🏆 Chelsea (A) Pre-match thoughts, team news, possible line-ups & prediction

by Olly Hawkins · Published 18 December 2023, 19:55

Fueled by our Champions League exit, Saturday's vital win over Fulham and last season's defeat at Wembley, we head to Stamford Bridge on Tuesday night bidding to reach the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup.

It's a massive game that's been made even bigger after we were dumped out of Europe last week. Thankfully, we bounced back brilliantly with a 3-0 victory over Fulham, helping us regain some momentum ahead of our trip to London.

Win and we'll face Everton or Fulham, Port Vale or Middlesbrough or the winners of Liverpool vs West Ham. The draw is open, Chelsea are beatable - as we proved in a 4-1 win last month - and we are desperate for a trophy, but our away performances must improve if we want to make it into the last four on Eddie Howe's 100th game as Newcastle manager.

Speaking at Monday's press conference, the boss had this to say ahead of the game:

"The two draws we had previously in this cup, they are as difficult as you can get. The beauty of those two games we have had has shown we can raise our game against top teams in this competition, we are determined to progress and create more memories. We know how difficult it will be, but we know the prize on offer."

Team news

Fabian Schar (glute) and Joelinton (hamstring) are set for scans after both pulled up over the weekend, so they are almost certain to miss out, but Lewis Hall is eligible to face his parent club due to Carabao Cup rules and Chelsea granting permission.

Alexander Isak "has a chance" of returning after he was rested on Saturday following an ongoing groin issue, Kieran Trippier could return and Sven Botman is in contention to start for the first time in three months.

Elsewhere, Harvey Barnes is out for '4-5 weeks' and Elliot Anderson remains out alongside Joe Willock, Jacob Murphy, Nick Pope, Matt Targett, Sandro Tonali and Javier Manquillo.

For Chelsea, the likes of Sanchez (GK), Cucurella, James, Fofana, Lavia and Chilwell remain out, but summer signing Christopher Nkunku could feature for the first time.

Predicted XI

(4-3-3): Dubravka - Trippier, Lascelles, Burn, Livramento - Miley, Bruno, Longstaff - Almiron, Wilson, Gordon.

With Burn fit again, I don't think Botman will be rushed back into the side, even if Howe is tempted to add some ball-playing quality in Schar's absence. I expect Trippier to return at right-back after his rest, yet Krafth can't be ruled out if our vice captain still isn't right, as the Swede was outstanding at both ends against Fulham.

In midfield, Joelinton's likely absence will almost certainly open the door to Miley, who deserves another start after his sensational cameo on Saturday. Hall is an option who can play anywhere down the left and impressed in our 3-0 win at Man Utd in the last round, but his lack of minutes suggest a start is unlikely.

In attack, Wilson has started two games in the last six days and is rarely able to play three in seven. However, playing Isak would be perhaps even more risky if he's not ready.

Prediction

Chelsea are very beatable. Plenty of quality individuals, but they're disjointed, have plenty of injuries themselves and lack heart. They're better at home and have a good manager in Pochettino, but I think we'll edge this one.

A score-draw in normal time followed by Dubravka heroics to win us the shootout. HWTL!