18.
1:50 p.m
Ross Barkley puts the ball just 18 meters in front of the goal, pulls the ball past the wall onto the goalkeeper’s corner, but lifts the ball just a bit too high! Otherwise Petrović hardly has a chance here!
17.
13:49
The game shifts to midfield for a moment because Chelsea cannot move the ball forward in an orderly manner. So Brown wins the ball, only to be laid down by Palmer right in front of the penalty area. Good free kick chance for Luton.
13.
13:46
The home side want to respond immediately, but they play their cross from the left side over their colleagues in the center.
12.
13:43
Tooor for Chelsea FC, 0-1 by Cole Palmer
The big mistake leads to the backlog! Immediately following Jackson’s chance, Kabore plays the ball from the penalty area directly into Palmer’s foot. He takes the ball, aims at the right corner and drives the ball straight into the net behind the post!
11.
13:43
Good chance for Jackson! There is space on the left for the attacker, who moves into the box and gets stuck on Kaminski’s legs from an acute angle.
10.
13:42
Palmer takes the next shot, this time from the edge of the penalty area. Once again the leather jumps flat towards the right corner, where Kaminski grabs it safely again.
8th.
1:40 p.m
The Hatters are now trying to counterattack. On the left, Adebayo dribbles his way down to the baseline, but then can’t find Brown with the cross pass. Instead, the defense clarifies.
7.
13:39
The visitors were able to hold off the first pressure from Luton. Now the ball possession phases are increasing for the CFC.
5.
13:37
There’s the first shot of the Blues! On the right side of the penalty area, Gallagher is not properly attacked. He immediately takes measurements, but fails at Kaminski in the bottom right!
3.
1:35 p.m
Next foul from Chelsea. This time Kabore is pushed into the perimeter advertising. After a few seconds he gets up again to continue playing.
2.
13:33
Alfie Doughty lifts the leather into the center, where Disasi maintains control and clears the ball.
1.
13:33
The ball rolls in Luton. In fact, the outsider pushes the Blues back and takes a free kick to the left of the opponent’s box.
1.
13:32
Game start
13:27
The 11,500 spectators try to transform the tranquil stadium on Kenilworth Road into a cauldron. Both teams step out onto the lawn. It will not be long.
13:21
Paul Tierney celebrated his 43rd birthday on Christmas Day, and today the referee from Wigan is back on the pitch as a referee. The experienced official is assisted by linesmen Scott Ledger and Harry Lennard.
1:15 p.m
In the first leg, Chelsea celebrated their first win of the season against Luton Town. With a score of 3-0, the Hatters were sent on their short journey home. That’s why Luton should better remember the last league home game against the Blues. Almost exactly 32 years ago, the Hatters won 2-0 against Chelsea in their last season in the top flight. Repeat desired!
1:05 p.m
Although Chelsea also won the last game, Mauricio Pochettino is rotating in four positions. Benoît Badiashile is missing from the squad, while Ian Maatsen, Mykhaylo Mudryk and Christopher Nkunku watch from the sidelines. Thiago Silva, Cole Palmer, who returned from a yellow card suspension, Noni Madueke and Armando Broja will start today.
12:57
With two wins in a row, Rob Edwards has little reason to change. Compared to the recent 2-3 win in Sheffield, only Issa Kabore returns to the starting line-up after being unwell. Ryan Giles has to sit on the bench for the time being.
12:48
Chelsea are likely to approach strong home teams with a certain degree of suspicion. Apart from a good autumn month in which they achieved three away wins in a row, Chelsea only got one point away from home. This inconsistency is probably the most important reason why the Blues are only languishing in midfield this season. In fact, the Londoners are one point closer to the relegation zone than to the international places. A victory should be all the more important for morale in order to start catching up.
12:39
Shortly before the end of the year, Luton Town seems to have finally arrived in the Premier League. With wins against Newcastle and Sheffield United, they reduced the gap to a non-relegation zone to one point. In the second half of the season, the Hatters now want to make better use of their home strength, as this has so far suffered from unusually strong opponents: five of the top 6 teams played at Kenilworth Road. Luton only lost these games by one goal, while they even managed a draw against Liverpool. A similar result would also provide satisfaction against Chelsea.
12:30
At the start of the second half of the season, Luton Town welcomes Chelsea FC. Kick-off is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Welcome!