Chelsea will have another chance to get their smiles back on Sunday when they host Luton Town at Stamford Bridge in the FA Cup fourth round.
The Blues have won just three of their last ten games in all competitions, one of which was the victory over Morecambe that got them that meeting with the Hatters, and that form saw manager Frank Lampard’s future make it up. subject to real scrutiny.
Despite their poor form, Chelsea still expect a win against a Luton side who currently sit 13th in the league.
When is the kick-off? Sunday January 24
What time is the kick-off? 12:00 (GMT)
Where is it played? stamford bridge
TV channel / live broadcast? BBC One / BBC iPlayer
Arbitrator? David Coote
Home. ?? pic.twitter.com/tsVLEaZhKt
– Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) January 22, 2021
We don’t have many definitive answers about the fitness of the current Chelsea squad. Instead of asking about it, Lampard was forced to listen to questions about his future in his pre-game press conference, and it got a little ugly.
The two players who missed Leicester’s game last time, Olivier Giroud and N’Golo Kante, could play a part in an attempt to boost their fitness, but Lampard could choose to keep them resting a bit longer.
Luton boss Nathan Jones has vowed to treat the game with “ultimate respect”, and he expects him to play a strong side which could feature loaned Leicester Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who was allowed to play in this one.
Chelsea: Kepa; James, Zouma, Christensen, Emerson; Jorginho, Mount, Havertz; Pulisic, Abraham, Hudson-Odoi.
Luton: Sluga; Bree, Bradley, Pearson, Potts; Tunnicliffe, Dewsbury-Hall, Moncur, Berry; Collins, Hylton.
? ️ “Our fans have waited a long time for matches like this. In Harford’s time, Preece and the Stein brothers, these were regular events. They are not up to the minute but the club have made their way one level above the Premier League… “#EmiratesFACup | #COYH pic.twitter.com/NHS41fAJPO
– @LutonTown (@LutonTown) January 22, 2021
Chelsea
Leicester 2-0 Chelsea (01/19)
Fulham 0-1 Chelsea (01/16)
Chelsea 4-0 Morecambe (10/01)
Chelsea 1-3 Manchester City (03/01)
Chelsea 1-1 Aston Villa (12/28)
Luton
Brentford 1-0 Luton (01/20)
Bournemouth 0-1 Luton (01/16)
Luton 0-2 QPR (12/01)
Luton 1-0 Reading (09/01)
Luton 2-1 Bristol City (12/29)
Despite Chelsea’s difficulties in recent weeks, there are still 25 places in the league between these two teams, the Blues should therefore be considered favorites.
On the side of Lampard should have the quality of winning here without any real problems, but life hasn’t been exactly like that at Chelsea recently. They weren’t as good as their 4-0 triumph over Morecambe suggests, and Luton will smell blood.
It could be a banana peel for Chelsea, but their quality should guide them unscathed.
Prediction: Chelsea 2-0 Luton
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