Carabao Cup Preview: Chelsea vs Barrow - Analysis and Insights

Barrow face the unenviable task of traveling to Stamford Bridge, the home of an in-form Chelsea side on Tuesday. With Chelsea’s huge squad finally seeming to click under new coach Enzo Maresca, Chelsea will view this game as an opportunity to show their incredible squad depth and put on a clinic to send a message to the other sides in the competition.

Barrow will need to approach the game with the mindset of simply pinching the first goal, and then praying that Chelsea’s front line fail to find their shooting boots.

As the game approaches, we take a closer look at both sides, investigating strategies, team news, key players and absences that could affect the result.

Chelsea vs Barrow Recent Form

After two years of seemingly endless turbulence at Stamford Bridge, it appears Enzo Maresca is finally beginning to introduce some order. He has already cut down a somewhat bloated squad to a manageable size, and is now beginning to get the best out of the players available.

At the weekend, he became the first Premier League manager since 2016 to win his first three league away games, beating Wolves, Bournemouth and most recently West Ham to exhibit visible progress for the South-West London side.

The performance against West Ham was their of those, as they completely suffocated the Hammers’ after the blossoming Nicolas Jackson bagged two excellent early goals, and the only time they were really threatened was in the last 10 minutes or so with the game already out of reach.

Nicolas Jackson vs West Ham United

Thriller.pic.twitter.com/buYxzPHYd9
— SB (@ShowBoat00) September 22, 2024

With Barrow, Brighton, Gent and Nottingham Forest their next four games, Chelsea will be approaching each of those expecting to win, and if the players continue to improve upon Maresca’s vision, the Blue’s will likely take three points from all of those games, and will suddenly start to look like top four contenders.

Barrow have had a similarly good start to the season, and currently sit at the pinnacle of League Two with 16 points so far. Of their seven games so far, they have won by more than one goal in just two of them, but have shown they are more than capable of defending a lead effectively.

7️⃣ games played
5️⃣ victories
1️⃣ draw
1️⃣ defeat
1️⃣1️⃣ goals scored
3️⃣ goals conceded
1️⃣6️⃣ points out of a possible 2️⃣1️⃣

🔝 of the League Two table

It's been some start for Stephen Clemence's Barrow! 🙌#WeAreBarrow | #LeagueTwo | #EFL pic.twitter.com/tJPmQ1qGB1
— Fourth Tier Fever (@FourthTierFever) September 22, 2024

This is exactly the vein of form that a lower league side would want coming into a cup game against one of the big guns, and if they can steal the first goal, they could certainly make it difficult for Chelsea to find an equalizer.

However, considering the form Chelsea are in, it seems next to impossible that they don’t find a breakthrough, and as soon as that happens, their confidence will only grow.

Chelsea vs Barrow Team News

While Chelsea’s current squad is exceptionally strong taking injuries into account, it is about to become even more deadly, with right backs Malo Gusto and Reece James set to return soon. However, the game against Barrow could still be too soon, so either Tosin Adarabioyo or Axel Disasi are expected to fill that right-back spot in the interim.

A fully fit Reece James 😢pic.twitter.com/e2PzADDOvh https://t.co/bBjrYybWwJ
— S (@CFC_Sims1) September 16, 2024

They are also missing Romeo Lavia, but with Moises Caicedo in super form and Dewsbury-Hall as backup, there will be no immediate worry for Maresca heading into the game.

Barrow have no significant injuries to speak of, and will have the benefit of a fully fit squad to choose from this big cup tie.

Chelsea vs Barrow Predicted Lineups

Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Jorgensen (GK), Disasi, Adarabioyo, Badiashile, Veiga, Dewsbury-Hall, Fernandez, Neto, Felix, Mudryk, Nkunku.
Barrow (4-2-3-1): Farman (GK), Feely, Vassell, Stokes, Jackson, Campbell, Foley, Kouyate, Spence, Newby, Garner.

Chelsea vs Barrow Player to Watch

Returning to Chelsea after a promising loan spell under Graham Potter, Joao Felix will likely be given his first start under Enzo Maresca in this cup tie.

After a number of promising cameos off the bench, including a goal scoring one in the 6-2 win over Wolves, Felix seems to have picked up where he left off at the end of his loan spell, dictating play and dribbling defenders into knots.

Joao Felix 😃 pic.twitter.com/Qs83a7M3IR
— Dribbling Skills Out Of Context (@DribblingOOC) September 21, 2024

It may not be the highest quality of opposition, but it is a chance for Felix all the same, and if he capitalizes on it, he could begin to persuade Maresca to start him in increasingly more important matches.