Middlesbrough 0-0 Chelsea: Carabao Cup semi-final first leg tie underway

Mauricio Pochettino has overseen an indifferent first season in charge of the Blues but his side are still favourites to reach next month's Wembley showpiece.

Chelsea avoided ties against Premier League rivals Liverpool and neighbours Fulham after being drawn against Boro, who are languishing in mid-table in the Championship.

Live commentary: talkSPORT website stream HERE, via the app HERE

Match being broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event and Football

Middlesbrough: Glover, Van den Berg, Fry, Engel, Bangura, Barlaser, Hackney, Jones, Howson, Crooks, Latte Lath

Subs: Jones, Clarke, Gilbert, Coburn O'Brien, Kavanagh, McCabe, Bridge, Bilongo

Chelsea: Petrovic, Gusto, Disasi, Thiago Silva, Colwill, Caiedo, Fernandez, Gallagher, Madueke, Palmer, Sterling

Subs: Bettinelli, Bergstrom, Gilchrist, Williams, Golding, Mudryk, Washington, Broja

FOLLOW OUR LIVE MATCH BLOG BELOW FOR REGULAR UPDATES...

just nowBy Jack Cunningham

Middlesbrough 0-0 Chelsea

17' - Oh dear, not another injury for Boro.

The ball is slipped down the left for Madueke, Bangura gets across him.

Madueke pushes him and the player goes down holding his hamstring.

2 minutes agoBy Jack Cunningham

Middlesbrough 0-0 Chelsea

16' - Coburn is much more of a physical presence than Latte Lath, but Boro need to give him better passes than that.

Bangura dinks a hopeful ball down the line, which runs through for Petrovic.

5 minutes agoBy Jack Cunningham

Middlesbrough 0-0 Chelsea

14' - Howson thumps Palmer's corner away.

It drops for Gallagher, who lashes a wild effort miles over the bar.

5 minutes agoBy Jack Cunningham

Middlesbrough 0-0 Chelsea

13' - Madueke drives forward and fires in a cross that deflects behind for a corner.

Palmer delivers and Glover comes out to punch, he gets nowhere near it, and the ball pings out for another corner.

7 minutes agoBy Jack Cunningham

This is what ended Latte Lath's evening

7 minutes agoBy Jack Cunningham

Middlesbrough 0-0 Chelsea

11' - Finally, the Blues gain some possession.

Thiago Silva spots Madueke's run and pings a long ball over the defence that Glover gathers.

10 minutes agoBy Jack Cunningham

Middlesbrough 0-0 Chelsea

9' - This has been an excellent start from the hosts.

They are moving the ball nicely and dominating possession.

Ashton: "There has been a great tempo to their passing and movement."

11 minutes agoBy Jack Cunningham

Middlesbrough 0-0 Chelsea

7' - Hackney receives a pass from Engel and spins in midfield.

He travels up the pitch and wins a free-kick.

The hosts work it to Bangura, and he drives in a cross that hits Fernandez's arm, but there is no VAR, so they can't check it!

13 minutes agoBy Jack Cunningham

Middlesbrough 0-0 Chelsea

5' - Palmer warms Glover's hands.

He drives towards the edge of the box and fires in a shot that the goalkeeper palms away and Boro clear up the pitch.

14 minutes agoBy Jack Cunningham

Middlesbrough 0-0 Chelsea

3' - Latte Lath is down from that tangle, and it looks like his evening is over already.

Coburn is on.

Ashton: "He's probably over-extended himself and tweaked a muscle."

16 minutes agoBy Jack Cunningham

Middlesbrough 0-0 Chelsea - Chance

1' - What an opportunity for Latte Lath!

Glover drills a long pass forward, Colwill heads it down and Latte Lath is in on goal.

Disasi gets back at him and just gets in the way to ensure that his shot dribbles into Petrovic's arms.

Ashton: "Mistake from Colwill, trying to nod it back to Silva. The pace off Disasi was incredible, that's brilliant, electric defending."

19 minutes agoBy Jack Cunningham

Midlesbrough 0-0 Chelsea - Kick-off

The hosts get us underway kicking from right to left in all red and Chelsea are in their black and blue away kit.

Ashton: "Palmer is the key man tonight."

22 minutes agoBy Jack Cunningham

Here they come!

The Riverside is absolutely buzzing as the players come out.

23 minutes agoBy Jack Cunningham

Teams are in the tunnel...

We are moments away from this one getting underway.

26 minutes agoBy Jack Cunningham

Middlesbrough vs Chelsea: Pre-match facts

Middlesbrough's Morgan Rogers has scored in each of his last four League Cup matches, also providing two assists in this run. The last player to score more than Rogers' four in a single League Cup campaign for the club was Fabrizio Ravanelli in 1996-97 (9).

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino has never lost against lower division opposition in the League Cup (W9 D2), though one of those two draws did result in a penalty shootout elimination (against Colchester in September 2019).

28 minutes agoBy Jack Cunningham

Pochettino ready for semi-final

Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino has been discussing this evening's game.

Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: "This is really important.

"I hope that we can perform well today, but it's only the first half of the tie."

32 minutes agoBy Jack Cunningham

Nearly go time

38 minutes agoBy Jack Cunningham

Big night on Teesside

The Middlesbrough fans all around the stadium are very excited for this encounter.

Yes, they are the underdogs, but they played some of the best football in the Championship last season and will be hoping to replicate those levels tonight.

41 minutes agoBy Jack Cunningham

Middlesbrough vs Chelsea: Pre-match facts

Middlesbrough have scored at least twice in all five of their League Cup games so far this season, netting three goals in four of those. However, this will be their only home match in the competition this term, with their last match at the Riverside Stadium ending in a 1-0 defeat to Barnsley.

Since being eliminated by Burnley on penalties in the fourth round in 2008-09, Chelsea have won each of their last 15 League Cup matches against sides from a lower division, scoring 53 goals in the process.

44 minutes agoBy Jack Cunningham

2006 repeat?

Given Middlesbrough are now in the Championship and haven't played in the Premier League since 2017, it's sometimes hard to remember they once had a great team.

In fact, Boro are responsible for one of Chelsea's heaviest defeats during Jose Mourinho's first spell.

In 2006, the Teesiders beat the Blues 3-0 and there were some brilliant players in their starting XI.

Southgate and an aspiring DJ - the unlikely XI who demolished Chelsea and ended Roy Keane

50 minutes agoBy Jack Cunningham

talkSPORT coverage

54 minutes agoBy Jack Cunningham

Palmer to play as a false nine?

Looking at that Chelsea starting XI, it's hard to tell who will be starting as the striker.

However, Mauricio Pochettino indicated in the build-up that he believes Cole Palmer could operate as a forward.

Speaking ahead of the game, he said: "We have [Armando] Broja, Palmer, so many players who can play in the striker position.

"I am very positive and happy with the squad. If something appears, we will announce.

"At the moment, we are assessing and working normally."

So, let's see if it's Palmer or Raheem Sterling.

58 minutes agoBy Jack Cunningham

Middlesbrough vs Chelsea: Pre-match facts

Middlesbrough are playing in their first League Cup semi-final since the 2003-04 campaign, when they eliminated Arsenal en route to winning the trophy. They've progressed from each of their last three semi-final ties in the competition, also doing so in 1996-97 and 1997-98.

This is Chelsea's 16th appearance in the League Cup semi-finals, progressing to the final nine times previously. They've won their last two ties at this stage, last going out to Arsenal in 2017-18.

Today, 19:18By Jack Cunningham

Carrick looking for inspiration

Michael Carrick has told his player to take inspiration from Middlesbrough's League Cup victory in 2004.

It's nearly 20 years to the day that the Teesiders won their first major trophy.

It was a special day for all connected with Boro and Carrick hopes their achievements can help his side this evening.

Speaking ahead of the game, he said: "It feels a long time ago but it was a major part of the history of the club and a massive success.

"So I'm fully aware of what that means to the supporters and so many people connected to this club.

"I remember Juninho and Gareth were playing. I've seen the pictures up here. That's the impact football can have, you can create special, special memories and special days for people."

"Tomorrow's an unbelievable opportunity.

"It's a huge, huge day for us. There's a freshness about it. I can feel it around the players the club and the town. Hopefully it'll be a special night, we'll enjoy it and embrace it. But we mustn't get carried away just yet."

Today, 19:13By Jack Cunningham

Madueke sets out aims

Chelsea winger Noni Madueke finally broke into the first team over the festive period, and he's looking forward to the game.

Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: "It's a very important game. Credit to Middlesbrough for getting this far, so we can't underestimate them.

"It's going to be a tough game, but the boys are ready.

"We have to match their intensity that they are going to come with, and then our ability should shine through."

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