Chelsea will look to end their four-game winless run when they host League Two side Morecambe in the FA Cup third round today.
A sensational start to the season under new boss Enzo Maresca saw Chelsea mooted as potential challengers for the Premier League title.
However, a disappointing run over the festive period, including defeats to Fulham and Ipswich Town, have seen the Blues drop to fourth place in the league and ten points of leaders Liverpool.
A draw to Crystal Palace last weekend extended their winless run to four games, but Maresca’s side will be hopeful of playing themselves back into form in their first match of this year’s FA Cup against Morecambe.
Here is everything you need to know about Chelsea vs Morecambe, including whether the game will be shown on a TV channel or live stream in the UK.
Is Chelsea vs Morecambe on TV today?
Chelsea vs Morecambe will not be shown on TV in the UK today.
The game will kick-off at 3pm.
Chelsea team news
Chelsea will likely use the fixture as an opportunity to rotate and give minutes to fringe players, with Morecambe currently second bottom in League Two.
Such rotation could afford Reece James the chance to get his first minutes since suffering another hamstring injury in mid-November.
The club captain has been an unused substitute in Chelsea’s last two league games but Maresca confirmed that he planned to give the right-back some minutes today.
Elsewhere in defence, Josh Acheampong could continue at centre-back after his impressive display against Palace, while Renato Veiga and Axel Disasi might also get minutes.
Benoit Badisahille and Wesley Fofana remain longer-term absentees due to their respective injuries, with the latter facing an extended spell on the sidelines.
In midfield, Romeo Lavia will hope to make his long-awaited return having missed the last five league games due to a hamstring injury.
The Belgian has returned to first-team training and Maresca hinted that the 21-year-old could be involved this afternoon.
Summer signings Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Omari Kellyman remain sidelined with injuries, while Maresca confirmed that Cesare Casadei won’t feature as he continues to be linked with a January exit.
‘For him, probably in this moment, the idea is not to allow him to play some minutes in case there is any opportunity for him to go and play,’ Maresca said in his pre-match press conference on Friday.
Tyrique George and Marc Guiu, who both started Chelsea’s last Conference League fixture, could get more cup minutes in attacking positions as Maresca looks to rest his first-choice forwards for the midweek clash with Bournemouth.
Predicted Chelsea XI to face Morecambe
Jorgensen, Disasi, Acheampong, Tosin, Veiga, Caciedo, Lavia, Madueke, Nkunku, George, Guiu
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