Chelsea vs Morecambe – Match preview and team news

The Football Faithful

Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 3:00 a.m.·4 min read

Chelsea vs Morecambe – Match preview and team news

Chelsea face League Two side Morecambe this weekend to decide who will progress into the fourth round of the FA Cup.

The Blues are currently four games without a win after a testing few weeks.

Central defenders Benoit Badiashile and Wesley Fofana are long-term absentees with Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall also expected to miss out. Romeo Lavia and Reece James are ready to return to the starting line-up after recovering from their respective injuries.

Up next, our #EmiratesFACup journey begins at Stamford Bridge! 🏡 pic.twitter.com/IMNDtXfBzr
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) January 8, 2025

Morecambe are the second lowest-ranked team in the entire EFL as they wallow in 23rd position. Derek Adams has hinted that transfer business will be conducted in January but there have been no arrivals ahead of their trip to Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea vs Morecambe – Match preview and team news

Form

Chelsea: WDLLD

Chelsea dropped points for a fourth successive match last weekend as they had to settle for a point away to Crystal Palace.

Jean-Philippe Mateta cancelled out Cole Palmer’s opening strike as the game ended 1-1 in South London.

Enzo Maresca’s side have slipped into fourth position in the Premier League after experiencing a tough spell. In recent weeks, Ipswich Town and Fulham have overcome Chelsea, while the Blues also drew 0-0 at Goodison Park against Everton.

Morecambe: LLWLW

The Shrimps were last in action on New Year’s Day as they earned a priceless 2-0 win over fellow strugglers Tranmere Rovers.

Last Sunday’s match against Newport Country was postponed which means the fourth-tier outfit have had ten days to prepare for this mammoth clash.

Derek Adams and his players are four points adrift of safety with a game in hand over Swindon Town, who reside in 22nd position.

Morecambe’s away record is fairly encouraging with four of their five league wins coming on their travels. The Lancashire outfit have some history of playing Premier League teams from London in the third round of the FA Cup. They lost 3-1 away to Tottenham in 2022 and played Chelsea at Stamford Bridge the year before.

Last Meeting: Chelsea 4-0 Morecambe, FA Cup, 10th January 2021

Morecambe were no match for Chelsea in the last encounter as the Premier League side comfortably eased into the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Frank Lampard fielded a strong team against the then League One Shrimps and the gulf in talent proved too much for the visitors.

However, Morecambe almost broke the deadlock early on through Adam Phillips whose cross-cum-shot forced Kepa Arrizabalaga into action.

The hosts then took the lead shortly after as Mason Mount drilled in an effort from 20 yards out. Just before the interval, Chelsea doubled their advantage. Kai Havertz cushioned a header into the path of Timo Werner who couldn’t miss from a couple of yards out.

A big win against tomorrow's visitors. ✊#OnThisDay four years ago, Chelsea beat Morecambe 4-0 in the FA Cup third round! 🔵🫡 pic.twitter.com/phRyCexnTS
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) January 10, 2025

The Blues continued to dominate proceedings after the break and made it three within three minutes of the restart. Hakim Ziyech clipped an incisive pass towards Callum Hudson-Odoi whose finish was too powerful for Morecambe goalkeeper Mark Halstead.

Chelsea’s place in the fourth round was confirmed in the closing stages as Havertz headed in their fourth goal. Lampard’s side went on to make the final of the competition where they lost to Leicester City.

Predicted Lineups

Chelsea: Jorgensen; James, Acheampong, Disasi, Veiga; Lavia, Chukwuemeka; Madueke, Nkunku, Felix; Guiu

Morecambe: Burgoyne; Hendrie, Williams, Stott, Tutonda; White, Jones; Tollitt, Songo’o, Slew, Dackers.

Who is the referee?

Andrew Kitchen will be the match official. He will be assisted by Daniel Robathan and Shaun Hudson while Oliver Mackey will be the fourth official. VAR will not be in operation.