Chelsea predicted lineup vs Middlesbrough - Carabao Cup
- Chelsea host Boro in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final
- Mauricio Pochettino's side trail 1-0 on aggregate after losing the first leg
- Christopher Nkunku is expected to be one of several key absentees for the Blues
Chelsea welcome Middlesbrough to Stamford Bridge for the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final after losing 1-0 at the Riverside a fortnight ago.
Mauricio Pochettino's side boast an impressive eight-match unbeaten sequence on home turf, the club's longest stretch without defeat at the Bridge in more than a year. However, Chelsea's home ground has hardly been an inhospitable fortress of late.
Earlier this month, former Blues winger Pat Nevin made the bold claim: "My beloved Chelsea at Stamford Bridge regularly has the matchday atmosphere of a mausoleum on a rainy Monday. Quite fitting as there is a cemetery just behind the main stand."
Chelsea's last home match against Fulham was undermined by a bizarre publicity stunt and one of the loudest cheers during a 1-0 win was for an opposition player, the returning Willian.
With fan involvement under scrutiny, here are the players that Pochettino may rely upon to get a result against the Championship club.
Chelsea predicted lineup vs Middlesbrough (4-2-3-1)
Chelsea's season would be far worse without the signing of Cole Palmer! 👀
— 90min (@90min_Football) January 21, 2024
GK: Djordje Petrovic - Chelsea's stand-in shot-stopper has not yet conceded a goal at Stamford Bridge in 2024, keeping consecutive clean sheets.
RB: Malo Gusto - Only Cole Palmer has laid on more assists for Chelsea teammates this season than Gusto, who can boast four.
CB: Thiago Silva - "To beat me, you have to be stronger than me," Silva insists. "And that's tough."
CB: Axel Disasi - Since marking his debut with a goal against Liverpool, Disasi has missed just two of Chelsea's 27 games across all competitions.
LB: Levi Colwill - Isaiah Jones left Colwill with twisted blood for Middlesbrough's winner in the first leg. Fortunately for the Chelsea defender, Jones is expected to be injured for the rematch.
CM: Moises Caicedo - While explaining how difficult it is to get a result away to Middlesbrough, Pochettino claimed: "Caicedo was telling me his Brighton lost there last season." The Seagulls actually romped to a 5-1 win at the Riverside in the FA Cup third round.
CM: Enzo Fernandez - As a child, teammates called Fernandez 'The Musician' because conducted the orchestra. Some of the nastier players called him 'Fatty' for less romantic reasons.
AM: Conor Gallagher - Chelsea's all-action vice-captain has created more chances than Lucas Paqueta, made more tackles than Declan Rice and completed more interceptions than Virgil van Dijk this season.
RW: Noni Madueke - Maybe Madueke asked Santa Claus for some shooting boots. Since Christmas, Madueke has scored two goals in five games - as many as he managed across his first 21 appearances for Chelsea.
ST: Cole Palmer - The inspiration behind Palmer's trademark celebration, Morgan Rogers, could line up for Middlesbrough this midweek.
LW: Raheem Sterling - Middlesbrough manager Michael Carrick came up against Sterling ten times during his playing career, winning seven times.
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