African player to start an FA Cup final as captain, Aubameyang became the second-oldest player to score for Arsenal in the showpiece.

With Arsenal trailing to Christian Pulisic's early goal, Aubameyang's blistering break left Cesar Azpilicueta trailing in his wake.

Azpilicueta responded by tugging at Aubameyang's shoulder and the forward made the most of the contact as he tumbled in the area to win a penalty that he dispatched with a ruthless efficiency.

31y 44d - @Aubameyang7 is the oldest player to score for Arsenal in an FA Cup final since 1932, when Bob John netted for the Gunners against Newcastle (33y 80d). Expertise. #FACupFinal #ARSCHE pic.twitter.com/2MNYzydJ2M

�?OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 1, 2020

Aubameyang won the German Cup with Borussia Dortmund in 2017, scoring the winning goal from the penalty spot.

Once again, he would be the star, but this time it was his skill and improvisation that proved decisive as he jinked past Kurt Zouma and clipped a fine finish over Willy Caballero in the 67th minute.

Chelsea hamstrung by Pulisic injury

Christian Pulisic had emerged as a key figure for Chelsea since the hiatus, but a day that started on a high for the United States winger ended in agony.

It has been that kind of turbulent season for Pulisic, whose first year with Chelsea started slowly amid injuries and poor form before bursting into life.

He was on the scoresheet after just five minutes, with his 11th goal of the season.

1 - @cpulisic_10 is the first American player to score in an FA Cup final, while it was Chelsea's quickest goal in the final of the competition since Roberto Di Matteo in 1997 (first minute v Middlesbrough). Blocks. #FACupFinal #ARSCHE pic.twitter.com/QKOM5AiOqn

�?OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 1, 2020

Drifting into central midfield to take possession, Pulisic slipped a precise pass to Mason Mount and carried on his run into the Arsenal penalty area, where he took Olivier Giroud's flick and slotted past Emiliano Martinez.

Pulisic was the first American to score in the FA Cup final but disaster struck in the 49th minute when he raced away for a shot that was interrupted when he felt his hamstring twang.

Immediately grabbing the injured area, Pulisic was helped off the pitch.

38 �?At 38 years and 308 days, @willy_caballero is the oldest ever player to play in an FA Cup final for Chelsea. Vintage. #FACupFinal #ARSCHE pic.twitter.com/ulCgcfKJps

�?OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 1, 2020

Without the pace of Pulisic to keep Arsenal's defence on the back foot, Frank Lampard's side were bereft of a cutting edge in the final third as the trophy slipped from their grasp.

Arteta bolsters growing reputation

Mikel Arteta enhanced his reputation as one of the Premier League's brightest young managers with another tactical masterclass.

Having out-witted his mentor Pep Guardiola in Arsenal's FA Cup semi-final success against Manchester City, Arteta showed his acumen again to leave Chelsea boss Frank Lampard out of answers.

Arteta's use of long passes into the channels behind Chelsea's two attacking full-backs exposed the flaw in Lampard's defensive system and led directly to Aubameyang's equaliser.

5 - Excluding home games, @Aubameyang7 is only the fifth player to score 2+ goals in a match at Wembley Stadium in club football more than once, after @IanWright0, Bryan Robson, Ian Rush and Eric Cantona. Quintet. #FACupFinal #ARSCHE pic.twitter.com/ObCGu9mXwe

�?OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) August 1, 2020

Leading Arsenal to their 14th FA Cup success -- which brings them a place in next season's Europa League -- showed the 38-year-old Spaniard is the man to restore the club's tattered reputation.

Arsenal may have endured their lowest league finish for a quarter of a century this season as Arteta battled to steady the ship following Unai Emery's sacking in December.

But he has won over his players with a direct approach to discipline -- banishing malcontents Mesut Ozil and Matteo Guendouzi -- and his astute game-plans.

Winning the FA Cup will buy Arteta time to continue his rebuild and it was fitting his first trophy as Arsenal manager came in the tournament that brought the last major silverware of Gunners legend Arsene Wenger's reign.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Adam Davy

Hostilities will resume when Chelsea battle Arsenal in the all-London FA Cup final at Wembley on Sunday.

The two local rivals battled in the Europa League final last season and it was Chelsea who emerged victorious with a 4-1 thrashing of Unai Emery’s side in what was Eden Hazard’s farewell game for the Blues.

Despite it being just 13 months since that final, both teams will head into the contest with new managers at the helm. Chelsea appointed Frank Lampard after Maurizio Sarri’s departure back home to Italy and Arsenal sacked Emery midway through the current season and poached Mikel Arteta from Manchester City to lead them into the future.

• Arsenal vs Chelsea FA Cup final: Preview, team news, where to watch

It won’t only be the managers but also a few new faces who weren’t part of that Europa League final that will take centre-stage on Sunday. We take a look at the five players who could impact their team’s trophy aspirations in the FA Cup final.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Arsenal skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will be the Gunners�?go-to man on Sunday in the final.

The Gabonese has struck 68 goals for Arsenal since joining them in January 2018 from Borussia Dortmund and been the silver lining in a rather poor spell for the club. Aubameyang scored twice in the semifinal against Manchester City in Arsenal’s surprise 2-0 win over the defending champions.

He was on target against Chelsea at the Emirates and gave his side the lead, but the much-maligned Arsenal defence conceded two sloppy goals in quick succession and the Gunners lost 2-1.

The Arsenal captain will be eager to score a goal or two and lift the FA Cup on Sunday, his first with the Gunners. 

Christian Pulisic

The American wonder kid has been a revelation for Chelsea this season. Pulisic has scored nine goals in his debut campaign with the Blues and has delivered some brilliant performances over the course of the season.

Like Aubameyang, Pulisic arrived from Dortmund and was touted to be Eden Hazard’s replacement at the club. The youngster hasn’t let the pressure of expectation bog his performances and has been immense for Frank Lampard’s men over the course of the season. Pulisic has been in top form since the return of football post-lockdown and scored goals against Manchester City and Liverpool.

The American is in red hot form and will be the Blues�?biggest threat in attack in the final.

Olivier Giroud

The Frenchman was on his way out of Stamford Bridge in the January transfer window, with Inter Milan and Tottenham Hotspur chasing his signature. However, an injury to Tammy Abraham meant that Giroud stayed put and Chelsea coach Frank Lampard will be counting his lucky stars that he did.

Giroud has scored six goals in his last seven matches and was on target in Chelsea’s 3-1 win over Manchester United in the FA Cup semi-final. He also opened the scoring in Baku in last year’s Europa League final and assisted one of Hazard’s two second-half goals.

The 33-year-old was let go after Arsenal acquired Aubameyang from Dortmund and he’ll be gunning to pip his former side in another cup final.

David Luiz

The Brazilian’s season with Arsenal has been nothing short of a calamity.

Luiz conceded five penalties in the Premier League this season - a new record - and has been constantly called out for his atrocious performance since signing for Arsenal in the 2019 summer transfer window. Arteta’s lack of options at the back means that Luiz will start the final against the club that he represented up until last season and another lapse by the 33-year-old could be all that it takes for Chelsea to win the FA Cup.

Willy Caballero

Alongside Manchester United’s Sergio Romero, Chelsea’s Willy Caballero is perhaps the most accomplished backup keeper plying his trade in the Premier League. The 38-year-old became the temporary first choice at Manchester City in 2016/17 and moved to London to join Chelsea in 2017.

The Argentine became a cult hero after his heroics against Liverpool in the 2016 League Cup final, where he saved three penalties in the shootout to help City win the cup. Caballero has seen his playing time go up quite a bit this season, as Kepa Arizzabalaga’s disastrous form forced manager Frank Lampard’s hand to play the experienced keeper. He was in goal this past weekend in Chelsea’s all-important 2-0 win over Wolves that secured their Champions League status for next season and will be the man between the sticks on Sunday.

Caballero has already won the FA Cup with Chelsea back in 2018 and will be keen to add another winner’s medal to his cabinet.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Phil Noble

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author's and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SportsAdda.

The Premier League returns after a round of FA Cup fixtures, and as it enters the final stages of the competition, the fight for Europe is sure to intensify, with Liverpool having sealed top spot and the trophy. Arsenal won their first game after the restart of the league and will look to continue their form against Norwich City, and the same can be said about Manchester United, who beat Sheffield United last time around.

As the Premier League enters the business end of the tournament, the competition for points in the fantasy league is up for grabs as well; especially for the Nostragamus fantasy managers. On this note, let's have a look at the potential high-pointers for the upcoming gameweek:

Player: Mohamed Salah

Team: Liverpool

Match: Manchester City vs Liverpool

The Egyptian king, Mohamed Salah became the first Egyptian to win the Premier League this season. He was at his lethal self this season again, and has scored 17 goals in 27 appearances this season while getting seven assists as well. Salah scored against City in their previous meeting in November as well, while scoring twice in both of Liverpool’s wins against Manchester City in their last five fixtures. After finally securing the trophy, Salah will be key in proving Liverpool are worthy champions in the first of their seven remaining matches. 

Player: Christian Pulisic

Team: Chelsea

Match: West Ham vs Chelsea

Christian Pulisic was an immediate first choice in the Chelsea lineup since joining the club after shining at Borussia Dortmund. The US International was subpar when the season began, but had seemingly hit a decent patch of form before suffering a tear in his abductor muscle on New Year's Day. He has returned strong, helping Frank Lampard to two consecutive wins, while scoring crucial goals as well. West Ham are battling relegation, having lost their two games since the restart, and a win for Chelsea would take them to third depending on the Everton vs Leicester City result.  

Player: Anthony Martial

Team: Manchester United

Match: Brighton vs Manchester United

Anthony Martial became the first player since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson to score a hat-trick in the Premier League. The striker scored the treble against Sheffield, and has a good record against Brighton, having assisted two goals in their last meeting at home. The Frenchman would want to get an early goal, keeping in mind that United have failed to win away to Brighton in their last five matches. The Seagulls have managed to stay afloat with a shock late win over Arsenal and a draw to Leicester, which took them to 15th on the table. 

Player: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Team: Arsenal

Match: Arsenal vs Norwich

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been key to Arsenal’s dismal season, having rescued the North London club on many occasions. He is second on the Golden Boot table, and edges Jamie Vardy to this spot because of his form against the bottom six clubs. He has nine goals against the bottom six this season and will look to add more teeth to the team against the bottom-placed Norwich City. With Aubameyang still chasing his 50th Premier League goal, we can expect the Gabonese striker to fire some in.  

Player: Kevin de Bruyne

Team: Manchester City

Match: Manchester City vs Liverpool

Kevin de Bruyne has been a key to Pep Guardiola’s side this season as well, but could not help his side retain the trophy for the third season. He has been at his usual best since the restart, and this could be seen with a pitch-perfect free-kick he scored to equalize against Chelsea. Having scored ten goals and 16 assists this season, he will be looking to take advantage of any complacency on Liverpool’s part, with the latter having sealed the Premier League trophy. Manchester City’s only hope for redemption is to reduce the deficit between their opponents and Kevin de Bruyne will hope to take leadership of their resurgence. 

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Mike Hewitt

Frank Lampard believes Christian Pulisic can be Chelsea's trump card in the race to qualify for the Champions League after his decisive cameo inspired Sunday's 2-1 win at Aston Villa.

Lampard's side were rocked when Kortney Hause put Villa ahead against the run of play in the first half.

But Pulisic came off the bench to equalise after the break before Olivier Giroud bagged his fourth club goal of the season two minutes later.

Chelsea's quick-fire blitz moved the fourth-placed west Londoners five points clear of Manchester United in fifth as they fight to qualify for next season's Champions League.

A first away league win of 2020 was the ideal way for Chelsea to return to action in their first match since the Premier League was suspended in March due to the coronavirus.

It was Pulisic's first appearance since January after an abductor muscle injury and Lampard feels the United States winger is ready to make an impact again.

"He will start games for us, of course, and I think he's going to be a big player for us, not just in this run-in but going forward," Lampard said.

"He was hungry. I know that and I felt for him, as I felt for the players with long-term injuries.

"The ability he's got to arrive in the box, it's a big thing, I've spoken about it with him all season.

"It's the difference between being a very good player off the side, an attacking player, or the players at the real top level of the game that arrive and score in the six-yard box and hit numbers yearly.

"I really think Christian can do that, so I was really pleased with him, the impact he made when he came on."

Villa's failure to hold onto their lead leaves Dean Smith's second-bottom team one point from safety with eight games left to avoid relegation.

"Unfortunately a little bit of quality and fortune favoured them. The thing we have worked on during the pause is being tougher to beat and we have become that," Smith said.

Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek was making his first Premier League start since May 2019 after recovering from a serious Achilles tendon injury sustained during a friendly in the United States.

Loftus-Cheek, who had been close to full fitness before the lockdown, nearly marked his return with a goal when he headed just wide after powering past Tyrone Mings.

Lampard says his recent signings of Ajax playmaker Hakim Ziyech and Leipzig striker Timo Werner will put pressure on Chelsea's youngsters to be more consistent next season.

With that message in mind, he picked Giroud up front instead of Tammy Abraham, keeping faith with the French veteran after his impressive form before the hiatus.

Mason Mount, another of Chelsea's breakthrough stars, did start and the midfielder tested Villa keeper Orjan Nyland with a stinging long-range drive.

- Inspired move -

Villa took a shock lead in the 43rd minute.

Douglas Luiz chipped a delicate cross over the Chelsea defence to Anwar El Ghazi, whose shot was pushed out by Kepa Arrizabalaga.

With Chelsea's defence slow to react, Hause alertly flicked home from close-range for his first Premier League goal.

Cesar Azpilicueta headed wide from Willian's cross early in the second half and moments later Lampard sent on Pulisic and Ross Barkley in a bid to ignite Chelsea's spluttering attack.

It proved an inspired move as Pulisic equalised in the 60th minute.

Azpilicueta whipped over a cross from the right and Pulisic arrived at the far post to guide a half-volley into the roof of the net for his first goal since November.

Two minutes later, Chelsea's comeback was complete.

Mount and Giroud exchanged passes to open up the Villa defence before Azpilicueta picked out Giroud, whose shot on the turn deflected off Conor Hourihane on its way past Nyland.

A slip by Andreas Christensen gave Jota the chance for a late equaliser, but the Villa substitute dragged his shot wide.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Catherine Ivill

Chelsea did not make any major additions to their squad over the last two transfer windows. Frank Lampard, in his first season, has done well with a squad that seems to have a good balance of youth and experience.

However, there is a strong possibility that he will want to build a squad in his own image, meaning there could be some players from the current roster who could be shown the door come summer.

With that in mind, we take a look at the Chelsea squad and assess who might stay at the club beyond the summer and who might not.

Goalkeepers

Kepa Arrizabalaga

Spaniard Kevin Arrizabalaga’s future was up in the air after Lampard dropped him from the first-team in February. Ever since, Chelsea have been linked with a new goalkeeper.

However, upon returning, Arrizabalaga performed well. Moreover, given the current situation, the Blues might want to refrain from spending on a new goalkeeper and invest in other areas that need immediate reinforcements.

Verdict: Stays.

Willy Caballero

The Argentine got a handful of games when Kepa was benched but failed to make much of an impression. And with the 38-year-old's contract set to expire at the end of the season, his time at Stamford Bridge is drawing to a close.

Perhaps the Blues might push someone like Jamal Blackman or Nathan Baxter into the second-choice goalkeeping role next season.

Verdict: Leaves. 

Defence

Antonio Rudiger

German international Antonio Rudiger has endured an injury-riddled campaign, which hasn’t quite allowed him to play at his best. However, with his experience and leadership, Rudiger is an important member and is expected to stay at Chelsea.

Verdict: Stays.

Kurt Zouma

Kurt Zouma (R) is a valuable squad player who could be retained. Photo courtesy: AFP / Adrian Dennis

There is no doubting his commitment to the cause but Kurt Zouma doesn’t quite fit the mould of the ball-playing defenders Lampard wants in his team. However, the Frenchman is valuable as a squad player and could only be pushed out if Chelsea bring in a new centre-back.

Verdict: Stays.

Andreas Christensen

Used sparingly early on in the campaign, Danish centre-half Andreas Christensen had become a regular in the latter half of the season with some impressive performances. Young, reliable and an academy product, Christensen isn’t going anywhere.

Verdict: Stays.

Fikayo Tomori

One of Chelsea’s breakout stars of the season, Fikayo Tomori has impressed in his first full season with the first-team and signed a long-term contract only in December last year.

Verdict: Stays.

Emerson Palmieri

Despite having had a number of opportunities, Italian full-back Emerson Palmieri has never been able to establish himself at Chelsea. Lampard is on the lookout for a new left-back in the summer, meaning Palmieri’s time at the Bridge is up and a return to Italy is on the cards.

Verdict: Leaves.

Read | Who could stay or leave next summer? Manchester City’s squad assessed

Marcos Alonso

Spaniard Marcos Alonso hasn’t done enough to justify being the first-choice left-back at Chelsea. However, his performances just before the season was suspended showed he can be counted upon when needed and should buy him some time at the club.

Verdict: Stays.

Cesar Azpilicueta

Captain Cesar Azpilicueta continues to perform week in week out, even though there has been a dip in form. With still two years on his current contract, Azpilicueta is going nowhere, although we might see him being slowly phased out of first-team with Reece James taking over as the first-choice right-back.

Verdict: Stays.

Reece James

The future of the club, academy graduate Reece James has shone bright in his debut season with Chelsea, and he has signed an extension till 2025 in January earlier this year.

Verdict: Stays.

Midfielders

Jorginho

28-year-old Maurizio Sarri favourite Jorginho has been a key player for Chelsea under Lampard. The current vice-captain of Chelsea has plenty left to offer, given his experience and quality. 

Verdict: Stays.

N’Golo Kante

It has been a difficult campaign for diminutive Frenchman N’Golo Kante, with injuries hampering him throughout. Recent reports have claimed that he is seen as a surplus to requirements by Lampard.

However, given his quality, it is hard to see Chelsea offloading him this summer.

Verdict: Stays.

Mateo Kovacic

Croatian international mateo Kovacic has had a solid season in the middle of the park and established himself as one of the first names on Lampard’s teamsheet.

Verdict: Stays.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek

Ruben Loftus-Cheek is a key component of Chelsea's future plans. Photo courtesy: AFP / Oliver Greenwood

Another midfielder who has been on the treatment tables for much of the season, Ruben Loftus-Cheek is seen as the present and the future of the club. Extremely talented, the midfielder will have a key role to play when football resumes.

Verdict: Stays.

Ross Barkley

Englishman Ross Barkley has had a stop-start campaign, but was growing in stature prior to Premier League being suspended. Given his obvious talent, it is frustrating to not see him perform at his best week in week out, but Chelsea are likely to give him another season to come good.

Verdict: Stays.

Billy Gilmour

18-year-old Billy Gilmour has made a huge impression in his last couple of first-team appearances and Lampard has been singing praises of the midfielder. Expect him to become a more regular feature next season.

Verdict: Stays.

Marco van Ginkel

Dutchman Marco van Ginkel hasn’t played for Chelsea for so long, that people might have already forgotten that he is still on the club’s books. The 27-year-old has been on the sidelines, recovering from a chronic knee problem all throughout the season.

With his contract up at the end of the season, it seems unlikely that Chelsea will be offering an extension, given the plethora of options at Lampard’s disposal.

Verdict: Leaves.

Mason Mount

Another beneficiary of Lampard’s trust in youth, Mason Mount has become a regular for Chelsea and has broken into the England national team. Mount signed a contract till 2024 not very long ago.

Verdict: Stays.

Attackers

Willian

Chelsea No. 10 Willian is in the final few months of his contract. Negotiations over a new deal have hit a roadblock, casting serious doubts over his future.

With plenty of suitors out there, we might see the Brazilian opt to move on at the end of the season.

Verdict: Leaves.

Read | Who could stay or leave this summer? Liverpool’s squad assessed

Christian Pulisic

USMNT international Christian Pulisic had shown brief glimpses of his abilities before picking up an injury. An exciting talent, Pulisic has a bright future at Chelsea.

Verdict: Stays.

Pedro

Another experienced pro whose contract is on the verge of expiry, Pedro has stated that he is keen on leaving and should get his wish when the season comes to a closure.

Verdict: Leaves.

Callum Hudson-Odoi

England international Callum Hudson-Odoi hasn’t played as regularly as he would have liked this season, with intermittent injuries hampering his development.

Bayern Munich have made no secret of their interest in the winger, but having signed a new long-term contract last September, Hudson-Odoi is expected to be a prominent player under Lampard moving forward.

Verdict: Stays.

Olivier Giroud

World Cup-winning striker Olivier Giroud was largely frozen out of the first-team picture by Lampard in the first-half of the season but an injury to Abraham forced him to bring Giroud back into the fold and the veteran showed what he brings to the table with a couple of important goals.

However, his contract expires at the end of the season and former Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is keen on a reunion at Inter Milan.

Verdict: Leaves.

Tammy Abraham

The biggest beneficiary of Chelsea’s transfer ban in the last summer is Tammy Abraham. Thrust into the role of the first-choice striker, Abraham has thrived, although he did suffer a dip in form since the turn of the year.

Verdict: Stays.

Michy Batshuayi

Belgian international Michy Batshuayi hasn’t been able to convince us of his abilities during his time at Chelsea, apart from that brilliant loan spell at Borussia Dortmund.

With just a year left on his contract and Lampard looking for reinforcements, his future hangs in the balance. However, with Giroud certain to leave, Chelsea might hold on to him in order to avoid being too thinly stretched in the attacking department.

Verdict: Stays.

Feature image courtesy: AFP / Glyn Kirk

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author's and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SportsAdda.

Frank Lampard said "sloppy" Chelsea need to be more clinical after they survived a tense finish to climb to third place in the Premier League with a 2-1 victory at lowly Watford on Saturday.

Lampard's side bounced back from their midweek League Cup defeat against Manchester United to make it five successive league wins.

The Blues have won eight of their past nine matches in all competitions as Lampard continues to make a good impression in his first season in charge.

His decision to go with unproven youngsters like Tammy Abraham, who opened the scoring, has been a shrewd move, while Christian Pulisic, scorer of the second, is justifying his hefty price tag after starting the season on the bench.

Gerard Deulofeu's late VAR-awarded penalty came too late to stop Chelsea recording a seventh successive away win in all competitions.

They are just two points behind second-placed Manchester City despite being unable to sign players in the summer due to a transfer ban.

But with a trip to City looming and Champions League ties against Ajax and Valencia on the schedule, November will provide much sterner tests of Chelsea's progress than this stroll in the autumn chill at Vicarage Road.

"We played really well, our midfield was outstanding, but we just cannot have that sloppy bit near the end," Lampard said.

"It was a terrible 10 minutes considering how the game had gone. We need to be more clinical, we got a bit sloppy.

"We rely on our goalkeeper for those moments at the end of the game and he did what we needed him to do."

Despite his frustration at Chelsea's nervous finish, Lampard praised their impressive start.

"I'm happy with how the players are playing. It's great to watch," he said.

Watford could have lost by a much bigger margin and they remain bottom of the table, without a win in the league this season.

Chelsea made a blistering start that reaped an immediate reward when Abraham accelerated on Jorginho's sublime pin-point pass and lifted a cool finish over Ben Foster.

It was Abraham's 10th goal of his breakthrough campaign ending a five-game goal drought for the young England striker, who has scored seven goals in away games this season.

Just as significantly, Jorginho's role in the goal indicated the Italy midfielder's improved form in his second season with Chelsea.

Foster keeps it close

Only Foster stopped Chelsea's dominant display yielding more goals.

Foster kept out Abraham with a fine save, then from Willian's corner, Pulisic looped a header that forced an even better stop by the Watford keeper.

Having won their previous six games on the road in all competitions, Chelsea were in confident mood and Mason Mount was inches away from their second goal when his long-range blast was pushed onto the bar by Foster's fine save.

Chelsea had lost just one of their last 58 league games when leading at half-time, at Wolves in December 2018.

Foster was all that stood between the Blues and another away-day success as the 36-year-old denied Mount with another superb stop early in the second half.

Pulisic had scored a hat-trick in last weekend's win at Burnley and the United States winger was back on the scoresheet to put the result beyond doubt in the 55th minute.

Abraham was the provider with a low cross and Pulisic evaded Watford's dozing defence to tap in from close range.

Boos rang out when Daryl Janmaat was replaced by Kiko Femenia as Watford fans barraged boss Quique Sanchez Flores with chants of "you don't know what you're doing".

But Watford were given a controversial 80th-minute lifeline when VAR ruled that Jorginho had caught Deulofeu with a trip that drew a theatrical fall from the winger.

Deulofeu dusted himself down to slot home the penalty.

Foster, up for a last second free-kick, almost gave Watford a dramatic point, but his header was brilliantly saved by Kepa Arrizabalaga, who was mobbed by celebrating team-mates at the final whistle.

Feature image courtesy: AFP/ Adrian Dennis

The mid-week action of the Carabao Cup returns to England, and it brings along some of the most exciting fixtures lined up for the footballing faithful.

The round of 16 of the competition has the Premier League teams dominating the stage as Leicester City make their trip to the Pirelli Stadium to face Burton Albion. Meanwhile, Everton, Manchester City and Aston Villa host Watford, Southampton and Wolves respectively at home.

Fixtures like these usually ushers a sense of quandary, and often leads to perplexed conclusions. To avoid such mishap though, keep an eye on these games and head to Sportsbet.io to select your picks.

Liverpool vs Arsenal

There’s one thing certain about this fixture, and it’s goals. Liverpool taking on Arsenal has always been a goal fest, to say the least. Undefeated against the Gunners since 2015, Liverpool have smashed 16 goals in their last five meetings, while conceding six. Their last league cup meeting came a decade ago, when goals from Fran Merida and Nicklas Bendtner gave Arsenal a 2-1 win.

25 - Liverpool have now won 25 of their last 30 matches in all competitions (W25 D3 L2), with that run including seven victories in the Champions League. Mettle. pic.twitter.com/uIIhGUzNz1

�?OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 23, 2019

Fortunes have changed big time since. Arsenal, who are traditionally hard to beat in cup competitions, have experienced a dramatic fall in recent months. Apart from having defensive troubles, Emery’s men have struggled in front of goal.

Liverpool, on the other hand, are on a good run. Barring the 1-1 draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford, they have scored goals for fun this season. You can sure expect Arsenal to have a go at goal at times, but a win, at Anfield no less, seems nothing but a lucid dream.

Watch out for:

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: Liverpool enjoy the luxury of creative depth in their midfield. And as they prepare themselves for the showdown, a certain Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is expected to grab a major chunk of the headlines.

Following a 12-month injury lay-off, the 26-year-old marked his comeback with two goals in Liverpool’s 4-1 win over Genk in the Champions League. He will be expecting to make a similar impact when he faces his former team at his new home. 

Chelsea vs Manchester United

Regardless of what has been said, Chelsea head into the fixture with an inferior head to head record against Manchester United, having lost two of their last five encounters in all competition while winning just one.

In fact, their last meeting at Stamford Bridge came in the fifth round of the FA cup in February, where goals from Ander Herrera and Paul Pogba ensured Manchester United came up victorious. The recent downfall of Manchester United though tells a different story. Their away record has been abysmal, to say the least. Barring the recent 1-0 win over Partizan in the Europa League, United’s last victory away from home came against PSG in March.

11 - Man Utd are winless in their last 11 away matches in all competitions (D4 L7), since winning their opening nine such games under Ole Gunnar Solskjær �?the Red Devils last went longer without an away victory between March–August 1979 (12), under Dave Sexton. Unfamiliar. #UEL pic.twitter.com/e4IhYBIYRN

�?OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 24, 2019

The team has scored just three goals in their last five games in all competitions and this has sent the fanbase into a state of frenzy. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer did defeat Frank Lampard in their last meeting, but given United’s injury issues, expect the result to go the other way this time.

21y 38d - Christian Pulisic today became @ChelseaFC's youngest hat-trick scorer in Premier League history, beating Tammy Abraham's record that stood for 42 days. Escalation. pic.twitter.com/UKStkkmkyD

�?OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 26, 2019

Watch out for:

Christian Pulisic: Pulisic, who was heading for the title of ‘worst transfer of the season�? revived his Chelsea career with a fantastic performance against Ajax in the Champions League and Burnley in the Premier League. Creator of the winner against the Dutch side, the American went on to score a perfect hat-trick at Turf Moor on Saturday. Expect his red-hot form to trouble the United defence on the night.

Head to Sportsbet.io to make your selections and let the ball rolling.

Featured image courtesy: AFP / Oli Scarff