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Luton Town 0-1 Chelsea
21. Townsend whips a ball into the box which Thiago Silva struggles to deal with.
His attempted header clear loops up into the air in the six yard box.
Adebayo attacks it but cannot get any power on the header to test Petrovic in the Chelsea goal.
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Luton Town 0-1 Chelsea
19. Barkley strikes it but cannot get the ball up and down quick enough.
Petrovic is at full stretch but the ball goes a yard over the crossbar.
Closest Luton have come so far in this game.
Credit: Getty -
Luton Town 0-1 Chelsea
17. Lokonga plays a long pass to Doughty out wide.
He looks to whip a cross in but it is well blocked.
Chelsea are coping with the Luton attacks until Palmer gives away a free kick right on the edge of the box.
Dangerous position for Luton to work the Chelsea keeper now.
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Luton Town 0-1 Chelsea
15. The one thing that will annoy Rob Edwards is that his side have given their opponents too many goals this season.
Giving themselves an uphill struggle unnecessarily.
They need to find a way back into this game now, having not really tested Petrovic in the game so far.
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Luton Town 0-1 Chelsea
13. Luton Town are the architects of their own downfall.
Jackson has a shot from a tight angle, which Kaminski saves with his feet.
The hosts try to play the ball out and Kabore gifts it to Palmer who takes one touch to control it before drilling it into the far corner.
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Goal - Cole Palmer (Chelsea)
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Luton Town 0-0 Chelsea
11. Pochettino's side are playing some nice football in defence to play themselves out of their own third.
They work it from one end of the pitch to the other with ease.
Palmer has a shot from the edge of the box but it is a routine save for the Luton keeper in the bottom corner.
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Luton Town 0-0 Chelsea
9. The replays of that earlier chance show that Gallagher really should have done a lot better.
He had a clear sight of goal and shouldn't have given the Luton keeper the chance to make such a routine save.
A ball over the top by the hosts sees Petrovic come out of his box and kick the ball into touch.
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Luton Town 0-0 Chelsea
7. Kaminski is called into action for the first time as he makes a smart save with his feet.
The Luton keeper has been in good form this season.
Rod Edwards' side are struggling to press the visitors high up the pitch.
Credit: AFP
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Luton Town 0-0 Chelsea
5. It has been quite an even start to the game.
Both sides are trying to get a grip on the game in the early stages.
Chelsea are trying to get into a passing game on this tight Kenilworth Road pitch.
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Luton Town 0-0 Chelsea
3. The ball is headed clear by Chelsea.
Broja is bundled over by Kabore and a free kick is awarded.
Jackson looks to put some pressure on the Luton defence but is penalised for a push on Kabore.
He's been involved all the action so far The Hatters defender.
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Luton Town 0-0 Chelsea
1. Despite the adverse weather, the pitch looks a good surface today.
Brown is fouled in a wide position, giving the hosts the chance to get a cross into the box.
First test of the Chelsea defence today.
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Kick-off: Luton Town vs Chelsea
We are underway at Kenilworth Road.
It is a lively atmosphere for the visit of Pochettino's side.
Luton Town get the game started.
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Bookies don't fancy home advantage
Despite history showing that Chelsea have struggled on trips to Kenilworth Road, the bookies see The Blues as massive favourites.
Luton Town - 5/1
Draw - 7/2
Chelsea - 1/2
All match odds brought to you by LuckyBlock.com.
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Goals key to Premier League wins
Neither side really has an out and out goalscorer at the top end of the pitch this season.
Edwards will be assured that his side can pitch in with goals from all over the pitch.
Despite spending more than most countries' space budget, Chelsea continue to look to fill that void.
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Need to take big chances today
This season, the one table that Mauricio Pochettino's side do sit top of is 'big chances missed'.
The Argentine's mis-firing side have missed a staggering 40 big chances in games this season.
In a game like today's, not taking these could lead to an upset against The Hatters.
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Boss looking to let players do their thing
Rob Edwards spoke about what he looks for from Barkley in their side:
"Ross is a player that still needs an element of freedom to get the best out of him - as long as we can get a couple of non-negotiables from him - he’s got to be able to feel the game to be at his best.
“He’s an artist, really. You’ve got to allow him a little bit to go and do his stuff. We love having him here, he’s come into the group and shown loads of humility, worked incredibly hard.
“There’s still more to come from him, which I think is really exciting as well. We’ve given him a home, we’re helping each other. He’s helping us and we’re helping him enjoy his football again. When players have a home, they feel more valued, you’re going to get the best out of them.”
Credit: Reuters -
Barkley looking to show class
Ross Barkley will be more motivated than ever to show his old employer the talent that spurred them to buy him from Everton.
The midfielder has kick-started his career since joining Luton in the Premier League.
Home fans will be hoping he can pull the strings for a famous victory today at Kenilworth Road.
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Chelsea subs:
13. Bettinelli, 47. Bergstrom, 42. Gilchrist, 29. Maatsen, 52. Matos, 8. Enzo, 7. Sterling, 10. Mudryk, 18. Nkunku
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Chelsea starting XI:
Pochettino rings the changes as Palmer, Thiago Silva, Madueke and Broja all come into the starting line-up.
28. Petrovic, 27. Gusto, 2. Disasi, 6. Thiago Silva, 26. Colwill, 23. Gallagher, 25. Caicedo, 11. Madueke, 20. Palmer, 15. Jackson, 19. Broja
Credit: @ChelseaFC -
Luton Town subs:
23. Krul, 5. Andersen, 7. Ogbene, 9. Morris, 10. Woodrow, 14. Chong, 17. Mpanzu, 18. Clark, 26. Giles
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Luton Town starting XI:
The big news for The Hatters is Morris remaining on the bench for today's game despite his two assists against Sheff Utd.
24. Kaminski, 15. Mengi, 2. Osho, 29. Bell, 12. Kabore, 28. Lokonga, 6. Barkley, 45. Doughty, 30. Townsend, 19. Brown, 11. Adebayo
Credit: @LutonTown -
Blues struggling in fixture to win
Chelsea last won at Kenilworth Road in the top-flight thirty years ago to the day, with a 3-0 win over The Hatters.
That is their only away win against Luton Town away from home in the last 13 away league games.
Rob Edwards’ side have won 8 of the last 10 league meetings between the sides.
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Hatters looking to build on wins
Rob Edwards’ side have the chance to make it three consecutive wins in the Premier League for the first time since their reintroduction to the top-flight.
With a packed Kenilworth Road today, the manager will be hoping they can act as the twelfth man against Chelsea today.
The inconsistency of the West London outfit this season will give Luton some confidence that they can upset the odds today.
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Blues with chance to cement position
Chelsea can go within one point of Newcastle with victory today.
Being in the top half of the table has been a luxury Pochettino’s side have been lacking for so much of this season.
The Argentine boss will be hoping they can finally start making a push on the sides above them going into the New Year.