England English Football 2025/26 - Premier League, Championship & lower leagues discussion

[spkutano]

Chelsea vs Aston Villa Preview (Saturday, 27.12.2025) Premier League:

Possible starting lineups:

Chelsea:
Sanchez; James, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; Fernandez, Caicedo; Neto, Palmer, Garnacho; Joao Pedro

Aston Villa:
Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Lindelof, Maatsen; Kamara, Onana; McGinn, Tielemans, Rogers; Watkins

Chelsea will welcome Aston Villa to Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening. The Blues are favorites, mostly thanks to the home advantage, but Aston Villa are in fantastic form. However, the importance of these three points is very big for the Blues. They are currently fourth on the table with 29 points, same as fifth-placed Liverpool. Considering the Reds hosted the bottom-placed Wolves this weekend, Chelsea could easily drop on the table if don't win here. The actual form isn't at high level, the Blues have claimed just 5 points from an available 12 in the last four rounds. Enco Maresca's men managed to beat only Everton, while shared the points with Bournemouth and Newcastle and suffered a painful defeat at Leeds. At the moment, Chelsea are 10 points back from leaders Arsenal and nobody talks about the title. Most of the players are available, including Liam Delap and Estevao Willian. That means only three players are out injured - Dario Essugo, Romeo Lavia and long-term injury victim Levi Colwill.

Aston Villa are the hottest team in Europa. They are in series of 10 victories across all competitions, with seven of them in the Premier League. I think even the manager Unai Emery didn't expect something like that, particularly after the awful start of the season. Just to remind You, Villa failed to score a single goal in the first four matches, before ending that drought in a 1:1 draw away at Sunderland in September. The fans were suspicious about the Spanish coach, but he managed to become one of the most successful managers in the club's modern history. Aston Villa have won 11 of the last 12 league matches, collecting 33 points. That includes victories against Arsenal and Manchester City. The West Midlands club are third on the table, one point adrift of Man City and three behind Arsenal. Four players - Harvey Elliot, Ross Barkley, Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres - are out injured. That's not all as Evan Guessand is at the Africa Cup of Nations with his national team (Ivory Coast).

Chelsea vs Aston Villa Prediction:

Aston Villa have won 11 of the last 12 league matches. That also means they have scored on 11 of the last 12 matches in the Premier League. Unai Emery is doing a fantastic job and the players confidence is very high. i think Watkins and Rogers look unstoppable at the moment. At least one of them will find the back of the net. Chelsea, meanwhile, have the home advantage as this match will be played at Stamford Bridge. The Blues showed they are really strong hosts, they beat Barcelona 3:0 in UEFA Champions League. I think they will score here.

Chelsea vs Aston Villa:

Pick: Both teams to score - Yes

Odds: 1.62 (Decimal) -161 (American) 8/13 (Franctional)

Bookmaker: Bet365

 

[spkutano]

Liverpool vs Leeds United Preview (Thursday, 01.01.2026) Premier League:

Possible starting lineups:

Liverpool:
Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Jones; Chiesa, Mac Allister, Wirtz; Ekitike

Leeds United:
Perri; Bogle, Bijol, Struijk; Tanaka, Aaronson, Ampadu, Stach, Gudmundsson; Calvert-Lewin, Okafor

Liverpool and Leeds United will play their first match of 2026 on Thursday. The Reds are big favorites, particularly because they play at Anfield Arne Slot's men are unbeaten in seven matches, but they are still not fully recovered from November, when lost three straight matches by a combined score of 10:1, Liverpool lost 3:0 to Manchester City and Nottingham, and lost 4:1 to PSV in UEFA Champions League. The situation in that moment looked catastrophic. The Reds were only a shadow from the team that dominated the Premier League last season and many thought Slot will be first Reds manager that won the league and latter to be sacked. The opponents found the "Achilles heel" and that are the set-pieces". Arne Slot’s men have conceded 12 goals from set pieces this season and scored only three. It is not a surprise that set-pieces coach Aaron Briggs was sacked today. The injury situation is also a problem. British record signing Alexander Isak suffered a fractured leg against Tottenham and will be out for longer period. Joe Gomez, Wataru Endo and Giovanni Leone remain out, but Conor Bradley and Codi Gakpo are available. They both took part in Saturday's 2:1 win over Wolverhampton.

Leeds United current form could be evaluated as good. Manager Daniel Farke is doing an excellent job and the fans are satisfied. He made some changes and now play in formation 3-5-2, which has seen the Whites go unbeaten in five games. Leeds managed to beat Chelsea and Crystal Palace and these two victories should be respected as they were obtain against two strong teams. In the remaining three matches Leeds shared the points with Sunderland, Brentford and Liverpool. The atmosphere in the squad is positive, while the players confidence is higher. Dominic Calvert-Lewin is in excellent form, scoring seven goals in his last six Premier League matches. That includes a goal in the reverse fixture played at Elland Road. Ex-Everton striker will try to improve his scoring record, but it won't be easy at Anfield. Farke has three injury issues ahead of this clash. Sean Longstaff and Dan James are definitely sidelined, while Joe Rodon is doubtful. The latter have suffered an ankle injury against Sunderland and he is rated as doubtful.

Liverpool vs Leeds United Prediction:

Liverpool are in mini-series of three consecutive victories in the Premier League. The players confidence is higher and I believe they will go for another victory. The head-to-head record between two sides shows a pattern of high-scoring matches. The last encounter ended in a 3:3 draw at the beginning of December. Liverpool had secured a high 6:1 victory before that, in April 2023. Leeds have also managed to secure a win, beating Liverpool 2:1 in October 2022, indicating they can be competitive. As You could see, the last three mutual games have produced 16 goals which is an average of more than five goals per game. In addition, both teams have scored in each of these three encounters. Having on mind Liverpool's vulnerability at set pieces, I expect Leeds to score again. The Reds, meanwhile, have scored on each of the last eight matches across all competitions. They play at home and I think the will continue with goals, so I suggest both teams to score.

Liverpool vs Leeds United Pick: Both teams to score - Yes @ 1.75 with Bet365

 

[Betting Forum]

Implemented Odds Comparison For EPL. In case you havent seen it, its on page 1.
Another copy here

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[spkutano]

Newcastle vs Crystal Palace Preview (Sunday, 04.01.2026) Premier League:

Possible starting lineups:

Newcastle:
Pope; Miley, Thiaw, Schar, Hall; Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton; Barnes, Wissa, Gordon

Crystal Palace:
Henderson, Lerma, Lacroix, Guehi; Clyne, Wharton, Hughes, Mitchell; Devenny, Pino; Mateta

After three matches winless, Newcastle finally won in the last round. They beat 3:1 Burnley and I believe the atmosphere in the squad is now better. It took Joelinton only 65 seconds to open the scoring at Turf Moor, while Yoane Wissa then doubled his side's advantage from close range. But spirited Burnley did not give up easily and defender Josh Laurent pulled one back with a volley at the back post in the 23rd minute. Newcastle had tough moments in the next period, but managed to survive and Bruno Guimaraes set the final score in the stoppage time. The Magpies currently sit on the 13th place with 26 points. They are seven points adrift of fourth-placed Liverpool and the next period will determine their ambitions. The Champions League campaign will continue on 20 January, so Howe and his players could be focused on the Premier League in the meantime. The injury list is big and have eight names - Kieran Trippier, Emile Krafth, Sven Botman, William Osula, Jamaal Lascelles, Anthony Elanga, Dan Burn and Valentino Livramento. Some of them are rated as doubtful, but it is clear the hosts will be handicapped.

Crystal Palace sit 10th on the table with 27 points. I think the fans are satisfied, but they will like to see European football again the next season. As You probably know, the Eagles play in UEFA Europe League now. Manager Oliver Glasner is doing a fantastic job, but he attracts interest from top European clubs and he will probably leave Selhurst Park in the next period. To be worse, Crystal Palace are in poor form at the moment. They suffered three defeats on the last four matches and the players confidence is low. Palace lost to Manchester City, Leeds United and Tottenham, before playing 1:1 against Fulham in the last round. Playing in Europe seems to be a problem and they look short on energy right now. That includes the key striker Jean-Philippe Mateta. He scored against Fulham for the first time since late November. Worst of all, Glasner has lot of injury worries - Will Hughes, Daichi Kamada, Daniel Munoz, Rio Cardines, Caleb Kporha, Chris Richards, Cheick Doucoure, Eddie Nketiah and Chadi Riad. That's not all as Ismaila Sarr is on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal.

Newcastle vs Crystal Palace Prediction:

Newcastle finally won in the last round, beating Burnley at Turf Moor. I believe the atmosphere in the squad is better, while the players confidence is higher. The Magpies now play at home, supported by their loyal fans. This is a big opportunity for Newcastle, who have a relatively easy schedule in the next period, with Wolverhampton and Leeds opponents in the coming weeks. The Eagles have suffered three defeats on the last four matches and Newcastle are not preferable opponents. Palace were demolished 5:0 here back in April 2025 and 4:0 previously. Playing at St James Park was a nightmare in the last seasons. I expect Newcastle to win again.

Newcastle vs Crystal Palace Pick: Newcastle to win @ 1.72 with 1xBet

 

[spkutano]

Fulham vs Liverpool Preview (Sunday, 04.01.2026) Premier League:

Possible starting lineups:

Fulham:
Leno; Castagne, Andersen, Cuenca, Robinson; Lukic, Berge; Wilson, Smith Rowe, Kevin; Jimenez

Liverpool:
Alisson; Frimpong, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Jones; Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Gakpo; Ekitike

Fulham will welcome the reigning champions Liverpool to Craven Cottage on Sunday afternoon. The hosts currently sit on the 11th place with 27 points. They are 13 points away from the drop zone, while at the same time just six behind fourth-placed Liverpool. Marco Silva is doing a fantastic job and the fans love him. The actual form is very good, three victories and one draw on the last four matches. The Cottagers managed to beat Burnley, Nottingham Forest and West Ham, before sharing the points with Crystal Palace. But Silva has huge issues at the moment as Alex Iwobi, Samuel Chukwueze and Calvin Bassey are on international duty. Let me explain how important they are. Iwobi and Chukwueze have contributed more than a third of Fulham’s Premier League goals this season and have six assists between them. At the back, defender Bassey has featured in every single one of their league games and will be a major loss. All three have been called up to the Nigeria squad. In addition, four players are struggling with injuries - Kenny Tete, Josh King, Ryan Sessegnon and Rodrigo Muniz. The absence of the mentioned players means an opportunity for ex-Reds Harry Wilson to start. He is in fine form with four goal involvements in the last seven home games.

After winning the title in the previous season, the current campaign is a bitter disappointment for Liverpool fans. Inconsistent form in the Premier League ruled them out of the title race, whilst the Reds were also knocked out of Carabao Cup. The Champions League campaign isn't convincing, the Reds already have two defeats after losing to Galatasaray and PSV. Nevertheless, Arne Slot remain "cool"and try to convince everybody that he controls the situation. The last month was successful, Liverpool managed to record three victories, beating Brighton, Tottenham and Wolverhampton. But the series ended on the first day of 2026, when Liverpool hosted newly-promoted Leeds United. The match ended with a goalless draw and showed Liverpool impotent attack. The absence of two important attackers is surely among the reasons - Mohamed Salah is on international duty, while Alexander Isak is out injured. On top of that, Cody Gakpo has just recovered from injury. He played some 20 minutes against Leeds, but it is clear he need time to find the right form.

Fulham vs Liverpool Prediction:

Fulham are playing an incredible season and they could write a history. The Cottagers are just six points behind fourth-placed Liverpool. Winning here will be a huge result for them. Furthermore, they are just three points adrift of fifth-placed Chelsea. According to the latest UEFA calculations, the fifth place in the Premier League will also guarantee UEFA Champions League participation for the next season. Fulham are not afraid of big names and I expect lot of issues for Liverpool. Indeed, Fulham took four points from their two matches with Liverpool last season. At the same time, three important players are on international duty at AFCON - Alex Iwobi, Samuel Chukwueze and Calvin Bassey. Liverpool are missing Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak, so I don't expect many goals here.

Fulham vs Liverpool Pick: Under 2.5 goals @ 2.01 with Pinnacle

 

[Dennymucho]

Great thread idea, loads to chat about from the Prem down to League Two. Every division has its quirks and storylines week by week. I’ve been following a mix of sources to keep up with injuries, transfers and form, including https://www.lagradaonline.com for Espanyol news which gives good minute-to-minute updates and helps put some performances in wider context.

 

[spkutano]

Welcome mate, waiting for Your comments and tips

 

[spkutano]

Burnley vs Manchester United Preview (Wednesday, 07.01.2026) Premier League:

Possible starting lineups:

Burnley:
Dubravka; Walker, Ekdal, Esteve, Pires; Ugochukwu, Florentino, Laurent; Edwards, Broja, Anthony

Manchester United:
Lammens; Dalot, Heaven, Martinez, Shaw; Casemiro, Ugarte; Dorgu, Fernandes, Cunha; Sesko

Relegation-threatened Burnley will welcome the 6th placed Manchester United to Turf Moor on Wednesday evening. This is a perfect moment for Burnley to face the Red Devils as they are in chaotic situation after Ruben Amorim's departure. Burnley are currently second from the bottom with 12 points, six behind the 17th-placed Nottingham. They have recorded 14 defeats after 20 rounds, the second-worst record in the Premier League (Wolverhampton have 16 defeats). The situation is very complicated and the points from this match are priceless. However, the current form isn't at desired level, they suffered defeats in the last two matches. First they lost 3:1 at home to Newcastle, and then lost 2:0 at Brighton. The atmosphere in the squad is far from good, while the players confidence is low. Nevertheless, Scott Parker and his men will not give up without fight. The problem is many players are unavailable. Six, possibly seven are injured, while three are on African Cup of Nations. Josh Cullen, Zeki Amdouni, Connor Roberts, Joe Worrall, Zian Flemming and Jordan Beyer are struggling with injuries. In addition, Axel Tuanzebe, Hannibal Mejbri and Lyle Foster are on international duties. Finally, Maxime Esteve, who missed the trip to Brighton through injury, is rated as doubtful now.

Manchester United were in all headlines this week. After they played "only" an 1:1 draw with Leeds United on Sunday, the club officials sacked the manager Ruben Amorim. On Monday morning, technical director Jason Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada told Amorim he had been relieved of his duties. No doubt who made the decision, it is Sir Jim Ratcliffe. Amorim leave the club a creditable sixth in the Premier League, level on points with fifth-placed Chelsea and three points behind Liverpool on the fourth position. The question is about the expectations. It is stupid if somebody think they could challenge Arsenal and Manchester City for the first place. Sharing the fifth place is in line with pre-season expectations. Some progress was visible and my opinion is Old Trafford is supporting the team. I haven't that feeling for Erik ten Hag, for example. Amorim brought some new names during the summer, with Bryan Mbeumo as the biggest acquisition. But not everything was a good decision. Benjamin Sesko is the biggest disappointment - the Slovenia international has scored just two goals in 17 appearances following his £74m move from RB Leipzig. The Red Devils have six or seven players out of this match as Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui are still at Africa Cup of Nations, while Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire are injured. On top of that, Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount are rated as doubtful.

Burnley vs Manchester United Prediction:

Burnley are in the drop zone and every point is very important, though the players confidence is low. Nevertheless, Scott Parker and his men will not give up without fight. The problem is many players are unavailable. Six, possibly seven are injured, while three are on African Cup of Nations. Josh Cullen, Zeki Amdouni, Connor Roberts, Joe Worrall, Zian Flemming and Jordan Beyer are struggling with injuries, while Axel Tuanzebe, Hannibal Mejbri and Lyle Foster are on international duties. Manchester United, meanwhile, had a turbulent week. On Monday morning, technical director Jason Wilcox and chief executive Omar Berrada told Amorim he had been relieved of his duties. Darren Fletcher is appointed as interim coach and he will lead the team here. Just like his counterpart, Fletcher also has many unavailable players. Bryan Mbeumo, Amad Diallo and Noussair Mazraoui are still at AFCON, while Kobbie Mainoo, Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire are injured. On top of that, Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount are rated as doubtful. I don't expect Man United to win at Turf Moor. The departure of Amorim is a big mistake from Sir Jim Ratcliffe. What he think about the current season, that United will challenge Arsenal and Manchester City for the first place? I think Amorim was doing a good job. Fletcher is inexperienced and that's another reason for my pick.

Burnley vs Manchester United Pick: Burnley +0.5 AH @ 2.18 with Pinnacle

 

[spkutano]

Arsenal vs Liverpool Preview (Thursday, 08.01.2026) Premier League:

Possible starting lineups:

Arsenal:
Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard

Liverpool:
Alisson; Bradley, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Mac Allister, Gravenberch; Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Jones; Gakpo

Arsenal will welcome Liverpool to the Emirates Stadium in a derby match of 21st round. According to some pundits, this is a march between new and old Premier League champions. Of course, Manchester City fans will not agree with the definition. Usually, City are fantastic in the second part of the season. However, Arsenal look very strong at the moment, Last few seasons Arsenal had big problem with injuries. But this season is different, Arteta managed to handle the situation. For example, captain Odegaard missed lot of matches due to shoulder injury, but his absence didn't affect to club results. The same happened with Saliba, Gabriel Jesus and Saka. Arteta has two quality players for every position. Most important, Arteta know how to keep them all happy, something a problem for Slot. The atmosphere in the squad is excellent, while the players confidence is "High as Everest". The Gunners have six points more than Manchester City and Aston Villa, although the difference could be reduced if City and Villa beat Brighton and Crystal Palace on Wednesday evening. Arteta has selection problems ahead of this match, but they are "sweet problems". Almost all players are ready, only Max Dowman and Cristhian Mosquera are out injured, while Riccardo Calafiori is rated as doubtful.

Liverpool dropped another two points against Fulham on the first day of 2026. It was a "Deja Vu", the Reds had a 2:1 lead thanks to goals scored by Wirtz and Gakpo deep into the stoppage time. And just when everybody was expecting the final whistle, Harrison Reed equalized with an outrageous long-range strike. It was a beautiful goal, most probably a "Goal of the Season". Fulham manager Marco Silva and his players were happy with the final result, but Arne Slot was frustrated, as well as the players and fans. Slot looks unable to change something. The reality is different now, the opponents detected the weaknesses and take advantage. But something else is even worse - after the bad period in which they suffered 3:0 and 4:1 home defeats to Nottingham Forest and PSV at the end of November, Slot was aware something have to be done. And he did, Liverpool went from losing 9 games in 12 to an unbeaten run of 9 matches across all competitions. The Reds stopped the wave of goals conceded, but it has a cost - Liverpool, a fearless side last seasons, have now transformed into a mediocre side with players afraid to make mistakes. I already wrote Arteta has "Sweet problems" about the players selection, but his counterpart Slot has real issues. Salah is on international duty with Egypt, while Alexander Isak is long-term injury victim. Hugo Ekitike, who missed the last match against Fulham with a muscular issue, is rated as doubtful. Florian Wirtz is also struggling with injury, but the latest news from the medical department are optimistic. Finally, Giovanni Leoni and Wataru Endo remain sidelined.

Arsenal vs Liverpool Prediction:

Against Fulham, Liverpool failed to produce a shot on target other than their two goals. Against Leeds, they failed to score and the fans left Anfield disappointed. But Slot looks satisfied and I understand. After the bad period in which they suffered 3:0 and 4:1 home defeats to Nottingham and PSV respectively, he is looking for some stability. Liverpool are now unbeaten on 9 matches across all tournaments, with seven of these matches played in the Premier League. However, the momentum is on Arsenal side, plus the home advantage. Liverpool won the reverse fixture in August, but many things have been changed in the meantime. Arsenal are current leaders in the Premier League and main favorites for the title. They are too strong at the moment. Liverpool have no chance at Emirates.

Arsenal vs Liverpool Pick: Arsenal to win @ 1.63 with 1xBet

 

[Gantz]

Premier League odds in 2026 feel more unpredictable than ever, mainly because the league is no longer just a two-horse race. Even when bookmakers make Arsenal or Manchester City the favorites, the margin between top teams and the chasing pack is often slimmer than people think. One midweek injury update, one surprise lineup, or even a single red card can flip the live odds instantly. That’s why the “safe pick” often isn’t safe at all - the market reacts fast, and value doesn’t always sit with the obvious favorite. In fact, this season you can really see how form swings and tactical matchups are creating more volatility than in previous years.

What’s also interesting is how odds are shaped by public bias. Big clubs still attract the majority of bets, so the prices on teams like Liverpool, Chelsea, and United can sometimes be slightly “overpriced” compared to mid-table sides that are actually performing well. That’s where sharp bettors look for opportunities - not by chasing huge underdogs, but by spotting when the market is leaning too heavily on reputation instead of current form. With the table staying tight and scoring trends staying high, markets like Over goals, Both Teams To Score, and Asian handicaps are often more logical than straight 1X2 picks this season.

 

[spkutano]

Newcastle vs Manchester City Preview (Tuesday, 13.01.2026) EFL Cup:

Possible starting lineups:

Newcastle:
Ramsdale; Miley, Thiaw, Botman, Hall; Tonali, Guimaraes; Gordon, Woltemade, Barnes; Wissa

Manchester City:
Trafford; Nunes, Khusanov, Alleyne, O'Reilly; Gonzalez; Cherki, Foden, Reijnders, Doku; Haaland

Newcastle and Manchester City will face in the semi-finals of English League Cup, also known as Carabao Cup. This is first game, while the reverse fixture will be played in early February at Etihad Stadium. The overall winners will face Arsenal or Chelsea at Wembley. Newcastle are current cup holders as they beat Liverpool 2:1 in the last season's final. The Magpies will try to repeat the success, but it will be extremely difficult. However, they will try to secure a victory at St James Park here. Playing home and away are two opposite teams. While the players are aggressive like lions at home, they are like "cats" on road. That's a big problem for the manager Edie Howe. His men have five defeats in 10 away league matches. Nevertheless, their current home form is very good. Newcastle are unbeaten on the last 13 home games, winning 10 of them. Howe will try to extent the series, but he has some injury issues. Dan Burn, Emil Krafth, Fabian Schar, Jamaal Lascelles and William Osula are all sidelined, while Anthony Elanga is doubtful.

Manchester City were in some sort of crisis last season and failed to win any trophy. Pep Guardiola wasn't able to change something, but still secured a Champions League football. The new season started good and they are second in the Premier League, six points adrift of leaders Arsenal. The Citizens are also successful in Europe and Guardiola could enjoy again. They are in very good form at the moment. Last weekend they demolished lower-division side in the FA Cup, winning 10:1 against Exeter. City are unbeaten on the last 12 matches across all competition and the players confidence is high. New acquisition Antoine Semenyo, who came from Bournemouth last week, was fantastic in his debut. He became the first player to both score and assist a goal on his debut for Manchester City since Sergio Aguero in August 2011. Guardiola is definitely satisfied with the performances of his players, but something else could be problem - three centre-backs are unavailable. John Stones, Josko Gvardio and Ruben Dias are all injured. Max Alleyne and Abdukodir Khusanov should start again and it is clear Man City are very handicapped. In addition, Mateo Kovacic, Savinho and Oscar Bobb are struggling with injuries.

Newcastle vs Manchester City Prediction:

This draw is possible here. Manchester City are very strong, maybe the strongest side in the Premier League. I don't see them losing many games in the second part of the season. The Citizens are traditionally excellent finishers and there is a reason. Guardiola need some time to implement his ideas and tactic, but once the players become familiar with his system, they rarely lose matches. Guardiola is the best tactician in Europe. His biggest problem at the moment is the injury situation in the heart of defense. John Stones, Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias are all injured, so Max Alleyne and Abdukodir Khusanov should start again. I don't trust them too much. Newcastle are very strong at home and could take advantage from City's defensive issues. Considering this is only first leg, nobody will want to lose.

Newcastle vs Manchester City Pick: Draw @ 3.50 with Everygame

 

[spkutano]

Chelsea vs Arsenal Preview (Wednesday, 14.01.2026) EFL Cup:

Possible starting lineups:

Chelsea:
Jorgensen; Gusto, Chalobah, Fofana, Cucurella; James, Fernandez; Estevao, Palmer, Neto; Delap

Arsenal:
Kepa; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli

Chelsea will welcome Arsenal to Stamford Bridge on Wednesday evening in Carabao Cup first leg semi-final. Both teams will be looking to earn themselves an advantage before the reverse fixtures in February. Arsenal are the best team in the Premier League at the moment, but Chelsea should not be underestimated. After all, they are official FIFA Club World Champions. Nevertheless, some things have been changed in the meantime. Most important, manager Enzo Maresca was replaced with Liam Rosenior. The French tactician started with a high 5:1 victory against Charlton in the FA Cup, but this match is quite different. Rosenior is relatively unknown and it is hard to predict how Chelsea will play. According to me, he will be careful. Possibly, he could copy Liverpool tactic, based on strong and well organized defense. The big problem is Moises Caicedo is sidelined through suspension. His absence is a huge handicap as there's no adequate replacement. Romeo Lavia and Levi Colwill are out injured, while Mykhaylo Mudryk is serving a doping suspension.

Arsenal are leaders on the Premier League table, six points ahead of Manchester City and Aston Villa. Mikel Arteta is doing an excellent job and the fans believe they will be champions. It's "Now or Never" for Arteta. He composed a strong team and he has two good players for each position. They easily beat Portsmouth 4:1 in the FA Cup on Sunday. The Gunners came from behind mostly thanks to Gabriel Martinelli's hat-trick. Arsenal are successful in the Champions League too, they are the only club with maximal six victories. Arteta will try to avoid additional pressure to his players, but they are fighting for quadruple. No team have ever won all four major trophies, but I think Arteta and his men are able to write a history. The Spaniard welcome Kai Havertz after he recovered from a knee injury. He came in as a substitute on Sunday, but Viktor Gyokeres is still a first option for Arteta. Three players are rated as doubtful - Piero Hincapie, Riccardo Calafiori and Cristhian Mosquera. The 16-year-old Max Dowman is the only player definitely out with an ankle injury, but he is not important at all.

Chelsea vs Arsenal Prediction:

Chelsea have the home advantage and this fact should not be ignored. Just to remind You, they beat Barcelona 3:0 at Stamford Bridge. But Arsenal are the best team in the Premier League, they are leaders and the players confidence is very high. Arsenal are unbeaten on the last nine games with the Blues. Mikel Arteta will try to maintain the positive series, but new Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior also want a positive result in his debut at Stamford Bridge. He will probably try to copy Liverpool tactic - strong and well organized defense. Chelsea will definitely create some chance from time to time, but Arsenal will control the possession. According to me, nobody will risk too much as this is only the first leg. I don't expect many goals.

Chelsea vs Arsenal Pick: Under 2.5 goals @ 1.96 with 1xBet