Chelsea Team News: Injuries, suspensions and line-up vs Huddersfield

There is a three way fight for two Champions League spots as the Blues rally a late challenge to compete for a top four finish

Chelsea must beat Huddersfield on Wednesday to have a chance of getting into next season's Champions League, but they remain outsiders despite beating Liverpool at the weekend.

Chelsea can go level on points with Liverpool, but they would remain below Jurgen Klopp's side on goal difference.

The Blues are also chasing Tottenham, they currently sit two points behind Spurs, with both sides kicking off at the same time on Wednesday - Mauricio Pochettino's men face Newcastle on Wednesday, and finish off the season against Leicester this weekend. Chelsea, meanwhile, face the Magpies on Sunday.

Huddersfield are still not mathematically safe from relegation, and could slip into the drop zone if they fail to pick up any points from their final two games, against the Blues and Arsenal.

Chelsea injuries

Alvaro Morata will return from injury to face Huddersfield on Wednesday after being left out of the match day squad in the recent 1-0 win over Liverpool. David Luiz is likely to miss the rest of the season with his knee injury.

Danny Drinkwater has missed over two months of football, having had a calf strain. However, he is back in training and Ethan Ampadu remains out for the season with a broken ankle.

Chelsea are thought to have no other fitness concerns.

Chelsea suspensions

Marcos Alonso returned from his retrospective violent conduct charge to face Liverpool on Sunday. He served his three match ban for his challenge on Southampton's Shane Long.

Chelsea potential starting line-up

Conte said he would rotate his side in the aftermath of the victory against Liverpool.

Indeed, Andreas Christensen, Pedro, Davide Zappacosta, Alvaro Morata and Emerson Palmieri could all feature in midweek.

Conte has been using a 3-5-2 formation in recent weeks, with Tiemoue Bakayoko seemingly returning to form.

However, Chelsea could opt for a more attacking 3-4-3 formation, against a lowly Huddersfield side.

Huddersfield team news

Elias Kachunga and Danny Williams have ankle injuries and will likely miss out for Huddersfield. Michael Hefele will also miss out with an achilles injury. David Wagner has confirmed that Tom Ince will return.

“Tom Ince is back in training and will be in the squad. Chris Löwe and Terence Kongolo both had knocks. I hope they will be available but there’s a small question mark over them.”

TV channel & kick-off time

The match takes place at 19:45 GMT on Wednesday and it will be shown live in the UK on Sky Sports.

Best Opta match facts

Huddersfield haven’t travelled to Stamford Bridge for a league game since February 1984, losing 3-1 in a second tier match.

Huddersfield have failed to score in 20 of their 36 Premier League games this season. Only two sides have ever failed to score in more – Derby County (22 in 2007-08) and Leeds United (21 in 1996-97). In fact, Huddersfield have drawn a blank in 13 Premier League away trips this season – a joint-record (also Norwich City 1994-95, Southampton 1998-99 and Middlesbrough 2002-03).

Chelsea have won four consecutive Premier League games for the first time since November 2017 – they last won five in a row back in May 2017 (6 games).

The Terriers haven’t won away at the reigning top-flight champion in a league match since February 1929, when they beat Everton, failing to win their 21 games since (D4 L17), though this is the first match of this type since January 1972.

Since his Premier League debut in August 2012, Olivier Giroud has scored more headed goals than any other player in the competition (29).