Chelsea beat Charlton Athletic 5-1 in the third round of the FA Cup over the weekend as Liam Rosenior got off to a dream start as Blues boss.
His reward? A trip to the MKM Stadium to face former club Hull City, where Rosenior spent less than two years in charge as manager.
He was sacked in 2024, with many feeling that the decision to axe him was harsh. However, Rosenior now has the opportunity to get revenge with one of the biggest clubs in football.
What are your first impressions of Liam Rosenior’s tactics following Chelsea’s FA Cup win against Charlton?
What differences did you notice between his style and Enzo Maresca's? 👀
Chelsea defender Jorrel Hato discussing Liam Rosenior's style of play
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The Chelsea head coach’s return to Hull will not be the only storyline, though.
Liam Delap of Chelsea celebrates scoring
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Liam Delap could steal the headlines instead of Liam Rosenior
It would not be a surprise if Chelsea striker Liam Delap ended up being the person to grab the spotlight at the MKM Stadium.
Like Rosenior, Delap has also spent time at Hull. The Englishman joined the Tigers on a season-long loan back in the 2023/24 campaign and managed to make an impact there.
Under his current manager, Delap made 32 appearances and scored eight goals. It was not a bad record for a young player trying to find his way in the men’s game.
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Delap is now at Chelsea with a point to prove. The 22-year-old has not started his Blues career the way he would have liked because of injuries but has picked up in recent games.
Delap shone in Chelsea’s 1-1 draw with Manchester City earlier this month, rediscovering some form ahead of that FA Cup tie against Hull.
Ultimately, given his own links to the club and ability as a striker, eyes could quickly turn away from Rosenior and on to him.
Plymouth Argyle v Hull City - Sky Bet Championship
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Liam Rosenior needs to go strong in FA Cup
All things considered, the FA Cup is not a competition that Chelsea should muck around in this season.
With there being a real battle for the European places in the Premier League, the Europa League spot that comes with winning the FA Cup could come in handy.
As well as that, Chelsea supporters will be desperate to win the competition. The Blues have lost three consecutive finals and have not got their hands on the trophy since 2018.
Ultimately, Rosenior should not be too quick to make wholesale changes in the next round and beyond.
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