The Kenilworth Road stadium hosts a clash between Luton Town and Chelsea on Saturday, marking the final match for both teams in 2023.
Luton Town enters this game on a high note following a thrilling 3-2 victory against Sheffield United on Boxing Day. Meanwhile, Chelsea secured a late 2-1 win over Crystal Palace.
Match Preview
Luton Town made history with their back-to-back Premier League wins, rallying from behind to clinch a dramatic victory against Sheffield United.
The match was marred by allegations of a racist incident directed at Carlton Morris, overshadowing their historic win.
Rob Edwards’s side, although in the relegation zone, is eyeing a third consecutive league win, aiming to climb the standings. Their previous win against Chelsea dates back to 1991, adding an extra historical element to this fixture.
Chelsea’s win over Crystal Palace was crucial, with a late Noni Madueke penalty securing the victory. The Blues are looking to build on this momentum and improve their away form, which has seen them struggle in recent games.
The Blues have had contrasting home and away records, with consecutive home wins but a troubling away streak.
They are eager to avoid a fifth consecutive away defeat and hope to replicate their previous victory against Luton Town earlier in the season.
Team News
Luton Town doesn’t have any fresh injury concerns following their last match, but several players remain sidelined, including Reece Burke, Dan Potts, and others. Morris’s impressive performance might earn him a starting spot in the XI.
Chelsea will have Raheem Sterling and Cole Palmer back from suspension. However, several key players, including Chalobah, Chilwell, and James, are out due to injuries. Pochettino might make changes to the lineup to manage the busy schedule.
Predicted Lineups
Luton Town: (3-4-2-1)
Kaminski;
Osho, Mengi, Bell;
Doughty, Barkley, Lokonga, Giles;
Townsend, Morris;
Adebayo
Chelsea: (4-2-3-1)
Petrovic;
Gusto, Disasi, Silva, Colwill;
Caicedo, Gallagher;
Sterling, Palmer, Mudryk;
Nkunku
Prediction: Luton Town 1-2 Chelsea
Luton Town’s recent form has been promising, and they’ll aim to put up a strong fight against Chelsea. However, Chelsea’s quality, despite their inconsistent away form, might prevail in a closely contested match. Sterling and Palmer’s return could tip the scales in Chelsea’s favor, helping them secure a narrow victory.
