((WATCH>>STREAMS!)) Chelsea vs Preston North End Live Free Online Broadcast 6 January 2024
Chelsea vs Preston live stream: How to watch FA Cup third round game online. Chelsea will take on Preston in the third round of the FA Cup at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
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The Blues have only lost one out of their last five games and will fancy a good run in the FA Cup this season under Mauricio Pochettino. They are up against Preston who have only managed two wins from their last 10 matches. The Premier League club are the firm favourites for this one and they will look to avoid a shocking upset.
The Chelsea vs Preston live stream will see the two sides meet for the first time since 2010 as the Blues look to embark on another successful FA Cup run.
Chelsea fans have had little to cheer this season, especially at home where they have notched up just four Premier League wins in 10 games. Once a fortress, teams have shown no fear when arriving at Stamford Bridge and the Blues have already lost to Nottm Forest, Aston Villa and Brentford.
This should provide some belief for a Preston side who are also enduring a difficult time. Ryan Lowe’s side are 14th in the Championship table and have lost five of their last six games. However, in the 2-1 win over high-flying Leeds United they showed plenty of quality, with Canadian winger Liam Millar impressing with a late wonder strike to secure the three points.
The two sides met at the same stage of the FA Cup 14 years ago and it was Chelsea who ran out 2-0 winners. Manager Mauricio Pochettino will be hoping for a similar result and will be confident of giving the home fans something to cheer as the Blues look to win the competition for a ninth time.
Chelsea vs Preston live stream, date, time, channels
The Chelsea vs Preston live stream takes place on Saturday, January 6
Time 5:30 p.m. GMT / 12:30 p.m. ET / 9:30 a.m. PT / 4:30 a.m. AEDT (Jan. 7)
FREE — BBC iPlayer (U.K.)
U.S. — ESPN Plus
Watch anywhere
Chelsea are dealing with an extensive injury roster, with key players such as Reece James, Ben Chilwell, Trevoh Chalobah, Romeo Lavia, Wesley Fofana, Robert Sanchez, Carney Chukwuemeka, Marc Cucurella, and Lesley Ugochukwu sidelined with various injury issues. Additionally, Nicolas Jackson is out of contention, having joined the Senegal squad for the Africa Cup of Nations.
Enzo Fernandez, who bounced back from a hernia concern, made a second-half appearance against Luton. There is a possibility that the midfielder might be given a starting role come Saturday.
Preston has only one injury worry, revolving around winger Robbie Brady, whose participation remains uncertain due to an unspecified issue that has kept him sidelined for the last three matches.
The competition for a starting role in the attack includes top scorer Will Keane, boasting six goals this season, alongside Ched Evans, Milutin Osmajic, and Emil Riis Jakobsen, who has recently made a comeback from a long-term knee injury.
Having already made the Carabao Cup semi-finals, the Blues will expect to pass through this test to continue their progress under Mauricio Pochettino.
A banana skin against Luton was narrowly avoided last time out and victory here will make it five wins in six games.
Championship outfit Preston are on a very contrasting run of form, having lost four of their last five. Furthermore, North End have failed to reach the fourth round of the FA Cup in six of the last eight seasons.
A 6,000-strong away following will back them in the capital and manager Ryan Lowe has backtracked after describing the game as the "least of his worries" amid his team's league struggles.
Pochettino will likely rotate his cast to prioritise the upcoming Carabao Cup semi-final clash with Middlesbrough and a west London derby against Fulham.
That could mean a start at right-back for popular academy product Alfie Gilchrist, whereas Ian Maatsen may not be involved amid talks over a move to Borussia Dortmund.
Ben Chilwell and Carney Chukwuemeka are nearing returns from injury while Benoit Badiashile is a doubt and Nicolas Jackson has left for the Africa Cup of Nations.
A mixed season so far has left the London club out of the chase for the Champions League places, and Pochettino may fancy a shot at silverware in a cup Chelsea have won eight times.
The Premier League side concluded their festive fixtures with back-to-back wins against Crystal Palace and Luton, while their Championship opponents have struggled of late.
Nicolas Jackson has joined up with the Senegal squad ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations, adding another absentee to a lengthy list of injured individuals at Chelsea. Reece James, Robert Sanchez and Ben Chilwell are just three of nearly a dozen first-team options who remain sidelined, but Enzo Fernandez was fit enough to feature off the bench against Luton and may start in a rotated side.
Robbie Brady remains a doubt for Preston after missing their last three games, while Ryan Lowe could to revert to a back three after starting with a defensive four in consecutive defeats in the club’s last two outings.