Here are the how the teams shaped up for the match between Chelsea and Norwich City, in a game that the Blues were expected to easily win on the night in the FA Cup. Things did not go as per plan for Antonio Conte’s side, though he had put in a decent selection that let him down once again. Have a look :
CHELSEA (3-4-3): Caballero; Luiz, Cahill, Rudiger; Zappacosta, Drinkwater, Bakayoko, Kenedy; Willian, Batshuayi, Pedro.
NORWICH (3-4-3): Gunn; Zimmermann, Hanley, Klose; Pinto, Trybull, Tettey, Lewis; Pritchard, Maddison, Murphy.
The Talking Points of The FA Cup Third Round Match :
1. A Second String Side Were On Action For Chelsea :
Conte had made several changes to his side that drew with Arsenal last time out. Michy Batshuayi, Pedro and Willian were leading a three-man attack, while Davide Zappacosta and Kennedy were operating in the wingback roles. Danny Drinkwater and Tiemoue Bakayoko started in the heart of the midfield. The back three had experience and strength as Gary Cahill, David Luiz and Antonio Rudiger all started ahead of Willy Caballero, replacing Thibaut Courtois between the sticks.
2.Disappointing First Half Performance Of Chelsea :
It was all square at the break between Norwich and Chelsea as both sides struggled in the final third. The Canaries had the best openings of the first period as Josh Murphy missed a couple of good opportunities after breaking into the left inside channel. Chelsea struggled to get out of first gear and Antonio Conte would be demanding an improvement after the interval.
3. Norwich Were The Better Side For Most Of The Times In The Match :
Norwich were putting pressure on Chelsea in the second half as they won a free-kick on the right flank and Maddison whipped the ball into the box. Caballero came for the cross and missed with his punch. Murphy seized on the loose ball and tried to drive his effort through a crowd of players, but it took a deflection off Luiz and went out for a corner.
Again Murphy peeled off the back of Luiz to collect a long ball over the top on the right flank. He cut in from the right to shoot on his left foot, but he powered his effort over the bar.
4. Chelsea Got Several Chances But Failed To Make An Impact :
David Luiz went for the strike from the resulting free-kick and he hit the ball with power towards the top corner, but Gunn watched his effort safely over the bar. Again, Zimmermann’s clearance from Luiz’s ball over the top dropped to Drinkwater 25 yards from goal. He lined up a strike, but Gunn made a comfortable save.
5. Alvaro Morata’s Inclusion In The Match :
Alvaro Morata replaced the ineffectual Batshuayi for the visitors. Morata almost latched on to Luiz’s long ball forward, but it just evaded his outstretched leg in the box after the Spaniard had moved clear of the Canaries’ backline. Some moments later, Drinkwater put the ball to the back post for Morata to head at goal, but the Spaniard drifted into an offside position as he headed at goal.
6. Replay At Stamford Bridge Within Few Days :
There will be replay at Stamford Bridge to decide the tie as neither team was able to find a breakthrough this evening. Chelsea will be disappointed with their effort as they failed to force Angus Gunn into a great deal of action, with Norwich limiting them to efforts from distance.
