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Football London
Football London
Sport
Oliver Harbord

James, Hudson-Odoi, Pulisic Batshuayi - Chelsea's predicted XI to face Grimsby Town

Chelsea start their Carabao Cup campaign this evening as they welcome Grimsby Town to Stamford Bridge.

While on paper it should be a home banker, Frank Lampard will be determined not to take the League Two side lightly as they look towards what could be the first trophy of the season.

The Blues almost came out victorious in this competition last season when they reached the Carabao Cup final, however they were beaten by Manchester City on penalties.

Chelsea will be determined to go as far as they can this season, but it's likely that Frank Lampard will ring the changes with a Premier League clash against Brighton coming up at the weekend.

But who is likely to start against the League Two side?

Lampard confirmed that Callum Hudson-Odoi and Reece James will be involved in the match, while Ian Maatsen, Billy Gilmour and Marc Guehi could also get a chance to impress.

The Chelsea boss is not shy in using his young players, while it will also be a chance to give Christian Pulisic some minutes after three games as an unused substitute.

Michy Batshuayi is also likely to get his chance to lead the line in a 4-3-3, while Jorginho could feature to provide some more experience in the middle of the park.

Ross Barkley did not feature against Liverpool, so is set to get a run out as well, trying to put the missed penalty against Valencia behind him.

Meanwhile, with the injuries to Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen, Guehi could well start next to Kurt Zouma, with the Blues looking for their first clean sheet of the season.

With the injury to Emerson still persisting, Lampard might look to rest Marcos Alonso for the weekend, which means 17-year-old Maatsen could get a chance.

Predicted Chelsea XI: Caballero; James, Guehi, Zouma, Maatsen; Gilmour, Jorginho, Barkley; Hudson-Odoi, Batshuayi, Pulisic.

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