CHELSEA VS. NEWCASTLE- STARTING LINEUPS AND BETTING TIPS
Premier League champions Chelsea play host to Championship winners Newcastle tonight, in the Third Round of the Carling Cup
Chelsea head into this clash as odds on favourites to win, despite Blues boss Ancellotti stating that he would be playing a side made up primarily of fringe players and youngsters.
Ancelloti has confirmed that he will include four of the club's talented youngsters tonight
Defender Jeffrey Bruma, midfielder Gael Kakuta, striker Daniel Sturridge and full-back Patrick van Aanholt will all start, with tAncelloti making his intention strikingly clear, that the League cup is not top priority
The Blue will rest Petr Cech, Ashley Cole, John Mikel Obi, Michael Essien and Didier Drogba prior to this weekend’s City clash.
John Terry is expected to get a run off the bench tonight; however Frank Lampard remains sidelined with a hernia problem.
Starting Line-ups
Chelsea – Turnbull; Bruma, Alex, Ivanovic, Van Aanholt; Zhirkov, Ramires, Benayoun; Kakuta, Sturridge, Borini
Newcastle – Krul; Taylor, Tavernier, Campbell, Kadar; Donaldson, Vuckic, Ferguson, Lovenkrands; Ameobi, Ranger
Despite fielding the youngest squad in Blues history, Chelsea are still hot favourites to take this clash at 1/10, against Newcastle at 11/2
For Chelsea, Benayoun is favoured to open proceedings at 6/1, and locked in at 7/4 to score at anytime- this is a great bet considering the inexperienced side that he is running out with
On the Newcastle end, Ameobi is tops at 5/1, with London-born Nile Ranger placed at 11/2
This match up provides an uphill battle for both teams. However, one would think that despite the Blues playing a 'shadow' squad, that their depth in talent will shine through
Betting tip: Chelsea to win 3-1 at 10/1