Chelsea is on a roll, and they'll look to keep their momentum going when they host League Two side Barrow at Stamford Bridge in the EFL Cup on Tuesday.
The Blues have had an impressive start to the season, despite all the off-field drama that's been swirling around them.
Manager Enzo Maresca deserves credit for keeping his players focused and delivering results.
Chelsea's 3-0 thrashing of West Ham on Saturday was the perfect example they're now sitting pretty in the top four, with back-to-back clean sheets and an impressive Premier League record of just two defeats in 20 games.
Maresca's even made history, becoming the first manager since Pep Guardiola to win his first three Premier League away games. Nicolas Jackson's lightning-fast brace and Cole Palmer's stunning third goal sealed the deal.
But with a packed schedule looming, Chelsea's priority will shift to their weekend clash with Brighton. Expect Maresca to make wholesale changes for the Barrow game, especially with their Conference League campaign kicking off against Gent next week.
This is Chelsea's first domestic cup tie of the season, and they'll be looking to break their EFL Cup drought - they haven't won it since 2015.
On the other side, Barrow is living the dream. They've reached the third round for the first time in over 50 years and get to play at Stamford Bridge!
After promoting back to the EFL in 2019, Barrow's been on the rise. They bounced back from last season's early exit to Bolton by taking down Port Vale and Derby County.
Manager Stephen Clemence has his team sitting atop League Two, with 16 points from 21. They'll look to give Chelsea a run for their money and make the most of this fairytale tie.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
Maresca might make up to 11 changes for the match, considering Chelsea’s deep squad and the challenge they present.
Star players Palmer and Jackson will likely be rested, giving Maresca plenty of options to fill those attacking spots. Christopher Nkunku is expected to start, and he could be joined by a mix of Pedro Neto, Joao Felix, and Mykhaylo Mudryk.
On the injury front, Reece James is still sidelined, but Romeo Lavia and Malo Gusto are nearing their returns. This match could be a good chance for them to get some minutes if they clear their fitness tests.
Meanwhile, Clemence made a few tweaks to his Barrow lineup over the weekend, and it paid off with a win. Wyll Stanway might return to goal after Paul Farman took his place, and Neo Eccleston should start again after a brief stint on the bench.
Katia Kouyate, the ex-Everton winger, made a strong impression against Newport and could keep his spot over Chris Popov. Chris Stokes is also expected to play after making his debut following a transfer from Morecambe.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Jorgensen; Disasi, Badiashile, Tosin, Colwill; Renato Veiga, Dewsbury-Hall; Pedro Neto, Joao Felix, Mudryk; Nkunku
Barrow possible starting lineup:
Stanway; Feely, Vassell, Stokes, Jackson; Campbell, Foley, Spence; Kouyate, Garner, Newby
EXPERT PREDICTION
Chelsea 4-0 Barrow
Even with anticipated major changes, Chelsea shouldn't struggle to secure their spot in the fourth round, especially given the clear mismatch in this matchup.
While Barrow is performing well, they face a completely different challenge against Chelsea. The depth of Chelsea's squad means they can rely on numerous full internationals as substitutes, and their quality is likely to shine through.
