Chelsea welcome League One side Plymouth Argyle on Saturday in the fourth-round of the FA Cup.

48 places currently separate the champions of Europe and the Pilgrims, who sit seventh in the third division of English football. 

The Blues come into the game having beaten arch-rivals Tottenham last time out before the Premier League winter break. For Argyle though, they have played twice in the previous 11 days, coming out victorious against Doncaster and featuring in a six-goal thriller ending in a draw against Fleetwood. 

Team news

Thomas Tuchel’s side will be without full-back Reece James, as well as Andreas Christensen, Trevoh Chalobah and Ruben Loftus-Cheek. Three of the four academy graduates were hit with injuries, with James coming down with flu after only just returning from a hamstring issue. 

Thiago Silva and Christian Pulisic are also unlikely to return for the clash at Stamford Bridge due to their inclusions for their respective national teams earlier on in the week. 

Edouard Mendy will also miss out, as the Senegalese international gears up for the Africa Cup of Nations final on Sunday in Cameroon. 

Brazilian, Kenedy is available for selection for the west London side, who recently returned from his loan spell at Flamengo. The 25-year-old last played for Chelsea just over four years ago.

Steven Schumacher has just two players unavailable through injury, with Brendan Galloway and George Cooper still recovering from knee problems. 

New signing, Romoney Crichlow is cup-tied, with the defender joining on loan from Huddersfield Town in January. 

24-year-old Panutche Camara could return to the side, as he returned from his spell at AFCON representing Guinea-Bissau. 

Previous meetings

Both sides last met in February 1989 in the Championship, where Chelsea reigned supreme. Saturday’s contest is set to be the ninth between both clubs, with the Blues previously winning on four occasions. Plymouth have beaten Chelsea once, with the fixture ending in a draw three times. 

How to watch

Fans in the UK will be able to watch the match from 12:30pm on Saturday via the BBC Red Button service, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website.