Chelsea

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We asked if you think exiles Raheem Sterling or Axel Disasi should be reintergrated into the Chelsea side following the appointment of Liam Rosenior.

Here are some of your comments:

Bob: I think both should be given a chance to train with the main squad and if they offer something to the team, given a chance. I also feel disgusted with how they've been treated by the club. I would not expect to be treated like they have in my everyday job.

David: Raheem Sterling should be in the Chelsea squad for the rest of the season, because the man is a proven Premier League goalscorer. His experience would help and I would play him as a back-up striker. Utilise all that is available to you.

Goff: Sterling would give stability and advice to the younger players, plus he is a good solid player himself.

James: I would bring Disasi and Sterling back into the fold, the team needs experience which both can provide and they are costing the club a lot of money doing nothing. Clean slate with a new manager and see what they can bring.

Mark: Regarding Sterling, if we're still paying him an alleged £300k a week then put him back in the squad to see if he actually wants to play for Chelsea. If he doesn't then sack him - this is what would happen in a normal workplace!!

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Chelsea say they are mourning one of the "great figures in our history" following the death of Eddie McCreadie.

What are your memories of the FA Cup winner and Scotland international, who played over 400 times for the Blues?

Get in touch with your views here

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

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New Chelsea head coach Liam Rosenior has pledged to speak to Raheem Sterling and Axel Disasi, who have been left in limbo as part of the so-called "bomb squad".

The 41-year-old Englishman, who replaced Enzo Maresca last week, is working through an extensive list of tasks after joining mid-season from Strasbourg, which shares ownership with Chelsea.

One priority is to speak to Sterling and Disasi, who joined during the 2023-24 season for £47.5m and £38.5m respectively, but are currently training at different times, on a separate pitch and in a separate building from the main squad. Both remain on the transfer list and turned down potential loan moves over the summer.

Asked about the pair, Rosenior said: "I will have conversations with them. We're in January, as you know.

"Raheem's had an outstanding career. I've got huge respect for him. Axel is someone I've really, really liked as a player for a long time.

"Honestly, I have to have a conversation with them. I have to have a conversation with the club. I'm being genuinely honest. I literally have got to work through a list of priorities. I will do in the next few days."

Sterling is attracting interest from Napoli, while Roma and Lyon have explored a move for Disasi, but Chelsea currently have a maximum of six players out on overseas loans, per Fifa's rules, and would have to cancel one to allow the pair to move on a temporary deal.

Chelsea are usually active in every transfer window, but have had a slow start to January following the managerial change. Insiders insist the club's strategy will remain similar, although Rosenior's voice will now be part of the discussion after Maresca's falling out with the hierarchy led to his unplanned mid-season exit.

On potential signings, Rosenior added: "The first conversation I had with the guys [the club's hierarchy] was I want to assess the most important players, which are the ones who are here. Normally you get good surprises if you give people a chance."

What do you think Rosenior should do? Could Sterling, Disasi or both be reintegrated? Or should the Blues just cut their losses and move them on?

Get in touch with your views here

Come back to this page later on Wednesday to find a selection of your replies

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter at Cobham Training Centre

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Chelsea defender Benoit Badiashile admits his injury-hit spell at the club has been "tough" but insists he now feels "free".

The 24-year-old joined Chelsea in a £35m move from Monaco in January 2023 and was one of the few players to impress immediately during a turbulent season.

However, a serious hamstring injury late in that campaign derailed his progress and further setbacks over the following two seasons - including another hamstring problem that ruled him out midway through Chelsea's successful Club World Cup run - hampered his development.

Now, after two months without any setbacks, Badiashile is optimistic about staying fit. "I am much better than before - I feel really good," Badiashile told BBC Sport.

"I had a lot of injuries, but now I can say I'm free. The most important thing is to stay fit. It was tough for me, really tough, but I had my family around me so it was easier to handle this type of situation. I've been working hard during my rehabilitation with the medical staff."

While his recent performances have been mixed, Badiashile earned widespread praise for his display in Chelsea's 2-1 home win over Liverpool in October, especially given he had just returned from injury.

"I just wanted to be prepared to play and to perform and that's what happened, so I was happy," he added.

The Frenchman admits Chelsea fans have yet to see his best form. "I had a lot of injuries so it was really difficult to build big momentum - if I can say it like this - but now I'm focused on the future. The past is the past and I can't do anything about it."

Chelsea next host Arsenal in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final on Wednesday, before Brentford visit Stamford Bridge in the Premier League on Saturday.

Dale Johnson
Football issues correspondent

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Bournemouth should have been awarded a penalty at Chelsea for handball by Malo Gusto, the Premier League's Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel has said.

Marcus Tavernier played a ball into the penalty area in the 54th minute. It hit the raised arm of Gusto as it dropped over his head but referee Sam Barrott waved away the penalty claims.

The game at Stamford Bridge on 30 December was 2-2 at the time, with no further goals scored.

The KMI Panel voted 4-1 that Barrott should have given the spot-kick and 3-2 that the video assistant referee (VAR), Craig Pawson, was wrong not to intervene.

The panel felt that "the ball hit the 'red zone' of his arm that was raised in an unjustifiable position".

The 'red zone' relates to a part of the arm which is considered a handball offence.

Yet Chelsea were denied a penalty against Aston Villa in similar circumstances just three days earlier. The KMI Panel unanimously voted it was correct not to give a spot-kick against Ian Maatsen. It happened in the 75th minute with the score 1-1, with Chelsea falling to a late Chelsea falling to a late 2-1 defeat.

It is the second time this season that Gusto has incorrectly escaped a VAR penalty. He caught the head of Brighton's Yankuba Minteh with his boot on 27 September.

Chelsea have benefited most from VAR errors this season, with three of the 13 which have been logged. The third is Fulham's wrongly disallowed goal at 0-0 in a game Chelsea went on to win 2-0.

Bournemouth have suffered two mistakes. The second was a missed red card for West Ham's Max Kilman in the 66th minute of the 2-2 draw on 22 November.

But Bournemouth have also gained, as Marcos Senesi should twice have received red cards for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity against Liverpool and Crystal Palace.

Will Faulks
Fan writer

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In his first week in charge of Chelsea, Liam Rosenior has said all of the right things - although it was never in much doubt that he would.

The articulate and engaging new head coach wouldn't have had to do much to impress fans and the media more than the bluff and sometimes curt Enzo Maresca. But he exceeded expectations both in saying the right things, and by saying them in the right ways.

A comfortable win over Charlton helped grow the green shoots of positivity at the club even more. But the game against Arsenal in the League Cup semi-final is what everyone has had their eyes on. Rosenior's words will mean little if the team capitulate horribly, but equally they will carry a lot more weight in hindsight if the Blues get a good result.

It won't be an easy task. Arsenal have the best squad in the league, they have form and confidence and momentum, they have a manager who will prepare for every detail to get the win, and players who aren't afraid of doing whatever it takes to ensure they come away with a result.

Chelsea have to match them in every way - and do it all without Moises Caicedo, their midfield lynchpin and probably the man they'd most want in their team to help them compete physically.

Rosenior's response to tactical questions so far has been to brush them off and point out that his focus has been working on his players' mindset and attitude rather than anything too technical. Given his limited time on the training pitch, that's probably a sensible idea.

Now the question is if we will see the results of that on the pitch at Stamford Bridge.

Find more from Will Faulks at Chelsea News, external

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

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I was at Charlton to see Liam Rosenior take charge of the Chelsea team for the first time.

I couldn't see that he did anything differently from Enzo Maresca.

It was a Chelsea cup side resting or rotating as many as possible for the upcoming games, classic Maresca/Chelsea tactics.

The 4-2-3-1 system with an inverted left-back was the same, except it was Hato not the suspended Cucurella doing that and scoring the opener.

‌The fact that Rosenior changed nothing obvious was almost certainly a smart move. If you are going to change at all mid-season, evolution not revolution makes more sense.

‌He did do one very notable thing: he waited until the Charlton game to take charge when he could have been sitting on the bench at Fulham.

Craven Cottage was a tough start and he probably wouldn't have been able to do much about the defeat.

‌Instead, he starts with a win, and four out of his next six league games are at home, mostly against teams struggling in the EPL.

Burnley, West Ham and Leeds will not be pushovers but it is as soft a start as the league offers.

‌One of the two away league games during this run is against relegation certainties Wolves, once again a good match even if there are recovery signs at Molineux.

Add a home Champions League match against Cypriot minnows Pafos to ensure progression there and his timing couldn't have been better to give him and his statistics a good start.

Sign up to read more from Pat Nevin in his Football Extra newsletter

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The draw for the FA Cup fourth round has been made. Here is a list of all the ties involving Premier League teams in the order they were drawn.

The matches will be played over the weekend of 14 February.

• Liverpool/Barnsley v Brighton

• Stoke City v Fulham

• Oxford United v Sunderland

• Arsenal v Wigan Athletic

• Hull City v Chelsea

• Burton Albion v West Ham

• Burnley v Mansfield Town

• Grimsby Town v Wolves

• Aston Villa v Newcastle

• Manchester City v Salford City/Swindon Town

• Macclesfield v Brentford

• Birmingham City v Leeds

See the full draw

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge (kick-off 20:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Moises Caicedo is suspended and decisions will be made on Wednesday morning about Cole Palmer, Malo Gusto and Reece James. Rosenior said the trio are not injured but "are being managed" as "there's no reason to take risks on players' health" when there are other options available.

• He said the "lads trained very well" at Cobham on Monday morning and there are no new injury concerns before the first leg of the semi-final.

• On opponents Arsenal: "They are very well organised in every aspect of the game. We have been tactically working on Arsenal since the minute I got into the building – including set-plays, which they are very good at. Arsenal are good at everything. I respect them and I think they will respect us."

• He said Chelsea "caused problems" for the Gunners in November when they held them to a draw and "they want to do the same" on Wednesday.

• More on how they are approaching the game: "If you're not willing to do the basics then you make it very difficult to win. We need to have a very good game, but I am confident because they are hungry and believe in themselves."

• On whether it is his biggest game in his managerial career: "People will look at it that way, but I don't see it that way. I live in the now. It is the most important game because it is the next one. That keeps me calm. I am not making it any bigger than it's the next game and we have to win."

Listen to live commentary of Chelsea vs Arsenal from 20:00 on Wednesday on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds

Follow all of Monday's Carabao Cup news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Nizaar Kinsella
Chelsea reporter

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Liam Rosenior will face questions later on Monday about his first real test as Chelsea boss, with his side hosting league leaders Arsenal in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg on Wednesday.

The 41-year-old oversaw a 5-1 win at second-tier Charlton Athletic in the FA Cup third round in his first match in charge on Saturday, but Mikel Arteta's side present a much tougher early challenge to his management.

It has been largely positive from the Englishman since he replaced Enzo Maresca in shock and controversial circumstances, after Maresca fell out with the club's hierarchy, leading to a mid-season exit.

However, the new Blues boss confirmed Cole Palmer, Reece James and Malo Gusto missed the weekend game because of injury, which will be a cause for concern.

Rosenior has sought to change the tone of Chelsea's situation, with the side on a run of just one win in nine league games. He has breathed positivity into the club and his players, saying their potential is "limitless".

He is likely to echo those thoughts again before facing Arsenal, but ultimately it will take positive results to convince supporters, who continue to express their anger at Chelsea's BlueCo project in the stands.

Come back to this page later on Monday for all the key lines from Rosenior.

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's 5-1 win at Charlton in the third round of the FA Cup.

Here are some of your comments:

George: Good score in the end which flatters Chelsea. To get there the reinforcements needed to come on. Lots of work is needed by Liam Rosenior to improve the team. The fringe players just aren't good enough. We need to ensure that they get more game time to be assessed properly. The shining lights for me were Jorrel Hato, Marc Guiu and Jamie Gittens who had their best game and deserve more game time.

Rafi: Brilliant start for Rosenior and players were looking really hungry which is going to be essential to push forward on all fronts for the rest of the season.

Tony: Good performance all round, but I can't understand how anybody thinks Benoit Badiashile is a Chelsea defender. He is a bag of nerves and only passes sideways or backwards.

Tristan: Emphatic. What a performance from the boys, especially in front of a confident Charlton. A great start to Rosenior's Chelsea career and we wait to see what happens next.

Rob: A dress rehearsal at best and another set piece goal conceded. We have missed Levi Colwill this season and the chance to find a partnership in central defence to build on.

Chris: Good result against a spirited Charlton side, but showed that Rosenior has a job to do. Defence is still a shambles and we haven't got a decent goalkeeper. 'Run around Delap' came on for his usual cameo to show us he can't score! Let's hope the usual suspects are restored to the starting line up for the next game.

Nick: Well that went well! I've really enjoyed listening to Rosenior speak this week, he's eloquent, charming, witty and really seems to understand both the club and the challenge in front of him. You can only beat what's in front of you, but this was an efficient, professional win, and he was able to get a good solid performance from some of the second string players. It was very different from the game against Lincoln City in the Carabao Cup where we were dreadful.

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The 2025-26 FA Cup fourth-round draw will take place on Monday, 12 January at approximately 18:35 GMT.

Proceedings will take place before kick-off in the third-round tie between Liverpool and Barnsley at Anfield.

Former England internationals Steven Gerrard and Joe Cole will conduct the draw that will consist of 32 teams live on TNT Sports.

Supporters can also follow the draw on the BBC Sport website and app.

All matches will be played around the weekend commencing Saturday, 14 February.

Unlike in previous years, there are no replays if matches end as a draw. All ties will go to extra time, and if necessary, a penalty shootout.

Non-league Macclesfield are the lowest-ranked team in the draw after beating holders Crystal Palace in a remarkable 2-1 victory.

What are the ball numbers?

• 1. Wolverhampton Wanderers

• 2. Southampton

• 3. Aston Villa

• 4. Port Vale

• 5. Wigan Athletic

• 6. Ipswich Town

• 7. Wrexham

• 8. Chelsea

• 9. Manchester City

• 10. West Ham United

• 11. Brentford

• 12. Fulham

• 13. Sunderland

• 14. Liverpool or Barnsley

• 15. Burnley

• 16. Norwich City

• 17. Arsenal

• 18. Leeds United

• 19. West Bromwich Albion

• 20. Salford City or Swindon Town

• 21. Burton Albion

• 22. Grimsby Town

• 23. Hull City

• 24. Newcastle United

• 25. Oxford United

• 26. Leicester City

• 27. Birmingham City

• 28. Bristol City

• 29. Stoke City

• 30. Macclesfield

• 31. Brighton & Hove Albion

• 32. Mansfield Town

Liverpool and Chelsea have been impressed with Como's Spain Under-21 centre-back Jacobo Ramon, with several other Premier League clubs also sending scouts to watch the 21-year-old. (CaughtOffside), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Nizaar Kinsella
Football reporter

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For Charlton, this was the glamour tie they craved. The fact it was Liam Rosenior's first match was the last thing on their minds.

Addicks boss Nathan Jones, who coached Rosenior at Brighton, had hoped for a tie of this calibre, and it delivered – complete with a firework display for supporters to underline that this was no ordinary match.

It was extra special given Charlton had not hosted 'big six' opposition since they were last in the Premier League in 2007. There was plenty of effort from their players, but ultimately the gulf in quality told.

Off the field, the difference between the club's financial power is stark - Charlton's record signing remains Jason Euell for a reported £4.75m in 2001, while Chelsea's squad is worth more than £1bn and includes £115m former British transfer record signing Moises Caicedo.

Yet, in the first half at least, it did not look like there were 31 places between the two teams.

Chelsea dominated with 77.8% possession and had five shots on target, but frustrated their own supporters – who also protested against the hierarchy throughout the match – chanting "attack, attack, attack".

That away support continued to chant against the current ownership – and for former owner Roman Abramovich – throughout the match.

It highlights the febrile atmosphere the new manager has walked into and the tricky line he must tread to win over both fans and his employers.

Ultimately, Rosenior had them cheering. A goal just before half-time eased his young squad's nerves; they then added a second, responded to a setback, and added gloss to the scoreline as big-name players Neto, Estevao and Fernandez came off the bench.

In terms of handling an emotional FA Cup tie, this was a good blueprint for any big club and lays down a marker for what might be possible under a bright, young – if inexperienced – manager.

Of course, his approach – not yet so different from predecessor Enzo Maresca – works against opposition with such vastly inferior resources, and he will face tougher tests. League leaders Arsenal on Wednesday in a semi-final is not a bad place to start tackling the really big challenges.

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Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior, speaking to TNT Sports after the 5-1 FA Cup win at Charlton: "A good start, professional. I thought our first goal came at an important time in the game and it was a brilliant goal for Jorrel [Hato].

"The quality of my players was outstanding. Strong start, something to build on.

"Goals change games and that comes down to quality of players. To get the goal when we did was really good. I've got a fantastic squad, I was delighted with the starting players. I thought Marc Guiu was magnificent, he deserved his goal. There are a lot of positives. Strong start but nothing to get too carried away about yet."

On how the team started: "I was delighted with Hato because it was a different role for him and he played as a 10 like Guiu has done in the past and he gets the goal and does really well. I was delighted with Tosin and big Ben [Badiashile] at the back. Young Josh [Acheampong], full of potential, I was delighted with them."

On building on the win: "It's a busy two months. The lads have been really receptive to us and I thank them for that and if we keep working in this way I'm excited for the future."

Did you know?

• Chelsea's 5-1 win was their biggest margin of victory in their first game under a new manager since Luiz Felipe Scolari led the Blues to a 4-0 win over Portsmouth in his first game in charge back in August 2008.

• Marc Guiu has scored eight goals in his last nine starts for Chelsea across all competitions.

Pundits Dion Dublin and Rob Green join host Jason Mohammad to bring you the action and talking points from Friday and Saturday's FA Cup ties.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Wrexham 3-3 (4-3 pens) Nottingham Forest

• Preston North End 0-1 Wigan

• Macclesfield Town 2-1 Crystal Palace

• Everton 1-1 (0-3 pens) Sunderland

• Wolves 6-1 Shrewsbury Town

• Fulham 3-1 Middlesbrough

• Manchester City 10-1 Exeter City

• Newcastle 3-3 (7-6 pens) Bournemouth

• Stoke City 1-0 Coventry City

• Tottenham 1-2 Aston Villa

• Bristol City 5-1 Watford

• Cambridge United 2-3 Birmingham City

• Charlton 1-5 Chelsea

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

What did you make of Chelsea's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Charlton manager Nathan Jones has made four changes from the 2-2 draw at Blackburn on Sunday.

Will Mannion starts in goal and outfielders Keenan Gough, Sonny Carey and Greg Doucherty all come in.

Charlton XI: Mannion; Gough, Jones, Bell, Bree, Coventry, Docherty, Carey, Campbell, Leaburn, Kelman.

Subs: Maynard-Brewer, Gillesphey, Berry, Anderson, Olaofe, Rankin-Costello, Apter, Fullah, Knibbs.

New Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior picks his first starting XI and makes eight changes from the 2-1 defeat at Fulham on Wednesday.

Cole Palmer is left out of the squad as only Moises Caicedo, Andrey Santos and Tosin Adarabioyo survive from the midweek loss.

Chelsea next face Arsenal in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday next week.

Chelsea XI: Jorgensen, Acheampong, Tosin, Badiashile, Hato, Andrey Santos, Caicedo, Gittens, Buonanotte, Garnacho, Guiu.

Subs: Sanchez, Fofana, Chalobah, Essugo, Fernandez, Neto, Estevao, Joao Pedro, Delap.

It doesn't feel as if Liam Rosenior's appointment has been particularly welcomed by some Chelsea fans.

This is his first game in charge and he could really do with making a fast start to help win some of the doubters over.

There are tougher tests to come - like Arsenal in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final next week - but I think he will get the result he wants here.

There will be a packed house at The Valley, with Charlton's biggest crowd for an FA Cup tie in 50 years, but the Addicks are not in great form and Chelsea's quality should see them through.

Sutton's prediction: 1-3

Read the full predictions and have your say here