Chelsea secured their spot in the final four with a tense penalty shootout victory over Newcastle United, while Middlesbrough, led by Michael Carrick, netted three goals unanswered against Port Vale in the quarter-finals.
Despite a recent FA Cup defeat to Aston Villa, Carrick remained positive, acknowledging his team's commendable performance against the formidable Premier League contenders. Middlesbrough, currently positioned mid-table in the Championship, held their ground for 87 minutes before conceding a goal from a speculative Matty Cash strike, deflected off Emmanuel Latte Lath.
Although Middlesbrough suffered their third loss in four games across all competitions, there were positives to glean from the match against Aston Villa. Throughout the 2023-24 EFL Cup, Middlesbrough showcased their attacking prowess with wins over Huddersfield Town, Exeter City, Bolton Wanderers, Bradford City, and most recently, Port Vale. Notably, they scored at least two goals in each of these away victories.
While Middlesbrough has a successful history of progressing from EFL Cup semi-finals, winning the competition in the 2003-04 edition, their recent home games in the tournament have seen mixed results. Chelsea, known for their attacking prowess, faced challenges in breaking down Preston's defense in their recent FA Cup match.
However, the second half saw a flurry of goals, including a delicate header from Armando Broja, a Thiago Silva header, a Raheem Sterling free-kick, and Enzo Fernandez's close-range tap-in.
As Chelsea awaits the confirmation of their fourth-round opponents, their focus is on preparing for a fourth EFL Cup final in seven years. Notably, Chelsea has excelled in home matches during this season's EFL Cup, with victories against AFC Wimbledon, Blackburn Rovers, Brighton & Hove Albion, and Newcastle. However, their away record in the competition shows vulnerability, with defeats in five of their last eight matches.
Despite Chelsea's recent dominance over Middlesbrough, including a 2-0 win in the 2021-22 FA Cup, Middlesbrough remains a resilient opponent. Chelsea's previous victory against Middlesbrough in the final of the 1997-98 EFL Cup sets the stage for an intriguing encounter on Tuesday, potentially paving the way for a showdown with either Fulham or Liverpool in the final.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
In the aftermath of the quarter-finals, individual yellow cards are typically wiped clean. However, Middlesbrough's forward Morgan Rogers acquired his second booking in the triumph over Port Vale in the EFL Cup, triggering a one-game suspension for the upcoming first leg on Tuesday.Carrick's squad faces further challenges with the unavailability of Finn Azaz and Sam Greenwood, both cup-tied due to prior appearances for Plymouth Argyle and Leeds United in earlier tournament stages. Additionally, Australian players Samuel Silvera and Riley McGree, along with Senegal goalkeeper Seny Dieng, are on international duty.
Fortunately, there are no new injury concerns from the weekend, but Tom Smith (Achilles), Darragh Lenihan (Achilles), Lewis O'Brien (ankle), Marcus Forss (thigh), and Patrick McNair (back) continue to be sidelined.
On the Chelsea front, manager Pochettino navigates an ongoing absentee crisis. Complicating matters, Christopher Nkunku is sidelined with a new hip injury following his absence from the squad in the victory against Preston over the weekend.
Unfortunately, Nkunku won't be fit for the first leg. Ben Chilwell (hamstring), Carney Chukwuemeka (knee), and Benoit Badiashile (unspecified) have returned to full training but remain in doubt. Reece James (hamstring), Wesley Fofana (knee), Marc Cucurella (ankle), Robert Sanchez (knee), Lesley Ugochukwu (hamstring), Trevoh Chalobah (thigh), and Romeo Lavia (thigh) are definitively ruled out.
Andrey Santos, recently recalled, is ineligible due to his previous representation of Nottingham Forest in the EFL Cup during his loan spell. The participation of Ian Maatsen is uncertain, with reports suggesting a verbal agreement for a loan move to Borussia Dortmund.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Middlesbrough possible starting lineup:Glover; Van den Berg, Clarke, Fry, Bangura; Howson, Barlaser; Jones, Crooks, Latte Lath; Coburn
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Petrovic; Gusto, Disasi, Silva, Colwill; Gallagher, Fernandez; Madueke, Palmer, Sterling; Broja
EXPERT PREDICTION
Middlesborough 1-2 Chelsea
While Chelsea might contend with a potentially extensive list of absentees, Pochettino still possesses strong options for making strategic changes. It's conceivable that the Blues will build a substantial lead in the first leg, setting the stage for the return fixture in West London on January 23.
