Luton Town

• Chelsea have won their last five games against Luton in all competitions, their joint-longest such run against the Hatters, after a five-game run in December 1974.

• Luton have lost three of last four home games in the Premier League (W1), conceding three or more at Kenilworth Road for just the second time in the competition (also lost 4-3 to Arsenal).

• Chelsea’s Cole Palmer has both scored and assisted in four different Premier League games this season, more than any other player. Only two players have ever scored and assisted in more Premier League games in a single season for the Blues than Palmer - Mason Mount (6 in 2021-22) and Jimmy Floyd-Hasselbaink (5 in 2000-01).

• Cole Palmer became the fifth Chelsea player to reach double figures for goal involvements (8G 4A) in a single Premier League season while aged 21 or under, after Arjen Robben (2004-05), Eden Hazard (2012-13), Christian Pulisic and Mason Mount (both 2019-20).

• Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino remains unbeaten in Premier League away games against promoted sides (P21 W19 D2), winning each of his last five.

• Luton’s Ross Barkley scored his first Premier League goal against Chelsea, in his 10th appearance against the Blues. He is the 28th player to score against Chelsea in the competition having previously played for them, three more than any other side.

Chelsea survived a late fightback from Luton to claim an important win in a thrilling game at Kenilworth Road.

The Blues started the match brightly and took the lead in the 12th minute, a poor clearance from Luton's Issa Kabore handing the ball to Cole Palmer for the forward to drill low into the far corner past Thomas Kaminski.

Palmer was in the mix again as Chelsea doubled their lead when his pass set up Noni Madueke, who dribbled past Amari'i Bell and smashed the ball into the top corner.

Good work from Nicolas Jackson set up Palmer, who stayed calm to score the Blues' third in the second half.

Luton thought they had pulled a goal back through Elijah Adebayo, but his header was ruled out for offside in the build-up before Ross Barkley then scored a header from Alfie Doughty's corner.

Adebayo managed to find the net in the 87th minute with Luton's second, setting up a nervous final few minutes for the visitors, but Chelsea were able to hold on to take the points.

The victory marks Chelsea's second win in the space of a week as they look to climb up the Premier League table after a challenging 2023.

Were you at Kenilworth Road watching the action, or did you take in the game from home?

Luton fans - submit your post-match thoughts here.

How did you rate the Blues' performance, Chelsea fans?

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There are six games being played in the Premier League on Saturday and we will bring you every moment of the action.

Follow all the incidents and reaction here.

All times are GMT.

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches again this season, against a variety of guests.

For the fixtures taking place over the turn of the year, from 30 December to 2 January, he takes on Shed Seven singer and song-writer Rick Witter, who is a Manchester United fan.

Shed Seven's new album, A Matter of Time', is released on 12 January.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Luton are in the relegation zone but they have an identity and a cause, and they always look like they are excited about playing in the Premier League. I am not sure you can say the same about Chelsea, for all the money they spent in the summer transfer window.

Blues boss Mauricio Pochettino named the club's youngest-ever Premier League team in Wednesday's win over Crystal Palace, which came courtesy of a debatable late penalty. I'm not sure they deserved it, but at least it meant I got one of my predictions right about them for a change.

I favour Chelsea more than Luton here, because I don't think Luton can keep their intensity going after such a busy Christmas period - but I am going to go with a draw.

Rick's prediction: Luton have given a few teams a scare at Kenilworth Road but I am basing this on the fact Chelsea really need a win. It will be close though - I think it will be 1-1 for a while, then Chelsea will get a couple of late goals. 1-3

Read all of Sutton's predictions here

Rob Edwards has been speaking to the media before Luton's Premier League match against Chelsea on Saturday.

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• The Hatters boss confirmed that Issa Kabore and Jordan Clark will both be available but that Marvelous Nakamba faces a spell on the sidelines after an operation on his meniscus.

• On the midfielder's injury, Edwards said: "It was an innocuous one, it came when he made a pass in training. We won't put a time frame on it, but it's not good and it will be some significant time. He'll see a specialist in a few weeks' time. It's frustrating for him and of course for us as he's a big, big player."

• Edwards confirmed the club are in discussions with Andros Townsend about extending the winger's contract.

• Asked about captain Tom Lockyer, who continues his recovery at home, he said: "I speak to him every day. He is progressing. He seems bored already, but in generally good spirits, which is really good."

• On how the team have reacted since the incident, he said: "I think we were tight already, I don't think it is because of what has happened that we've won two games of football. Performances have been good before that but they're an incredibly tight group - they're like a family."

• Edwards added: "Obviously one of the family had a really tough time a couple of weeks ago, so we all have to rally round each other, support each other and help. If that has brought us tighter, then good but the main thing is Tom in all of this."

• After Carlton Morris was subjected to alleged racism by a spectator against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane, Edwards said the striker "is OK" but added: "It happens so regularly he just said, 'it's like water off a duck's back'. I think that's really sad. I can't put myself into his position on this

  situation, but he's dealt with it very well."

• On facing Chelsea, he said: "We'll expect the best Chelsea as we expect the best of every team. We'll try to perform as well as we can and try to play to our strengths. We know at home we can be a match for anyone."

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has told his players to expect "real football" when they travel to Kenilworth Road to face Luton Town on Saturday.

The Blues are without a win on the road since beating Tottenham Hotspur in November, whereas the Hatters go into the game following their first back-to-back victories of the season.

Pochettino has warned his team to expect a fight and that the fixture appeals to the football fan within him.

"I'm an old man, I am romantic. I love football of the past and this kind of stadium makes you remember when I started to play," he said.

"It's a stadium that smells different. It's not luxury in the way that we recognise luxury today. This type of stadium is one where you love to be there. It's history, it's completely different.

"Today we are living in a different era, but when you go there, you feel real football.

"We need to go to Luton thinking that it's going to be really tough. The stadium, the fans, it's a team that loves to fight and work really hard.

"If we want to get a good result, we need to be ready of course to play football, but we need to match the desire, the capacity to fight for every single ball. It's going to be a good test for us."

Image source, Getty Images

Luton Town winger Andros Townsend says he is "having fun" on the pitch again after signing a short-term deal with the Hatters in the summer following a failed move to Burnley.

The former England winger expects his time with Luton will be extended beyond next month too.

"I've always loved my football but it's only when you have something taken away from you that you really appreciate every single moment," Townsend told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

"If I give the ball away or if I hit the ball over the roof, which I did last week, I'm just having fun with it. I'm fit and healthy. I'm on the pitch. I'm back doing what I love and I'm contributing again. So, whatever happens [in January], I'm just enjoying it.

"There are talks going on in the background. If I was injured or not playing then I would be getting a bit twitchy right now. But I've started the majority of games, so I'm 99 per cent sure something will get sorted in terms of a longer deal."

The Hatters will be hoping to lift themselves out of the relegation zone with a third successive league win, against Chelsea, on Saturday (12:30 GMT).

Townsend says "back-to-back wins are never easy in the Premier League" but the team "have their tails up" after recent results and are ready for another big game this weekend.

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