Chelsea begin their 2024/25 FA Cup campaign by visiting League Two side Morecambe in the third round.
Enzo Maresca's side are winless in their last four games after some post-Christmas gloom, but the winless run is likely to end against a Morecambe side who currently sit second from bottom in the fourth tier.
The two teams have met on only one occasion previously, and that was at Stamford Bridge in the third round of the FA Cup during the 2020/21 season. All four of the scorers on the day have since left west London, with Kepa Arrizabalaga, currently on loan at Bournemouth, the only player still under contract with Chelsea to take part.
here 90 minutes Guide to ChelseaFA Cup match.
Chelsea vs Morecambe H2H record (all times)
Current form (all competitions)
|
Chelsea |
Morecambe |
|---|---|
|
Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea – 04/01/25 |
Morecambe 2-0 Tranmere – 01/01/25 |
|
Ipswich 2-0 Chelsea – 30/12/24 |
Salford 1-0 Morecambe – 29/12/24 |
|
Chelsea 1-2 Fulham – 12/26/24 |
Carlisle 0-1 Morecambe – 26/12/24 |
|
Everton 0-0 Chelsea – 12/22/24 |
Morecambe 0-2 Bromley – 21/12/24 |
|
Chelsea 5-1 Shamrock Rovers – 12/19/24 |
Cheltenham 2-0 Morecambe – 12/14/24 |
|
nation |
TV Channel/Live Broadcast |
|---|---|
|
UK |
talkSPORT Radio 2 (audio broadcast only) |
|
US |
ESPN+, the ESPN app |
|
Canada |
Sportsnet Now, Sportsnet East, Sportsnet Ontario, Sportsnet Pacific, Sportsnet West, Sportsnet One, Sportsnet Now Plus |
Chelsea are expected to field their second squad on Saturday, but injuries will also affect Maresca's team selection.
Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile are both missing at centre-back. With Chelsea already looking for defensive cover in the January market. Romeo Lavia could return to midfield after missing the club's five Premier League matches.
Carne Chukwuemeka and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall are likely to miss the weekend through illness and injury respectively, while Mykhailo Modric remains unavailable after failing a recent drugs test. Ben Chilwell and Cesare Casadei will also not feature as they look to move away.
Chelsea's expected lineup against Morecambe (4-2-3-1): Jorgensen. Acheampong, Desisa, Adarabioyo, Vega; Lafia's brother-in-law; Dweck, Chicken, George; guide.
Morecambe coach Derek Adams will be dreaming of a miracle on Saturday, but the reality is his struggling side are unlikely to be anything more than a punching bag for 90 minutes.
Even the goal will be wildly celebrated by the traveling fans, who don't have much to shout about this term. Ben Tollett is their best route onto the top scorers' list, with the 30-year-old notching eight goals and three assists in all competitions.
Morecambe's expected lineup against Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Burgoyne. Hendry, Williams, Stott, we create; Wyatt Jones. Tollett, Breast, Edwards; Duckers.
Chelsea have shown their ability to put less opposition to the sword this season. They have scored 26 goals in six Europa League matches, including an 8-0 win over Armenian side Noah, and overcoming League Two side Barrow 5-0 in September in the Carabao Cup.
Saturday could see them lift the score and flex their attacking muscles against the second-worst team in the top four divisions of English football this season. Only three teams have conceded more than Morecambe's 39 goals in League Two, and Adams' side could be in for a long afternoon against a star-studded and deep Chelsea side.
