MX23RW : Thursday, January 6 07:31:34| >> :120:21128:21128:
Dec 22, 2021 at 7.45pm UK at Brentford Community Stadium
BrentfordBrentford
0-2
ChelseaChelsea

Janelt (12'), Canos (68')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Jansson (80' og.), Jorginho (85' pen.)
Vale (45'), Niguez (77')

How Chelsea could line up against Brentford

How Chelsea could line up against Brentford
© Reuters
Sports Mole looks at how Chelsea could line up for Wednesday's EFL Cup quarter-final clash with West London rivals Brentford.

Chelsea will once again have to field a depleted side when they take on their West London neighbours Brentford in the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup on Wednesday night.

Thomas Tuchel was only able to name four outfield players on his bench for Sunday's goalless draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers, having been angered by the Premier League's refusal to accept their request for a postponement.

That fury is unlikely to abate at being forced into action again so soon afterwards, with Chelsea now thought to have returned as many as seven positive coronavirus tests.

Only five of those have been identified so far - Romelu Lukaku, Timo Werner, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Ben Chilwell and Lewis Baker - and the quintet will all miss out again in midweek.

Jorginho was left out against Wolves after returning an inconclusive test, but he was able to return to training on Monday and so could be involved.

The European champions will also assess Trevoh Chalobah and Hakim Ziyech, who added to their woes on Sunday by limping off injured at Molineux.

Neither injury is thought to be serious, but the quick turnaround in games makes them major doubts for this match, and Tuchel is unlikely to take any risks, with the Premier League his immediate priority.

The German manager has also confirmed that N'Golo Kante will play no part, having played through the pain barrier at the weekend.

Chelsea will keep tabs on Kai Havertz, who has returned a negative COVID test but missed out against Wolves with illness nonetheless, and the German could be ready to lead the line having scored four goals in his two League Cup games to date.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Andreas Christensen will also be assessed ahead of kickoff after missing out against Wolves due to knocks, although Tuchel is again likely to exercise caution over anyone short of full fitness.

The list of absentees means that Tuchel will look to rotate wherever possible for this match, which could mean starts for fringe players such as Kepa Arrizabalaga, Malang Sarr, Saul Niguez and Ross Barkley.

There could be opportunities for young players too after Tuchel promoted nine of them to first-team training to help with numbers.

Fit-again Mateo Kovacic could also come back into the side for his first start since October.

Chelsea possible starting lineup: Kepa; Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Sarr; James, Saul, Kovacic, Alonso; Mount, Barkley; Havertz

ID:473484:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect5177:

How you voted: Brentford vs Chelsea

Brentford
22.3%
Draw
14.2%
Chelsea
63.5%
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Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel reacts on October 16, 2021
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Todays Game Header Right
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City21172253134053
2Chelsea21127245162943
3Liverpool20126252183442
4Arsenal2011273325835
5West Ham UnitedWest Ham20104637271034
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1810352320333
7Manchester UnitedMan Utd199463027331
8Wolverhampton WanderersWolves198471414028
9Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton196942020027
10Leicester CityLeicester187473133-225
11Crystal Palace205872930-123
12Brentford196582326-323
13Aston Villa1971112530-522
14Southampton194962029-921
15Everton185492332-919
16Leeds UnitedLeeds194782137-1619
17Watford1841132236-1413
18Burnley171881627-1111
19Newcastle UnitedNewcastle1918101942-2311
20Norwich CityNorwich192413842-3410

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