Chelsea will aim to stay on course for UEFA Champions League qualification when they host an Ipswich Town side seemingly doomed to relegation.
A 3-0 win away to Legia Warszawa on Thursday put one foot in the Conference League semifinals for Enzo Maresca’s men.
The prospect of being able to rest more of his big-hitters for the return at Stamford Bridge next week might appeal to Marseca, who will not be taking Kieran McKenna’s side lightly.
Ipswich prevailed 2-0 when these teams met at Portman Road in December. Liam Delap opened the scoring from the penalty spot and the former Manchester City youngster might be extra keen to impress, having been linked with a summer move to Chelsea over recent weeks.
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Chelsea vs. Ipswich Town lineups, predicted starting 11, team news
Cole Palmer, a one-time youth team-mate of Delap’s, will be fit to start for Chelsea. The England attacker’s halftime substitution against Legia was a premeditated precaution.
Robert Sanchez, Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo and Nicolas Jackson are all set to rotate back into the lineup for Premier League action.
Wesley Fofana and Romeo Lavia remain out of action.
Chelsea predicted lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Sanchez (GK) — James, Adarabioyo, Colwill, Cucurella — Caicedo, Fernandez — Madueke, Palmer, Neto — Jackson
Injured: Fofana (muscular), Lavia (muscular), Guiu (thigh) Kellyman (hamstring)
Suspended: Mudryk
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Left-back Conor Townsend hobbled off during the closing stages of Ipswich’s sapping defeat to Wolves last week, a result the all-but condemned them to the drop. If Townsend is unable to recover in time, it should mean another chance for Leif Davis in the first XI.
Otherwise, McKenna has no new injury concerns, although the game might come too soon for Omari Hutchinson as the former Chelsea winger closes in on a return from a thigh complaint.
Sammy Szmodics and Aro Muric remain sidelined, while Wes Burns and Chiedozie Ogbene are long-term absentees.
Ipswich Town predicted lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Palmer (GK) — Tuanzebe, O’Shea, Burgess, Davis — Morsy, Cajuste — Johnson, Broadhead, Enciso — Delap
Injured: Burns (knee), Ogbene (Achilles), Szmodics (ankle), Muric (shoulder), Hutchinsomn (thigh, doubt)
Suspended: None
Chelsea vs. Ipswich Town live stream, TV channel
Here’s how to watch this Premier League match across selected areas of the world’s major regions:
| Region | TV | Streaming |
| USA | — | Peacock |
| Canada | — | Fubo |
| UK | — | — |
| Australia | — | Optus Sport |
| India | — | Disney+ Hotstar, JioCinema |
