With just one point gleaned from their opening two top-tier fixtures, Chelsea faces Luton, who have undergone a league loss after their promotion last season. Chelsea's recent performance included a commendable 1-1 draw against Liverpool, revealing signs of promise. However, a 3-1 away defeat to West Ham United left Pochettino contemplating. Carney Chukwuemeka's exquisite strike, his maiden goal for Chelsea, nullified Nayef Aguerd's initial opener, yet Chelsea's high-profile signings during the Todd Boehly era endured a challenging day at the London Stadium.
In particular, Enzo Fernandez, a £107 million acquisition from Benfica in January, faltered from the penalty spot on the cusp of halftime. This mishap was followed by Michail Antonio propelling West Ham into the lead. The introduction of the British-record £115 million signing Moises Caicedo in the second half came shortly after Aguerd's sending-off. Regrettably, Caicedo conceded a late penalty converted by Lucas Paqueta, condemning Chelsea to their inaugural defeat under Pochettino.
Pochettino remains optimistic that his youthful Chelsea squad will soon synchronize, embarking on a streak of triumphs. In the upcoming weeks, positive outcomes are in the crosshairs as Luton, Nottingham Forest, and Bournemouth lie ahead on Chelsea's Premier League itinerary.
However, Chelsea must not underestimate Luton this Friday, as they encountered difficulties against newly-promoted teams last season, dropping points in four out of six such matches. Three months after winning the Championship playoff final, Luton embarked on their inaugural Premier League encounter against Brighton & Hove Albion on August 12. Unfortunately, Luton proved second best against a dynamic Seagulls side, conceding a 4-1 defeat on the southern coast.
Goals from Solly March, Joao Pedro, and Simon Adingra rippled the net for the hosts, while Carlton Morris salvaged a penalty-kick goal for Luton nine minutes from time. However, Brighton restored their three-goal advantage through Evan Ferguson during injury time.
Following a week's respite to recuperate, Rob Edwards and his team prepare for their demanding voyage to Stamford Bridge. Their clash with Burnley was postponed to facilitate significant renovations at Kenilworth Road to meet Premier League standards.
Luton has signed ten players this summer, and although Edwards is content with the present roster, consisting of both seasoned and fresh talents, he aims to secure a few more signings before the transfer deadline.
Entering Friday's match, Luton aspires to seize their inaugural Premier League points and secure their first triumph over Chelsea since a 2-0 victory in December 1991, when they last competed in the top flight. Chelsea, on the other hand, has secured victories in their last two encounters with Luton in the FA Cup, including a 3-2 away victory in March 2022.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
Chelsea's midfielder Chukwuemeka suffered a knee injury during Sunday's loss to West Ham, leading to his halftime substitution. He now faces a potential six-week recovery period post-surgery. Additional setbacks include injuries to Wesley Fofana, Christopher Nkunku (both knee), Reece James (hamstring), and Trevoh Chalobah (thigh). Mykhaylo Mudryk is uncertain due to a missed training session with an undisclosed issue. However, Benoit Badiashile and Armando Broja have returned to training following hamstring and knee concerns and could be part of Friday's matchday squad.In the absence of Chukwuemeka, Conor Gallagher might be advanced further forward, while Moises Caicedo could make his full debut in central midfield alongside Enzo Fernandez. Romeo Lavia, recently acquired from Southampton, is also vying for his debut appearance. Raheem Sterling's impressive performance in the West Ham defeat is a bright spot, and he's anticipated to continue in the attack alongside Nicolas Jackson, who is still seeking his first competitive goal for Chelsea.
Turning to Luton, before their loss to Brighton, Edwards disclosed that Reece Burke (knock), Gabriel Osho (knee), Jordan Clark, and Dan Potts (both ankle) are sidelined for "a few weeks." The likelihood of any of these players featuring on Friday is low. Edwards is likely to maintain consistency in the starting lineup used against Brighton, with wing-backs Issa Kabore and Ryan Giles operating ahead of the center-back trio consisting of Mads Andersen, Tom Lockyer, and Amari'i Bell.
Former Chelsea player Ross Barkley could potentially make his Luton debut, while Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu, Marvelous Nakamba, and Tahith Chong are expected to continue in central midfield. Jacob Brown may contend with Elijah Adebayo for a starting position upfront alongside Morris.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Chelsea possible starting lineup:Sanchez; Disasi, Silva, Colwill; Gusto, Fernandez, Caicedo, Chilwell; Gallagher, Sterling; Jackson
Luton Town possible starting lineup:
Kaminski; Andersen, Lockyer, Bell; Kabore, Mpanzu, Nakamba, Chong, Giles; Adebayo, Morris
EXPERT PREDICTION
Chelsea 3-1 Luton Town
Chelsea has missed some good chances in their first two Premier League games, but we're betting on them finding their scoring groove against Luton. It looks like they've got the upper hand and should come out on top at Stamford Bridge.
