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Chelsea manager Antonio Conte has new options at the back, with Antonio Rudiger and Davide Zappacosta offering strong competition for Gary Cahill and Victor Moses

David Luiz, Gary Cahill, Cesar Azpilicueta. Chelsea's back line was as settled and predictable as it comes last season as they marched to the Premier League title.

Once manager Antonio Conte realised that playing three in defence was the key to success, and that those three should be Luiz, Cahill and Azpilicueta, there was no turning back.

Fast-forward 12 months and the situation has become a little more complicated. Those three are no longer guaranteed to be the first names pencilled onto Conte's teamsheet.

Antonio Rudiger is congratulated by Antonio Conte after a good performance at Leicester
Antonio Rudiger is congratulated by Antonio Conte after a good performance at Leicester
Chelsea captain Gary Cahill saw red during their opening day defeat to Burnley
Chelsea captain Gary Cahill saw red during their opening day defeat to Burnley
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte now has additional options for his defensive line
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte now has additional options for his defensive line

Sure, the trio's consistency was one of the key factors in Chelsea winning the title by seven points, but that was last season and this is now.