2025/26 FA Cup Third Round Lineups, Stats and Preview

Charlton v Chelsea FA Cup Preview

Charlton Athletic’s Conor Coventry says manager Nathan Jones faces a tactical headache when Chelsea visit the second-tier side in the first game for new Blues boss Liam Rosenior.

The Premier League side named Rosenior as Enzo Maresca’s successor on Wednesday, giving him his debut in The Valley dugout against opponents 31 places below Chelsea in the pyramid.

“It’s hard work for the staff to understand what’s going to happen,” said the former West Ham, Coventry midfielder. The Charlton site.

“As players it doesn’t change much for us. We know their quality and we know they will come and have a lot of ball. I was buzzing when I saw the draw.”

Rosenior described former Luton Town, Stoke City and Southampton boss Jones, who guided the Addicks to promotion in the play-offs last season, as “the best”.

“He had an exceptional career as a manager,” Rosenior added. “It’s going to be a very difficult match. They have such intensity.”

The former Hull City manager left Strasbourg to take over a side without a win in five matches following a 2-1 league defeat at Fulham on Wednesday.

“It will be a tough FA Cup game in January and my players have to be able to withstand that,” added the 41-year-old.

“You have to win duels and heads and you have to run and that’s the message I gave to the players.”

FA Cup 2025 third round: Charlton vs Chelsea team news

Jones said defender Reece Burke and striker Miles Leaburn “will both be fine” after being substituted due to injuries during Charlton’s 2-2 draw with Blackburn Rovers on Sunday.

Forward Matt Godden has yet to play this season following knee surgery, but has returned to training. Defender Josh Edwards is out with an ankle problem.

Chelsea midfielders Romeo Lavia and Dario Essugo remain sidelined with hamstring problems and centre-back Levi Colwill is suffering from a long-term knee injury.

Wideman Marc Cucurella is suspended for dismissal against the Cottagers. Winger Mykhailo Mudryk has not played since November 2024 after being suspended by the FA following an alleged abnormal drug test result.

Charlton vs Chelsea predicted FA Cup line-ups

Charlton starting XI: Thomas Kaminski, Reece Burke, Lloyd Jones, Amari’i Bell, James Bree, Luke Berry, Conor Coventry, Joe Rankin-Costello, Tyreece Campbell, Miles Leaburn, Charlie Kelman

Chelsea starting XI: Robert Sanchez, Malo Gusto, Wesley Fofana, Trevoh Chalobah, Jorrel Hato, Estevao, Reece James, Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo, Liam Delap, Pedro Neto

How to watch Charlton v Chelsea: FA Cup TV channel, live stream online

Kick-off on Saturday will be at 8:00 p.m. GMT (3:00 p.m. ET / 12:00 p.m. PT). Live TV coverage in the UK is provided on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate.

TNT Sports costs £29.99 per month via Discovery+, which includes Eurosport and entertainment and is available on a huge range of devices including smart TVs and games consoles.

Online live streaming is available on a wide range of devices via the Discovery+ app.

Charlton v Chelsea FA Cup 2025/26 Statistics

• Of the 71 meetings between the teams, there were 32 wins for Chelsea, 22 for Charlton and 17 draws.
• The last edition took place at The Valley in February 2007, when Frank Lampard scored the only goal in the visitors’ victory.
• Charlton have been knocked out in each of their last five FA Cup third round matches, with their last progression to the fourth round coming in 2013/14 when they eliminated Oxford United in a replay.
• The sides first met in the FA Cup in the fourth round in March 1963, when goals from Jimmy Mulholland, Bert Murray and Bobby Tambling gave Chelsea a 3–0 away win.
• Their second and most recent meeting in the competition came in the third round in January 1995, when Chelsea again won 3–0 thanks to goals from Gavin Peacock, Frank Sinclair and John Spencer.
• One of the most recent 11 meetings between the sides ended in Charlton’s favor, winning 4-2 at The Valley in the Premier League on Boxing Day 2003.
• Chelsea have progressed in 61 of their last 63 FA Cup matches against teams from a lower division, including their last 22 in a row.
• The two exceptions were away against Barnsley in the 2007/08 quarter-final and at home against Bradford City in the 2014/15 fourth round.
• New Chelsea Before João Pedro has produced six goals and one assist in his last four FA Cup starts, playing for Watford and Brighton
• The Blues can make it four straight wins at The Valley for the first time in their history