Ian Maatsen and Cole Palmer both start for Chelsea against Brighton & Hove Albion in the EFL Cup third round on Wednesday night.
Ian Maatsen and Cole Palmer have both been handed starts for Chelsea against Brighton & Hove Albion in Wednesday’s EFL Cup third-round tie.
Head coach Mauricio Pochettino acknowledged in his pre-match press conference that trying to win this competition is one of Chelsea’s priorities for the season.
The Argentine has backed up those words by making just five changes to the team that started against Aston Villa in the Premier League, with Maatsen seemingly starting at right wing-back in a 3-4-2-1 formation.
Palmer makes his first start since signing from Manchester City, the England Under-21 international in a front three that also includes Mykhaylo Mudryk and Nicolas Jackson.
Marc Cucurella is in line to feature on the left-hand side of a back three against his former club, while Lesley Ugochukwu partners another ex-Brighton player Moises Caicedo in central midfield.
Ben Chilwell also returns on the left flank, but Pochettino has opted to retain goalkeeper Robert Sanchez – yet another former Seagulls representative – between the sticks ahead of Djordje Petrovic.
© Reuters
Meanwhile, Brighton head coach Roberto De Zerbi has made a total of seven alterations from the team that started the 3-1 win over Bournemouth.
Bart Verbruggen, Pervis Estupinan, Mahmoud Dahoud and Facundo Buonanotte are the only players to retain their spots in the side.
Carlos Baleba has been introduced into the centre of the pitch for his first start since joining from Lille last month.
Chelsea: Sanchez; Disasi, Colwill, Cucurella; Maatsen, Ugochukwu, Caicedo, Chilwell; Mudryk, Palmer; Jackson
Subs: Petrovic, Brooking, Gilchrist, Gallagher, Fernandez, Sterling, Matos, Deivid, Broja
Brighton & Hove Albion: Verbruggen; Lamptey, Van Hecke, Igor, Estupinan; Baleba, Dahoud; Buonanotte, Fati, Mitoma; Pedro
Subs: Steele, Dunk, March, Gilmour, Lallana, Welbeck, Adingra, Veltman, Hinshelwood
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