Chelsea will look to overcome the first-leg deficit to reach the EFL Cup final when they take on Middlesbrough on Tuesday.
Just three more matches remain for the EFL Cup to crown the next champion. This week’s matches will bring the second-leg ties of the semi-finals, the first of which will see Chelsea hosting Middlesbrough at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday evening.
Chelsea reached the EFL Cup semi-finals by beating AFC Wimbledon, Brighton & Hove Albion, Blackburn Rovers, and Newcastle United in the previous rounds. The Blues are in a decent run of form, winning four of their last five games across all competitions.
Meanwhile, Middlesbrough entered the 2023/24 EFL Cup in the first round and beat Huddersfield Town, Bolton Wanderers, Bradford City, Exeter City, and Port Vale to reach the semi-finals. The visitors are unbeaten in their last three outings but played a 1-1 draw in their most recent game.
The first leg saw Middlesbrough clinch a 1-0 win over Chelsea at the Riverside Stadium, with Hayden Hackney netting the match-winner. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Chelsea
Mauricio Pochettino has a new injury concern hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. Against Middlesbrough on Tuesday, the Chelsea manager will be bereft of the services of ten first-team players.
Malo Gusto is the latest absentee, with the Frenchman sustaining a knock against Fulham. Gusto has joined Robert Sanchez (knee), Trevoh Chalobah (hamstring), Reece James (thigh), Wesley Fofana (knee), Marc Cucurella (ankle), Romeo Lavia (thigh), Lesley Ugochukwu (hamstring), and Christopher Nkunku (hip) on the sidelines.
Chalobah is close to returning, but Tuesday’s game might have come too soon for him. Meanwhile, Nicolas Jackson remains in the Ivory Coast to represent Senegal at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Djordje Petrovic will continue to deputise for Sanchez between the sticks, with Chelsea lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him. Axel Disasi should start as the right-back in Gusto’s absence, with Thiago Silva and Benoit Badiashile forming the central defensive pairing. Levi Colwill will likely feature as the left-back.
As for the midfield unit, Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez should pair up in the double pivot. Conor Gallagher will reprise the no. 10 role. Meanwhile, Cole Palmer has recently played as a makeshift striker and should feature in that position on Tuesday. Raheem Sterling and Noni Madueke should accompany their compatriot in the final third.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Petrovic; Disasi, Thiago Silva, Badiashile, Colwill; Caicedo, Fernandez; Madueke, Gallagher, Sterling; Palmer
Middlesbrough
Unlike his counterpart in the Chelsea dugout, Michael Carrick does not have any new issues to deal with ahead of the trip to Stamford Bridge. The Middlesbrough manager will be without seven first-team players on Tuesday.
Tom Smith (Achilles), Alex Bangura (leg), Tom Smith (Achilles), and Emmanuel Latte Lath (hamstring) remain in the treatment room. Meanwhile, Seny Dieng, Riley McGree, and Sam Silvera are representing their national sides at the Africa Cup of Nations and the AFC Asian Cup.
Middlesbrough will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation against Chelsea, with Tom Glover taking his spot between the sticks. The backline should consist of Lukas Engel, Dael Fry, Matt Clarke, and winter signing Luke Ayling. The full-back will have the onus on them to make an impact on both ends of the pitch.
As for the midfield unit, Hayden Hackney and Jonathan Howson should pair up in the double pivot. The duo will look to keep things tight in the middle of the park while initiating quick transitions. Finally, Marcus Forss will lead the line for Middlesbrough against Chelsea, with Morgan Rogers, Isaiah Jones, and Finn Azaz completing the numbers in the offensive department.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Glover; Ayling, Fry, Clarke, Engel; Howson, Hackney; Jones, Rogers, Azaz; Forss
Key Stats
- Chelsea and Middlesbrough have previously locked horns 118 times across, with the Blues having have the better record in this fixture with 57 wins to their name. The visitors have 32 wins, and 29 games have ended in draws
- Chelsea and Middlesbrough have met four times in the EFL Cup thus far, with two wins apiece for either side.
- After suffering defeats in their first two games of the year, Middlesbrough are unbeaten in their last three outings (W2 D1).
- Chelsea are unbeaten in their most recent eight home games across all competitions, recording six successive victories. They have kept four clean sheets in these games.
- Middlesbrough have won four of their most recentx five away games in all competition, scoring ten goals while conceding four times.
Player to Watch
Conor Gallagher
A few Chelsea players face uncertain futures at Stamford Bridge as we count down the last ten days of the January transfer window. One such player is Conor Gallagher, who might not be at Chelsea for long despite being a mainstay in the middle of the park.
Widespread reports continue to link Gallagher with Tottenham. While a winter move might not materialise, the 23-year-old is still fighting for his Chelsea future. So, he will be eager to make his mark and prove he has what it takes to remain with the West London club for a long time.
Prediction
Chelsea 2-1 Middlesbrough (Middlesbrough through on penalties)
Michael Carrick continues to see his stock rise with his impeccable management of Middlesbrough. Boro beat Chelsea in the first leg earlier this month, and there is no reason why they cannot produce another upset on Tuesday.
But Chelsea’s recent form at Stamford Bridge is excellent, and they should extend their unbeaten run at home to nine games. But the visitors will give the Blues a run for their money, with the match ending in a 2-1 win for the home side. We will then go to the penalties, which will go deep before Carrick and his charges complete the upset.
