As has been the case in cup competitions this season, Maresca made wholesale changes for our 4-2 victory over Gent in the Conference League on Thursday night and today we return to the same starting line-up which defeated Brighton & Hove Albion by the same scoreline last weekend.

Robert Sanchez returns in goal as the Spaniard continues his record of starting every Premier League game this season and he will be protected by a back four of Malo Gusto, Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill and Marc Cucurella.

Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez return in midfield, with Jadon Sancho set to occupy the left flank once more, Noni Madueke back on the right and Cole Palmer expected to occupy the central position behind Nicolas Jackson up front.

The Blues have plenty of attacking options from the bench once again, with Joao Felix, Mykhailo Mudryk, Pedro Neto and Christopher Nkunku among the replacements.

Chelsea starting XI: Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez (c); Madueke, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson

Chelsea substitutes: Jorgensen, Disasi, Tosin, Veiga, Lavia, Neto, Mudryk, Felix, Nkunku

Nottingham Forest:Sels; Aina, Milenkovic, Murillo, Moreno; Yates (c), Ward-Prowse; Anderson, Gibbs-White, Hudson-Odoi; Wood

Forest substitutes: Carlos Miguel, Morato, Boly, Williams, Domínguez, Jota Silva, Elanga, Awoniyi, Sosa