Lincoln City starting lineup v Chelsea
Forwards Freddie Draper and Rob Street keep their places for Lincoln after coming in to the starting line-up on Saturday, when on-loan Everton striker Frankie Okoronkwo dropped the bench.
Midfielder Gbolahan Okewoye made his City debut in their 3-1 win at League Two club Harrogate Town in the first round but is now on a short-term loan to Isthmian League Premier Division team Billericay Town.
“Chelsea coming to town is a really exciting thing and we’ll put a team on the pitch who we think can win the game,” said manager Michael Skubala, speaking to Lincoln’s YouTube channel.
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“It’s going to be hard. We don’t know what personnel they’re going to play but, whoever is on that pitch for Chelsea, we know they’re going to be top players.
“We truly believe, at home, if we do our stuff and look after the way we want to play, we can cause damage and hurt teams.
“We want to be in the headlines for winning it. It will be a great achievement if we can get to the next round.
“There’s a huge connection between the players and the fans at the minute – you can really feel it. [There] is going to be a packed house and we want to get the job done.”
Lincoln starting XI: Zach Jeacock, Lewis Montsma, Ryley Towler, Sonny Bradley, Conor McGrandles, Ben House, Ivan Varfolomeev, Rob Street, Tendayi Darikwa, Freddie Draper, Tom Hamer
Lincoln City substitutes: George Wickens, Adam Reach, Reeco Hackett, Tom Bayliss, James Collins, Oscar Thorn, Erik Ring, Francis Okoronkwo, Justin Obikwu
Chelsea starting lineup v Lincoln
Chelsea centre-back Benoit Badiashile and midfielder Romeo Lavia have returned to training following absences but are not involved, while defender Levi Colwill, midfielder Dario Essugo and striker Liam Delap remain out.
Mykhailo Mudryk has not been in a matchday squad since December and was charged by the FA in June with violating anti-doping rules after failing a drugs test, with the winger saying categorically that he has never knowingly used any banned substances.
Cole Palmer, who lasted 20 minutes at Old Trafford, is not risked four days before the Blues are next in Premier League action at home to Brighton & Hove Albion.
“He made a huge effort to try to play,” manager Enzo Maresca said of Palmer’s involvement against United. “He was not 100 percent but he wanted to be there to help his teammates in that kind of game.
“It was painful [for him], so we decided to change. We await day by day to see how he is and then decide what we do.”
Asked about the prospect of an upset, Marseca suggested football is “full of these games” and the Italian is familiar with Chelsea repeatedly being considerable favourites in cup matches from their run to Conference League glory last season.
Chelsea starting XI: Filip Jorgensen, Malo Gusto, Wesley Fofana, Trevoh Chalobah, Jorrel Hato, Enzo Fernandez, Andrey Santos, Alejandro Garnacho, Facundo Buonanotte, Jamie Gittens, Tyrique George
Chelsea substitutes: Gabriel Slonina, Marc Cucurella, Reece James, Moises Caicedo, Ollie Harrison, Reggie Walsh, Estevao, Pedro Neto, Shim Mheuka
How to watch Lincoln v Chelsea: Live stream, TV channel
Kick-off on Tuesday is at 19:45 BST (14:45 ET / 11:45 PT), with live coverage in the UK on Sky Sports Football.
Via Now TV, Sky Sports costs £14.99 for a day membership, £28 a month for a 12-month membership or £34.99 a month with no contract.
Sky Sports memberships include access to all 12 live Sky Sports channels and Sky Sports+, which offers live streams and a dedicated channel.
Lincoln City v Chelsea stats
- In the last 5 Lincoln City matches the sum of goals was under 3.5
- Lincoln City have won 4 of the last 5 home matches while scoring more than 1.5 goals
- In 4 of the last 5 Lincoln City matches the sum of goals was under 2.5
- In 5 of the last 7 Lincoln City home matches in the EFL Cup, the sum of goals was over 2.5
- Lincoln City have lost 3 of the last 4 home matches in the EFL Cup and the sum of goals was over 2.5
- Chelsea have won 11 of the last 13 matches while scoring more than 1.5 goals
- Chelsea have lost the last 3 away matches in a row in the EFL Cup while scoring less than 0.5 goals
- Chelsea have won the last 5 away matches in a row while scoring more than 1.5 goals
- In 9 of the last 10 Chelsea away matches in the EFL Cup, the sum of goals was under 3.5
- In the last 5 Chelsea away matches in the EFL Cup, the sum of goals was under 2.5
