Chelsea is bracing for an all-out push in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final second leg against Arsenal, needing to overcome a 3-2 deficit from the frist match at Stamford Bridge in January.
The Blues have shown a knack for comebacks recently, overturning results against Napoli and West Ham, suggesting a turnaround against the league leaders isn’t out of the question. But let’s be real, Arsenal presents a significantly tougher challenge.
Key Takeaways
- Robert Sanchez is expected to start in goal for Chelsea.
- Reece James and Marc Cucurella are likely to return to the starting lineup.
- Cole Palmer’s positioning is a key decision for manager L
Robert Sanchez, having made crucial saves in Chelsea’s recent wins, even if clean sheets haven’t been consistent. Reece James and Marc Cucurella, both substitutes in the win over West Ham, are anticipated to slot back into the starting XI.
Interestingly, James could feature in midfield, perhaps allowing Malo Gusto to retain his place at right-back. The central defensive pairing is likely to remain Trevoh Chalobah and Wesley Fofana, who have been mainstays in that position.
The midfield presents a bit of a puzzle. Moises caicedo and Enzo Fernandez would be the obvious choices behind Cole Palmer at number 10, but the lack of natural wingers complicates matters. This could lead to Rosenior deploying Palmer on the right flank, shifting Fernandez into the central role.
Chelsea recently made a move in the transfer window, recalling Mamadou Sarr from his loan spell at Strasbourg and sending Aaron Anselmino to the French club in return. Though, Sarr is unlikely to be thrown into the starting lineup immediately.
A solid defensive setup, potentially with Caicedo alongside either James or Andrey Santos, will be crucial.Ultimately, Chelsea needs a win – and a convincing one – to keep their Carabao Cup hopes alive.
#CFC | #CarabaoCup
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Predicted Chelsea line-up (4-2-3-1) vs Arsenal
Goalkeeper: Robert Sanchez
midfielders: Reece james, Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez
Forwards: Cole Palmer, João Pedro, Pedro Neto
