Frank Lampard says Wednesday’s Carabao Cup third-round clash with League Two Grimsby Town gives him a chance to blood some more young players. Lampard is expected to make plenty of changes to the side that lost 2-1 to Liverpool on Sunday in the Premier League.
Grimsby are aiming to reach the fourth round for the first time since 2001-02 when they stunned the aforementioned Reds at Anfield with a 120th-minute winner in a memorable 2-1 victory.
The Blues sustained two new injury problems at the weekend as Emerson Palmieri went off with thigh problem early in the first half and Andreas Christensen picked up a knee issue just before the break. “Andreas is not too severe – hopefully he won’t be out for too long but I can’t give a time frame,” Lampard said.
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“Emerson now won’t be back until the other side of the [October] international break. It will be a few weeks because it is the reoccurrence of an injury so we have to be a bit careful with it.”
Willy Caballero will take the gloves instead of first-choice goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, who famously refused to be substituted before the penalty shoot-out in last February’s Carabao cup final defeat to Manchester City.
Kurt Zouma, who replaced Christensen on Sunday, will start alongside youngster Marc Guehi in central defence with Fikayo Tomori rested.
Reece James is expected to make his senior competitive debut for Chelsea in the right-back spot with Marcos Alonso on the opposite flank.
Billy Gilmour, who made his Premier League bow in Chelsea’s 2-2 draw with Sheffield United last month, could feature alongside Mateo Kovacic and Ross Barkley in midfield.
Christian Pulisic looks set to start his first match in four games with fit-again Pedro set to come in for Willian.
Upfront, Michy Batshuayi should start instead of Tammy Abraham or Olivier Giroud.
And it looks like Callum Hudson-Odoi could get an opportunity to make his appearance of the season from the bench in the second half.
