Where can I watch Middlesbrough vs. Chelsea live on TV?
This game will not be televised in the USA. Those in the UK can tune in to Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Main Event. In Australia, beIN Sports 3 has got fans covered with their coverage of this tie. If you live elsewhere, please check our dedicated match page for further information on how to follow this game live on TV in your country.
Where can I stream Middlesbrough vs. Chelsea live?
Fans in the USA can steam this clash exclusively on ESPN+. UK fans can tune in to Sky Go Extra while those in Canada need a DAZN Canada subscription to watch this game live. Meanwhile, beIN Sports Connect, has fans in Australia covered. If you live elsewhere, please check our dedicated match page for further information on how to stream this game live in your country.
Preview
Chelsea takes to the field for the second time in 2024, with the Premier League giants locking horns with Middlesbrough in the first leg of their intriguing Carabao Cup semifinal matchup. The London giants will travel to the Riverside Stadium for this Tuesday battle as Pochettino's men look to make it back-to-back wins in the new calendar year.
Pochettino's men have endured a rough ride so far, with the two-time UEFA Champions League winners struggling this season and throughout 2023. However, Sterling and Co. enter this Carabao Cup on the back of something rather unaccustomed recently for the club: a lovely winning streak.
Chelsea's first game of 2024 was a cup tie, hosting Preston in the third round of the FA Cup and triumphing 4-0. While a convincing win over a second-tier team is not ultimately significant for a Premier League heavyweight, it was a third straight victory for the Blues, a feat they last achieved between late September and early October.
The English heavyweights beat Preston 4-0, and before that came the 3-2 victory away to Luton Town — a close but crucial victory. Prior to that was the 2-1 triumph at home to Crystal Palace.
However, despite this improvement in form, the Blues appear unlikely to finish in the top four, let alone win major silverware; hence the importance of this tie. Victory over Middlesbrough will send Pochettino's men to the final at Wembley, and given the teams they have overcome to get to this stage, Chelsea should enter this tie with confidence.
Sterling and Co. kicked things off with a 2-1 win over Wimbledon before facing Premier League outfits Brighton and Newcastle, with a 2-0 victory over Blackburn sandwiched in between. Their most recent clash was against the Magpies, with the Blues triumphing via a nail-biting penalty shootout. Will they add Middlesbrough to their list of victims in this competition?
Middlesbrough is currently managed by Michael Carrick, and while the former Manchester United midfielder has been receiving rave reviews since entering management, the Championship side sits mid-table this season with only 11 wins in 26 matches.
Additionally, the Boro have lost three of their last four matches and their last two outings in a row. However, their most recent fixture was an FA Cup showdown with Aston Villa, currently second in the Premier League, losing 1-0 courtesy of an 87th-minute Matty Cash goal.
Furthermore, while the hosts have not faced a top-flight team so far in the Carabao Cup, Carrick's men have performed admirably well, overcoming Huddersfield, Bolton, Bradford City, Exeter City, and Port Vale. Boro won 3-0 in the quarterfinal, and while not many predict them to reach the final, the Championship side can frustrate Chelsea if they replicate their performance from their recent loss to Aston Villa.
Team news
Middlesbrough: Morgan Rogers is suspended for this tie but will be available for the second leg. Finn Azaz and Sam Greenwood are cup-tied while Samuel Silvera, Riley McGree, and Seny Dieng are away on international duty due to the upcoming Asian Cup and AFCON. Meanwhile, Tom Smith, Darragh Lenihan, Lewis O'Brien, Marcus Forss, and Patrick McNair are all sidelined with injuries.
Chelsea: Pochettino has headaches of his own, especially in attack, with Nicolas Jackson having left to represent Senegal at AFCON while Christopher Nkunku returned to the sidelines with a hip injury. The Frenchman had just returned from a long layoff, and while this latest issue isn't thought to be serious, he joins Ben Chilwell, Carney Chukwuemeka, Benoit Badiashile, Reece James, Wesley Fofana, Marc Cucurella, Robert Sanchez, Lesley Ugochukwu (hamstring), Trevoh Chalobah, and Romeo Lavia on the sidelines.
Key stats
This is the first time since 2003-04 that Middlesbrough has reached a Carabao Cup semifinal, having unforgettably beaten Arsenal in that aforementioned campaign before lifting the title.
The Boro have progressed to the final in each of their last three semifinal appearances in this competition.
Chelsea is on a 15-game winning streak in the Carabao Cup against teams from lower divisions, having last lost in 2008-09 against Burnley.
The Blues boast a brilliant record against their opponent, winning their last nine encounters in a row, scoring 21 goals along the way and conceding nothing.
These two sides have met three times before in this competition, and the record here is tight, with Boro winning once while Chelsea triumphed twice.
Broadcast listings
Match details, result and original broadcast info
This match has ended. Below are the original Live broadcast details for this match.
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
