Chelsea XI vs Lincoln: Confirmed team news, predicted lineup and injury latest for Carabao Cup

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·22 septembre 2025

Chelsea XI vs Lincoln: Confirmed team news, predicted lineup and injury latest for Carabao Cup

Trip to League One opposition affords Enzo Maresca chance to rotate with Cole Palmer struggling

Your matchday briefing on Chelsea, featuring team news and expert analysis from Dom Smith

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Cole Palmer is a major doubt for Chelsea’s trip to Lincoln in the Carabao Cup third round on Tuesday and not expected to feature.

Palmer was substituted in the 21st minute of Saturday’s chaotic Premier League defeat by Manchester United as his groin problem flared up again, and he is likely to miss the game against third-tier opposition.

Moises Caicedo and Joao Pedro have been playing through small knocks of late and are also likely not to start against Lincoln, though Blues boss Enzo Maresca admitted on Monday that injuries to Dario Essugo and Romeo Lavia in midfield limit the possibility to rest Caicedo.

The likes of Josh Acheampong and Jorrel Hato could come into the Chelsea team against Lincoln. Robert Sanchez is suspended after his early red card at Old Trafford, so deputy Filip Jorgensen should step in again.

Lavia and Benoit Badiashile are not ready to play on Tuesday despite Maresca revealing that returns for the pair are “very close”. They both trained on Sunday as they push towards their respective first appearances of the season.

Chelsea striker Liam Delap is out until December with a hamstring injury, and Essugo has a thigh injury which required surgery. His return to action could come in 2026.

Levi Colwill, meanwhile, is sidelined for the majority of the season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Opportunities could be handed to some of Chelsea’s academy players against Lincoln, including the in-form right-back Genesis Antwi, who recently signed a new contract at Stamford Bridge.

Predicted Chelsea XI (4-2-3-1): Jorgensen; Gusto, Tosin, Acheampong, Hato; Santos, Fernandez; Garnacho, Buonanotte, Gittens; George

Doubt: Palmer

Injured: Colwill, Delap, Essugo, Badiashile, Lavia

Suspended: Sanchez

Unavailable: Mudryk

Time and date: 7:45pm BST on Tuesday September 23, 2025

Venue: LNER Stadium, Lincoln

How to watch: Sky Sports