((WATCH>>STREAMS!)) Chelsea vs Middlesbrough Live Free Online Broadcast 9 January 2024
Chelsea vs Middlesbrough Live Stream: How to Watch Carabao Cup semi-final game Online. Chelsea will take on Middlesbrough in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final at the Riverside Stadium on Tuesday. The winner of this tie over two legs will take on either Fulham or Liverpool based on the result of the second semi-final tie.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH LIVE FREE ONLINE
The Blues will be looking to pick up their fourth consecutive win across all competitions when they face the Championship side. They have only lost once in their last six matches and are the firm favourites to be one of the finalists in the competition.
Middlesbrough are languishing in the middle of the Championship standings. They will find it difficult against Mauricio Pochettino's team given their current form which has seen them lose three out of their last four games. Here GOAL brings you everything you need to know about how to watch, including TV channel, streaming details and more.
Middlesbrough vs Chelsea kick-off time
Date: January 9, 2024
Kick-off time: 8 pm GMT
Venue: Riverside Stadium
The match will be played at the Riverside Stadium on Tuesday, with kick-off scheduled for 8 pm GMT for fans in the UK.
Middlesbrough forward Morgan Rogers picked up his second booking of the tournament during the victory over Port Vale. Consequently, he is set to serve a one-game suspension in the upcoming first leg on Tuesday.
Manager Michael Carrick's squad will also be without Finn Azaz and Sam Greenwood, who are cup-tied. Australian players Samuel Silvera and Riley McGree are on international duty, and Senegal goalkeeper Seny Dieng is also unavailable.
There were no new injury concerns emerging over the weekend, but Tom Smith, Darragh Lenihan, Lewis O'Brien, Marcus Forss, and Patrick McNair continue to be sidelined for the time being.
Chelsea boss Pochettino is once again navigating through the ongoing issue of key players being absent. Nicolas Jackson is away with his national team for AFCON and a new hip injury has caused doubt over the availability of Christopher Nkunku.
The same uncertainty surrounds the availability of Ben Chilwell, Carney Chukwuemeka, and Benoit Badiashile. On the other hand, Reece James, Wesley Fofana, Marc Cucurella, Robert Sanchez, Lesley Ugochukwu, Trevoh Chalobah, and Romeo Lavia are confirmed to be ruled out.
Just as it was three days ago for the FA Cup visit of Premier League side Aston Villa, the Riverside will be full and rocking as the Blues head to the north-east.
Chelsea may well learn from Villa's narrow win that Boro are no straightforward second-tier side that they can brush aside with their top-flight might.
But they may be pleased to be heading away from home for the first of this two-legged tie, particularly having smashed Championship side Preston on the weekend.
A second Carabao Cup final in three years is on Chelsea's agenda here, whereas Michael Carrick's Boro can enjoy a night off from their play-off chase in pursuit of a first piece of silverware since they won this competition 20 years ago.
Mauricio Pochettino's side booked their spot in the FA Cup Fourth Round, via a 4-0 weekend win over Preston North End, as Middlesbrough were eliminated from the competition after a late 1-0 defeat at home to Aston Villa.
However, a trip to the Riverside Stadium will be a test for Pochettino's top-flight side, with 'Boro pushing for another EFL Championship promotion playoff spot, under former Manchester United star Michael Carrick.
Middlesbrough were left frustrated in their FA Cup clash against Villa as Matty Cash's deflected goal dumped them out at the Third Round stage. However, the prospect of a trip to a Wembley final, if they can get past Chelsea, will force Carrick to name a strong team in this first-leg clash.
Pochettino is still dealing with a lengthy injury list at Chelsea with at least 10 players ruled out through injury for the visitors. Noni Madueke and Conor Gallagher could rotate back into the team with Alfie Gilchrist starting at full-back.
The Blues, who edged past Newcastle in the quarter-finals after penalties, are hoping to win the competition for the sixth time. Mauricio Pochettino will also be desperate to pick up silverware in his debut season at Stamford Bridge to ease the pressure in the Chelsea hot seat.
Chelsea are also into the fourth round of the FA Cup following their 4-0 win against Preston on Saturday but their Premier League form has been inconsistent, with the Blues currently tenth in the table and 12 points off the top four.
Pochettino's side face Championship outfit Middlesbrough over two legs, with Michael Carrick's men all in on the Carabao Cup and securing a play-off spot by the end of the season.
Middlesbrough, who were knocked out of the FA Cup on Saturday by Aston Villa, won the Carabao Cup in 2004 in a 2-1 win against Bolton and they've also been runners-up on two occasions.
The Championship club will be eyeing a trip to Wembley after a solid campaign, winning at Port Vale in their last eight tie to set up this two-legged affair.
Their first Premier League opposition in this cup this season will represent a significant step up, though, with mid-table Chelsea looking to set up a tilt at the first trophy under Mauricio Pochettino.
Chelsea has struggled in recent years. The Blues are currently in the 10th position in the Premier League, so winning the EFL Cup could partially save the terrible year they have had.
As for Middlesbrough, they are also facing a lot of challenges this season in the Sky Bet Championship. Defeating Chelse will be tough, but it is not impossible due to the bad moment that the Blues are living.
Finn Azaz and Sam Greenwood are both cup tied for Middlesbrough, while Morgan Rogers is suspended for the first leg. Samuel Silvera, Seny Dieng and Riley McGree are unavailable after international call-ups, and Tom Smith, Lewis O’Brien and Marcus Forss are among Michael Carrick’s injury absentees.
Christopher Nkunku did not feature in Chelsea’s FA Cup win over Preston due to a hip complaint, and is a doubt in a blow for Mauricio Pochettino with Nicolas Jackson away at the Africa Cup of Nations. In better news for the Chelsea manager, Ben Chilwell, Benoit Badiashile and Romeo Lavia are all moving closer to returns.
The Blues seemed destined to exit the competition in the last eight before an erroneous Kieran Tripper header allowed Mykhailo Mudryk to equalise in stoppage time before Mauricio Pochettino's side downed Newcastle on penalties.
Middlesbrough, meanwhile, have enjoyed a fairly tame route into the semi-finals. Michael Carrick's men have beaten Huddersfield, Exeter, Bradford and Port Vale to set up this tie.
Chelsea made light work of middling Championship opposition in the FA Cup on Saturday as they put four past a slumping Preston. Boro, who sit 12th in the second tier, were cruelly denied a replay at Villa Park by Matty Cash's late deflected winner.
Christopher Nkunku missed Saturday's victory over Preston with a hip injury and is unlikely to start in midweek. His issue, however, isn't believed to be major.
Thus, Cole Palmer should retain his place in the number 10 position, while captain Conor Gallagher is expected to come back into midfield, potentially replacing Moises Caicedo.
Pochettino isn't expected to welcome back any injured stars in midweek. As a result, Carney Chukwuemeka, Marc Cucurella, Ben Chilwell, Reece James, Wesley Fofana, Romeo Lavia, Lesley Ugochukwu and Trevoh Chalaboh will all miss out.
The hosts aren't in a slump quite like Preston, who Chelsea put to the sword on Saturday, and they should make life tricky for the Blues at times on Tuesday night. The Riverside will undoubtedly embolden Carrick's men, but Poch's side head into the cup tie in good spirits.