Chelsea aim to reach the FA Cup fourth round as they host Morecambe in the third round, after their Premier League title hopes have faltered.

Chelsea

Morecambe

Match Stats

Enzo Maresca’s earlier comments about Chelsea not being title contenders may now be proving true, as the Blues have faltered after an impressive eight-match winning streak. In the past four matches, Chelsea has earned just two points from a possible 12 in the Premier League, struggling to find their form in attack and scoring only two goals in their last 360 minutes of play, including a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace.

Despite their recent struggles, few expect Chelsea to suffer a shock FA Cup exit, especially given their strong record in the competition. They’ve won 35 of their last 36 matches against lower-division teams, with the only loss being a 4-2 defeat to Bradford City in 2015. Chelsea also boasts an 80% win rate in third-round ties, the best of any team with at least 10 games at this stage.

Morecambe, who are yet to reach the fourth round, have already equaled their best-ever FA Cup performance by making it this far. They’ve had a mixed season, including recent wins over Carlisle United and Tranmere Rovers, but remain in the League Two relegation zone. They’ve performed better away from home, picking up 14 of their 20 points on the road, offering a slight hope for an upset at Stamford Bridge. However, Chelsea comfortably won their last encounter with Morecambe 4-0 in the third round four years ago.