Chelsea predicted lineup vs Middlesbrough - Carabao Cup
- Chelsea visit Middlesbrough on Tuesday night for first leg of Carabao Cup semi-final tie
- Christoper Nkunku has picked up another injury
- Nicolas Jackson is away at AFCON
Chelsea will be looking to take a giant leap towards the Carabao Cup final when they take on Championship side Middlesbrough away from home on Tuesday night.
The Blues have enjoyed an unbeaten start in domestic cup competitions under Mauricio Pochettino so far and head into Tuesday's game having swatted aside middling Championship outfit Preston in the FA Cup.
Pochettino will now be looking to guide his team into the Carabao Cup final, with Chelsea having a great chance to take a giant leap towards Wembley with a win at the Riverside.
Here's how the Blues could line up against Middlesbrough on Tuesday.
Chelsea predicted lineup vs Middlesbrough (4-2-3-1)
GK: Đorđe Petrović - After enjoying a quiet evening against Preston, Petrovic will continue between the sticks on Tuesday night.
RB: Malo Gusto - The Frenchman was used at left-back at the weekend but should return to his preferred role at the Riverside in Reece James' absence.
CB: Axel Disasi - Pochettino is an admirer of the towering Frenchman and he has been utilised heavily since joining the club.
CB: Thiago Silva - The veteran earned a breather at the weekend but he's still the best defender on the club's books. The Brazilian will come back into the side on Tuesday.
LB: Levi Colwill - The young defender returned to the heart of Chelsea's defence against Preston but Silva's inclusion means Colwill will likely be thrust out to the left again.
CM: Conor Gallagher - The dogged midfielder dropped out of the side for the Blues' FA Cup tie. Gallagher has been linked with a move away so, who knows, could this be one of the midfielder's final appearances for the west Londoners?
CM: Enzo Fernandez - The sultry Argentine was in supreme form on Saturday and should be given the chance to build on that performance.
RW: Noni Madueke - The winger was hitting his stride at the end of 2023 and is expected to come back into the team against Boro.
AM: Cole Palmer - Christopher Nkunku's hip injury should see him miss out. The Frenchman was absent from Chelsea's FA Cup win and almost certainly won't start on Tuesday if he does make the matchday squad. Thus, Palmer should again assume a central creative role.
LM: Raheem Sterling - Sterling was excellent at the weekend, although much of his good work this season has come from the right flank. He could start on the left in midweek.
ST: Armando Broja - The absence of Nicolas Jackson means Broja will enjoy a run in the side. The Albanian forward scored Chelsea's second in Saturday's 4-0 win.
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