Chelsea begin their EFL Cup campaign at home to Luton Town on Thursday, with Xabi Alonso’s side looking to build on their opening-day Premier League win over Fulham on Monday.
Luton, meanwhile, have made a positive start to life in League One under Jack Wilshere and will be hoping to produce a major upset at Stamford Bridge.
This is only Chelsea’s third EFL Cup second-round tie since the start of the 21st century. They won the previous two, beating Bristol Rovers 3-2 in 2016-17 and AFC Wimbledon 2-1 in 2023-24.
The Blues have also progressed from 27 of their last 28 EFL Cup ties against teams from outside the top flight. Their only elimination during that run came against Burnley on penalties in 2008.
Luton will arrive at Stamford Bridge in good spirits after making an unbeaten start to the new campaign.
Wilshere’s side ended last season with a 12-game unbeaten run across all competitions and have followed that up with two wins and a draw this term.
The Hatters came from behind to beat Reading 4-3 on the opening weekend before drawing 2-2 with Notts County last Saturday. New signing Callum Marshall scored his first goal for the club in that match.
Luton also progressed from the opening round of the EFL Cup with a comfortable 3-0 win away to Gillingham.
Team news for Chelsea vs Luton
Chelsea remain without Jordan Henderson and Emmanuel Emegha due to wrist and hamstring injuries respectively.
Moises Caicedo, Marco Palestra and Aaron Anselmino will all be assessed after missing Monday’s win over Fulham.
Alonso is expected to rotate his team heavily and could hand full debuts to Danny Welbeck, Valentin Barco, Pep Chavarria and goalkeeper Mike Penders.
Geovany Quenda, Estevao Willian, Jamie Gittens and Pedro Neto will all be pushing for starting places, while Enzo Fernandez’s involvement remains uncertain amid continued transfer speculation.
Luton will be without Jordan Clark after the midfielder suffered a broken jaw against Notts County. Shaydon Morris is also sidelined with a hamstring problem, while Shandon Baptiste remains out with a knee injury.
Sverre Sandal or Hakeem Odoffin could therefore come into midfield alongside Liam Walsh and Kasey Palmer.
Expected line-ups for Chelsea vs Luton
Chelsea: Penders; Acheampong, Lacroix, Fofana; Palestra, Lavia, Barco, Chavarria; Neto, Estevao; Welbeck.
Luton Town: Shea; Ashby, Anderson, Johnston, Naismith; Walsh, Odoffin, Palmer; Jones, Marshall, Lawrence.
How to watch Chelsea vs Luton: TV channel, online stream
Kick-off on Thursday is at 19:30 BST (14:30 ET / 11:30 PT), with live coverage in the UK on Sky Sports Plus.
Via Now TV, Sky Sports costs £14.99 for a day membership, £27.99 a month for a 12-month membership or £34.99 a month with no contract.
Chelsea vs Luton stats
- These teams have met 47 times in all competitions, comprising 21 wins for Chelsea and 13 for Luton, as well as 13 draws
- Chelsea have won their last five meetings with Luton: a 1994 FA Cup semi-final at Wembley, FA Cup ties 2021 and 2022 and a Premier League double in 2023/24
- They have progressed from 27 of their last 28 EFL Cup ties against teams from outside the Premier League
- Victory would give Chelsea back-to-back wins for the first time since March, when they beat Aston Villa away in the Premier League and Wrexham on the road in the FA Cup
- This is Chelsea’s third appearance in the EFL Cup second round in the past 30 years, with both of the previous two such games during that period coming at home: a 3-2 win over Bristol Rovers in 2016 and a 2-1 victory against AFC Wimbledon in 2023
- Luton have failed to win any of their last six competitive visits to Stamford Bridge and have been eliminated from eight of their last nine EFL Cup ties against Premier League opposition
- Their last win at Stamford Bridge was a 3-1 victory in the top flight in September 1986, Luton finishing seven places and 14 points above Chelsea in seventh at the end of that season
- That was Luton’s joint-largest win as the away side in the fixture, prevailing by the same margin in the top flight in 1957/58
- The Hatters’ best performance in the EFL Cup came when they lifted the trophy by beating Arsenal in the 1988 final, proceeding to reach the final again the following season
- Eight of Luton’s last nine ties against Premier League opponents in the EFL Cup have ended in their elimination
Prediction
Luton have shown plenty of attacking threat during the opening weeks of the season and should be capable of testing Chelsea’s defence.
However, Alonso has enough depth in his squad to make several changes without significantly weakening the side. Chelsea’s attacking quality should ultimately prove too much for their League One opponents.
Prediction: Chelsea 3-1 Luton Town
You Should Also Read
