Chelsea will meet Derby County in the fourth round of Carabao Cup at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday. It will be a homecoming for the legendary Chelsea footballer Frank Lampard as the manager of Derby County. His side have already beaten Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United in the third round of the competition. They will be hopeful to beat Chelsea too in Carabao Cup to progress to the next round of the competition.
Team News :
Chelsea :
The Blues will be expecting Eden Hazard to take part in some part of the match against Derby County in the fourth round of Carabao Cup on Wednesday. Eden Hazard is now back in the training of Chelsea FC. Zola has confirmed that Eden Hazard might be ready for this midweek game. Otherwise, he should be fit for the Premier League match against Crystal Palace in the weekend. On the other hand, Olivier Giroud has a slight niggle in one leg. So, there is a doubt over his place at the starting lineup of the Blues against Derby County. But Alvaro Morata has started for the Blues on Sunday against Burnley. After getting a goal in that match it is very much certain that he is going to start against Crystal Palace too in this weekend. It will be tough for the Spaniard to start in three matches in seven days. So, Maurizio Sarri will wait to assess the fitness condition of Olivier Giroud till the very end.
Pedro has to be subbed off in the match against Burnley at the 30th minute of the match due to a strong stomach ache. It is assumed that Maurizio Sarri will not risk his player against Derby County. Willian is also constantly playing for the Blues without any kind of rest. So it is seeming that the manager will both of them a much needed rest in this match. So, according to the sources, Victor Moses and Callum Hudson Odoi are going to start in both the wings for the Blues in this match.
Mateo Kovacic was not in the starting lineup of the Blues against Burnley. So, it is very much certain that he will start in this match against Derby County. Fabregas and Ruben Loftus Cheek will be alongside him in the Carabao Cup match against Derby County. Ruben Loftus Cheek might be changed with Danny Drinkwater as he is not starting any match for Chelsea FC in this season. Emerson and Zappacosta are expected to be at the flanks of the Blues while Christensen and Gary Cahill will be there in the central defense for the Blues. Willy Caballero might start at the Goal for the Blues in this match against Derby County.
Derby County :
Two Chelsea loanees, Fikayo Tomori and Mason Mount are allowed to play against their parent club in this match. Mason Mount has picked up an injury in the weekend. Though, the chances are still there for him to feature in this match. Never underestimate the monster that you created and Jose Mourinho already knows that now. Let’s see how these young talents from west London play under the Chelsea legend.
Predicted Starting Eleven :
Chelsea : (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper : Caballero
Defenders : Zappacosta, Cahill, Christensen, Emerson.
Midfielders : Loftus-Cheek, Fabregas, Kovacic.
Attackers : Moses, Giroud, Hudson-Odoi.
Derby County : (4-2-3-1)
Goalkeeper : Carson
Defenders : Bogle, Keogh, Tomori, Forsyth.
Midfielders : Huddlestone, Johnson; Bennett, Mount, Wilson.
Attackers : Marriott
My Predicted Scoreline :
Chelsea 3-1 Derby County
