Chelsea are looking to get back to winning form as they face Blackburn Rovers in the last-16 stage of the EFL Cup on Wednesday evening.
Their recent 2-0 loss to Brentford in the Premier League has left them in 11th place in the table.
Under Mauricio Pochettino’s management, the Blues have already defeated AFC Wimbledon and Brighton and Hove Albion in this season’s League Cup. Now, they are aiming to advance to the quarter-finals of the competition.
Chelsea have experienced four consecutive winless matches at home in the Premier League. However, they have a prime opportunity to end this streak as they face Blackburn Rovers.
The speedy fullback, Reece James, is expected to make a return to the starting lineup, but several players, including Enzo Fernandez, Mykhaylo Mudryk, Benjamin Chilwell, Romeo Lavia, and Trevoh Chalobah, are unavailable due to injuries.
Both teams are dealing with several injury concerns leading up to this match. Chelsea’s left-back Chilwell is unavailable until December due to a hamstring injury, and Wesley Fofana is still recovering from knee surgery he had during the summer.
⏪ 𝕮𝖑𝖆𝖘𝖘𝖎𝖈 𝕮𝖑𝖆𝖘𝖍
2009 was the last time we faced Chelsea in the League Cup, playing out a 3-3 draw at Ewood Park before @GKPaulRobinson's heroics in goal earned a penalty shoot-out victory!#CHEvROV | #Rovers 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/nQ3lTcf8AT
— Blackburn Rovers (@Rovers) October 30, 2023
The West Londoners have also reported that Chalobah and Carney Chukwuemeka have faced setbacks in their injury recoveries, making it unlikely for them to play in this match.
Lavia has experienced a setback in his return from an ankle problem, delaying his debut for his new club.
Christopher Nkunku may return from a knee issue after the November international break, while another striker, Armando Broja, could miss out due to a knee injury that has kept him sidelined since before the October international break.
Predicted Chelsea Starting XI against Blackburn Rovers:
Robert Sanchez, Levi Colwill, Thiago Silva, Axel Disasi, Malo Gusto, Madueke, Ugochukwu, Moises Caicedo, Connor Gallagher, Raheem Sterling, Nicolas Jackson.
Chelsea’s Predicted Starting 11
