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Lincoln 1-2 Chelsea: Blues survive major Carabao Cup scare in comeback win (HIGHLIGHTS)

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Lincoln 1-2 Chelsea: Blues survive major Carabao Cup scare in comeback win (HIGHLIGHTS)

Chelsea’s trip to Lincoln was meant to be a straightforward stop on their difficult run of fixtures, coming after a bruising week that included visits to Bayern Munich and Manchester United.

Instead, the Blues turned in what was arguably their worst first half under Enzo Maresca, looking second best against a determined League One side.

The London club finally turned things around after the break, striking twice in quick succession through Tyrique George and Facundo Buonanotte, who netted his first goal for Chelsea, just two minutes apart, overturning Rob Street’s shock opener and sparing them from an embarrassing defeat.

Chelsea’s troubles started well before kickoff. Marc Guiu, recently recalled from a loan spell at Sunderland only 26 days after moving north, was left in London under the mistaken belief that he was ineligible for the Carabao Cup.

Hours before the match, the club learned in an awkward call with the EFL that the rules had changed this season and the young striker could have played. That miscalculation, however, gave George his chance to shine, and he seized it with a superb finish that sparked the comeback.

Maresca fielded a full-strength side rather than a group of academy players, sending out a starting XI valued at over £360 million with another £250 million in reserve on the bench. By contrast, Lincoln’s record signing cost just £350,000.

Early on, though, the disparity in resources was nowhere to be seen as the hosts piled on pressure with relentless crosses and long throws, leaving Chelsea’s defense looking shaky and unsure.

Within two minutes, defender Lewis Montsma smacked the inside of the far post with a fierce strike that rattled the visitors. Chelsea appeared unsettled and lightweight in possession, struggling to handle the intensity of their opponents.

Goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen, one of eight changes to the lineup, has been told by Maresca he will feature in the Premier League and Champions League this season, but his first-half display hardly strengthened his case.

He collected some crosses confidently but flapped at others, at one point dropping the ball in his own six-yard box and relying on Wesley Fofana to hook it clear.

Alejandro Garnacho, making his first start since arriving from Manchester United, found no joy in a frustrating first half. The Argentine winger was repeatedly fouled and jeered by the crowd, switching flanks in search of space but to little effect, and he was substituted just before the hour mark after another quiet spell.

Chelsea managed only a single attempt on goal in the opening period, a close-range effort from Jamie Gittens that sailed over the bar.

Their fragile defending eventually caught up with them just before halftime when Enzo Fernández, one of two £100 million midfielders in the squad, received a short free-kick on the edge of the box.

His sluggish pass intended for Trevoh Chalobah was intercepted by Ivan Varfolomeev, who quickly fed Street for a composed low finish past Jorgensen.

Trailing at the break and having created a mess of their own making, the Blues emerged early for the second half clearly roused by Maresca’s team talk.

They equalized within three minutes when Gittens’ cross was only partially cleared by Montsma, allowing George to smash a first-time half-volley in off the far post from the edge of the area.

George played a part in the second goal as well. After Gittens drilled a pass into Buonanotte’s feet, the on-loan midfielder weaved through a cluster of red and white shirts, exchanged a scrappy one-two with George, and slipped past another defender before poking the ball beneath goalkeeper Zach Jeacock.

Chelsea’s 1,800 traveling supporters in the Stacey West Stand could finally exhale, though Lincoln continued to pose problems and refused to let the Premier League side settle completely.

Lincoln vs Chelsea Highlights

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‘We want him’ – Club chief confirms he wants to sign Man Utd outcast in permanent transfer

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‘We want him’ – Club chief confirms he wants to sign Man Utd outcast in permanent transfer

Andre Onana could remain in Turkey beyond his loan spell, with Trabzonspor keen to secure him on a permanent deal.

The 30-year-old moved to Trabzonspor after falling out of favour at Manchester United, who brought in Senne Lammens last summer. Since then, Lammens has established himself as the club’s first-choice keeper, paving the way for Onana’s temporary switch.

In Turkey, however, Onana has rediscovered his form and quickly become a key figure. He recently grabbed attention with a standout performance in the Turkish Cup, saving three consecutive penalties to help his side overcome Samsunspor and reach the semi-finals.

The moment sparked widespread reactions online, especially from United supporters recalling their earlier penalty shootout defeat to Grimsby Town, where Onana managed just one save.

Trabzonspor president Ertugrul Dogan has openly expressed the club’s desire to keep the goalkeeper. He indicated that while Onana has his own career plans, the club would be eager to make the move permanent if the circumstances align, leaving the final decision in the player’s hands.

Back in England, United are expected to consider selling Onana, particularly with Lammens now firmly established as their number one. The club will likely aim to recover a significant portion of the £47.5 million they paid to sign him from Inter Milan in 2023, with two years still remaining on his contract.

Beyond his cup heroics, Onana has been a consistent presence in the league, starting every match for Trabzonspor and playing a vital role in their push for the title. His performances have earned strong praise in Turkey, with the club currently sitting third in the table, just six points behind leaders Galatasaray.

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Man City place Arsenal ‘bottles’ for sale outside Etihad Stadium before 2025/26 Premier League decider

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Man City place Arsenal 'bottles' for sale outside Etihad Stadium before 2025/26 Premier League decider

Manchester City appear to have kicked off the psychological battle ahead of their Premier League showdown with Arsenal.

In the build-up to the match, bottles branded with the Arsenal logo were reportedly being sold outside the stadium, priced cheaply and seemingly intended as a tongue-in-cheek way for home fans to mock the visiting supporters.

The stunt draws inspiration from a recent viral moment at Stamford Bridge, where a City fan was seen jokingly “drinking Arsenal tears” during their emphatic 3-0 win over Chelsea—a clip that quickly spread across social media.

With tensions already high given the importance of the fixture, the gesture adds another layer to the rivalry between the two sides. Arsenal, meanwhile, will be focused on responding where it matters most—on the pitch—as they aim to silence critics and deliver a strong result in what could be a defining game in the title race.

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Bruno Fernandes responds to Manchester United star’s dig at Chelsea flop Alejandro Garnacho

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Bruno Fernandes responds to Manchester United star’s dig at Chelsea flop Alejandro Garnacho

Alejandro Garnacho faced criticism from his former Manchester United teammates following Chelsea’s latest Premier League setback.

A first-half goal from Matheus Cunha secured a narrow but important win for United, strengthening the position of Michael Carrick’s side in the race for Champions League qualification. Chelsea, meanwhile, continue to struggle, with the defeat marking their fourth consecutive league loss without finding the net.

Pressure is mounting on head coach Liam Rosenior, who only took charge a few months ago after replacing Enzo Maresca. While the club has not publicly wavered in its support, questions are beginning to emerge over several players, including Garnacho, whose performances have failed to meet expectations since his £40 million move from Old Trafford.

Reports suggest Chelsea could be open to offers for the 21-year-old after a difficult start to life at Stamford Bridge. He had an early opportunity to impress against his former side after coming on for the injured Estevao, but once again struggled to make an impact, finding it hard to break through a United defence that was missing several first-choice centre-backs.

Garnacho also received a hostile reception from United supporters during the match, and the reaction appeared to carry over beyond the pitch. After the game, Luke Shaw shared an image on social media showing himself standing over Garnacho following a challenge. Bruno Fernandes responded with a playful but pointed comment, while former teammate Alex Telles also joined in with reactions.

Chelsea’s broader struggles are becoming increasingly concerning. They now sit four points behind Liverpool in the race for fifth place, despite having played an extra game. The current run—four straight league defeats without scoring—is their worst in nearly three decades, with an even longer drought not seen since 1912.

Across all competitions, the form is equally worrying, with six losses in their last seven matches and 16 goals conceded during that stretch. A significant portion of their recent goals have come in a single outing against Port Vale, highlighting their lack of consistency in front of goal.

After the match, Rosenior admitted uncertainty about what failing to qualify for the Champions League could mean for his future. He acknowledged the result was difficult to take, especially given that Chelsea created numerous chances but failed to convert them. He pointed out that United capitalised on a limited opportunity, while his side were unable to make their attacking pressure count.

Despite the frustration, Rosenior emphasized the need for continued effort and improvement, insisting that the team must find a way to turn their form around before the situation worsens further.

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