Luton to push Chelsea to another extra-time period
Chelsea will need to dust themselves down after losing the Carabao Cup final to Liverpool via the lottery of a protracted penalty shoot-out when they make the short trip northwards to Kenilworth Road to face Championship outfit Luton Town at Kenilworth Road on Wednesday evening. The Hatters are mounting an unlikely play-off challenge, and will be looking for a closer FA Cup scoreline than last season's 3-1 reverse to the same opponents. Read our preview here:
The Bedfordshire Pelly
Though Nathan Jones's return to the club as manager wasn't universally welcomed, he has once again galvanised all aspects of the team, and their narrow win over troubled Derby County at the weekend has pushed them into sixth, with a game in hand on the sides immediate above them. He also continues to get the most out of his players, and this is most apparent with energetic midfielder Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu. The 27 year old has been a key figure since the fifth tier days, and he doesn't look out of place in the second.
Playing for Kepa
Wholesale changes will be the order of the day for Thomas Tuchel. César Azpilicueta and Hakim Ziyech are almost certain to be unavailable for the fixture, whilst a lot of the focus will be on custodian Kepa Arrizabalaga between the sticks. The head coach's decision to sub him on for the penalties didn't pay dividends, with the Spanish stopper failing to save a single Liverpool shot, only to then suffer the ignominy of blasting his own kick over the bar to end the match. Wednesday will be as much a test of his psychology as it will his technical abilities.
Betting tip
Naturally, Chelsea have the quality to inflict a big defeat on their hosts, but coming so soon after the bitter disappointment of Sunday, coupled with the FA Cup seldom being considered all that important, could greatly affect the outcome. Make no mistake, Luton will be more than relishing the sizeable challenge, and Casumo have odds of 4.65 for a draw after 90 minutes.
