The Blues have enjoyed a strong start to the season under new boss Enzo Maresca, sitting fifth in the Premier League off the back of a 3-0 win over West Ham.
Maresca is getting his ideas across and the talent-filled squad is starting to gel, with three wins from five games in the top-flight so far.
Cup football is up next though, and they welcome League Two side Barrow, who will be eyeing a huge giant-killing.
Chelsea Lineup and Team News
It gives Maresca a right-back option while on the left, Ben Chilwell is set to be in the squad too after being exiled in pre-season.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is expected to start in midfield as the Blues make changes.
Reece James and Romeo Lavia will remain out but minutes could be handed to goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen, Joao Felix and Mykhaylo Mudryk.
Barrow Lineup and Team News
As for Barrow, Elliot Newby and Gerard Garner are going to provide some attacking threat.
However, a lot of pressure will be on the defensive players for the League Two side as they look to compete against some of the world’s best.
Manager Quotes and Expectations
Maresca is not expecting an easy ride against Barrow despite the clear gap in quality between the two sides.
The Chelsea boss said: “It is dangerous because football is full of these kinds of games.
“In this moment, it is the worst game for us. It's better to have a different type of game.”
On the Carabao Cup as a whole, he continued: “Because of the last two years, we cannot allow ourselves to set targets.
“We need to go game by game and see where we arrive and then fight for that. I don't see any competition better than the other one.
“The Premier League is the main competition, the one where you try to do your best always.”
Match Details
This Carabao Cup third-round clash will take place on Tuesday, September 24.
Kick-off at Stamford Bridge is scheduled for 7:45pm.
talkSPORT 2 will have live coverage of all the action.
Commentary will come from Ian Danter and former Republic of Ireland midfielder Matt Holland.
To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream.
You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.
Prediction
Chelsea and Barrow are a mismatch, even though both teams are on similar runs of form. However, the gulf in quality between the two clubs is too steep for the away side to overcome. So, Chelsea should enjoy a breezy outing at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, with The Hard Tackle predicting a 5-0 win for Enzo Maresca and his charges.
Final Thoughts
Chelsea’s depth and quality are expected to be too much for Barrow, and anything less than a win would be a significant surprise. With the squad’s strength and last season’s near miss in mind, a convincing 4-0 victory for the Blues seems likely.
As Chelsea faces Barrow in this third-round Carabao Cup match, they not only aim to progress in the competition but also to set a tone for their season’s ambitions. This game represents not just a challenge but an opportunity for Chelsea to demonstrate their depth and class, further asserting themselves as one of the premier teams in English football.
