Xabi Alonso as Chelsea manager.
Chelsea and Luton Town will lock horns in the Carabao Cup this week, although at an unusually later stage of its second round schedule.
With no European football this season, the Blues will look towards the domestic cups in their bid to win more silverware.
Xabi Alonso as Chelsea manager.3
Alonso will make his Carabao Cup debut on Thursday
Xabi Alonso made his Stamford Bridge debut as Chelsea boss earlier this month when they beat Real Sociedad in a pre-season friendly.
However, the cup outing will be his first competitive appearance at their west London home.
Luton, who last played at the Bridge in August 2023 when they were a Premier League side, are third in League One after two matches.
Former Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere is manager of the Hatters in what is the first permanent role of his senior coaching career.
Chelsea and Luton will meet in one of 23 Carabao Cup ties for a place in the third round, but not on Tuesday or Wednesday like the others.
Why is Chelsea v Luton on Thursday?
This cup clash will be played on Thursday, August 27 due to Premier League scheduling.
Chelsea best neighbours Fulham 3-2 on Monday night in their opening league match of the 2026/27 season.
Thursday is the only realistic day on which they can play Luton due to concerns over player recovery.
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Playing on Tuesday or Wednesday would present issues with this, and so it's Thursday that has been the chosen date.
Two of Luton's upcoming League One fixtures have been impacted by the arrangement of their Carabao Cup tie.
Jack Wilshere as Luton Town manager.3
Wilshere will hope to cause an upset with his Luton side
They were due to travel to Mansfield Town on Saturday, August 29, but this match will now be played a day later.
Stockport County will play them at Kenilworth Road on Wednesday, September 2, rather than the day before.
How to follow Chelsea v Luton
talkSPORT will bring you live commentary of this Carabao Cup clash on Thursday night.
Sam Matterface is set to be joined by Lianne Sanderson as part of our coverage at Stamford Bridge.
Listen talkSPORT through the website or find us on DAB digital radio through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.
Download and listen to all our live commentaries via the talkSPORT app, whilst talkSPORT is also available to watch on Samsung TV Plus.
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The match will also be broadcast live on Sky Sports+ for UK viewers.
Non-Sky customers can still watch the match by purchasing a NOW TV subscription, with more information here.
A general view of the pitch and stands at Stamford Bridge.3
Stamford Bridge will host the later-than-expected cup tie
Chelsea v Luton team news
Wesley Fofana is suspended for Chelsea against Fulham after picking up a red card at the end of last season, but could return versus Luton.
Jordan Henderson may have to wait longer for his Blues debut as he continues to recover from his freak arm injury at the World Cup.
Emmanuel Emegha and Aaron Anselmino could also be absent, but Mamadou Sarr and Danny Welbeck will hope to return to fitness.
Luton announced on Monday that Jordan Clark has had surgery on a broken jaw and will be sidelined 'for a number of weeks'.
The midfielder sustained the nasty injury during their 2-2 draw with Notts County on Saturday.