CHELSEA will be hoping to forget their recent run of Premier League form when they face League Two Morecambe on Saturday.
Ezno Maresca‘s team had threatened Liverpool at the top of the table after five consecutive league wins in November and early December.
GettyEnzo Maresca will be desperate to end Chelsea’s poor run of form[/caption]
Morecambe sit 23rd in League Two – but have won two of their last three
But Chelsea have now picked up just two points in their last four matches – against Everton, Fulham, Ipswich and Crystal Palace.
They now sit eight points off of Liverpool having played a game more.
Chelsea will be hoping a match against a team EIGHTY-SEVEN places below them in the English football pyramid can reignite their season.
The Blues will likely rotate several of their stars but will still be expecting to score a comfortable victory.
Morecambe – who beat Worthing and Bradford to reach the third round – have enjoyed a recent turnaround.
Having gone winless in five consecutive games, they have now won two in three.
They still sit second second bottom, though, and remain four points off of Swindon Town outside the relegation spots.
Is Chelsea vs Morecombe on TV today?
The short answer is no, Chelsea match against Morecombe has not been selected to go on UK TV this weekend.
The match is also kicking off at 3pm, which means it falls under the UK TV broadcasting blackout and is not allowed to be shown on British television in that time slot.
However, BBC have revealed that there will be extended highlights available for the match on the BBC Sport website and app.
It is unclear exactly when those highlights will be available, although it seems as if they will be ready before Match of the Day at 10.30pm.
Leicester City’s game against Queens Park Rangers is also getting extended highlights, but the other eight 3pm kick-offs are not.
What FA Cup matches are on BBC and ITV this weekend?
FA Cup third round action has already started and a total of 11 matches have been made available to British viewers across various BBC and ITV platforms.
On Saturday the day is headlined by Liverpool vs Accrington Stanley – on ITV at 12.15pm – and Man City vs Salford City on BBC at 5.45pm.
The biggest game of the weekend takes place on Sunday, with Arsenal hosting Manchester United at 3pm on BBC.
That game is preceded by Tamworth vs Tottenham at 12.30pm (ITV).
The final FA Cup third round match takes place on Monday night, with Millwall vs Dagenham & Redbridge on ITV4.
Thursday, January 9
7pm – Sheffield United 0-1 Cardiff City (BBC Wales)
7.45pm – Everton 2-0 Peterborough United (BBC iPlayer)
7.45pm – Fulham 4-1 Watford
Friday, January 10
7.45pm – Wycombe Wanderers vs Portsmouth
8pm – Aston Villa vs West Ham United (ITV1, ITVX and STV)
Saturday, January 11
12pm
Bristol City vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
Birmingham City vs Lincoln City
Middlesbrough vs Blackburn Rovers
12.15pm
Liverpool vs Accrington Stanley (ITV1, ITVX and STV)
3pm
Exeter City vs Oxford United
Preston North End vs Charlton Athletic
AFC Bournemouth vs West Bromwich Albion
Reading vs Burnley
Sunderland vs Stoke City
Nottingham Forest vs Luton Town
Brentford vs Plymouth Argyle
Norwich City vs Brighton & Hove Albion
Chelsea vs Morecambe (BBC Extended Highlights)
Leicester City vs Queens Park Rangers (BBC Extended Highlights)
5.45pm
Man City vs Salford City (BBC One and iPlayer)
Leeds United vs Harrogate Town (BBC iPlayer)
6pm
Leyton Orient vs Derby County
Coventry City vs Sheffield Wednesday
Mansfield Town vs Wigan Athletic
Sunday, January 12
12pm
Hull City vs Doncaster Rovers
12.30pm
Tamworth vs Tottenham Hotspur (ITV1, ITVX and STV)
3pm
Arsenal vs Man Utd (BBC One and iPlayer)
Newcastle United vs Bromley (BBC iPlayer)
Ipswich Town vs Bristol Rovers
Crystal Palace vs Stockport County
4.30pm
Southampton vs Swansea City (BBC Wales)
Monday, January 13
7.30pm – Millwall vs Dagenham & Redbridge (ITV4 and ITVX)
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