Previews

Following their highly significant victory over Arsenal last weekend, can Chelsea continue their push for the title at Turf Moor this Sunday? Having put 12 points between themselves and the Gunners, they’ll be hoping to move even further clear this weekend, when they travel to face the Clarets. Elsewhere, second placed Tottenham face a trip to Anfield, which could see them slip further off the pace. There’s a chance that the league leaders could go even further clear with three points on Sunday, strengthening their hold at the top of the Premier League.

However, Burnley will have something to say about that. Few sides come to their ground and get a result, so the Blues are going to face a stern test to say the least. While the hosts are newly promoted to the top flight, they’re looking very good for survival, and that’s almost exclusively thanks to their form at home. They’ll relish the challenge of facing the best side in the league, so Antonio Conte’s men need to be at their best here to come away with the points. Will they record yet another victory, or could the leaders allow the chasing pack to close the gap?

Team News: Could Fabregas return after weekend impact?

Chelsea once again come here with a fully fit squad to pick from. With all options available, Conte is likely to go with his strongest line up, starting in a 3-4-3 once again. The only possible change is the introduction of Cesc Fabregas, who scored soon after coming on against Arsenal at the weekend. The midfielder impressed in his cameo, and he could have worked his way back in to the team for this weekend’s game.

The manager will have a choice between the former Barcelona man and Nemanja Matic, with one of them partnering N’Golo Kante. Elsewhere, we expect no changes to the side which started last weekend, as the boss continues his consistent team selection.

Burnley come into this one without their big summer signing Jeff Hendrick, who was sent off for an awful tackle at Watford last weekend. Sean Dyche is also without Dean Marney and Steven Defour in midfield, which leaves them a little short of options. Hendrick and Defour are two of their four usual starters in midfield, so they have a couple of holes to plug. Dyche tends to start with a 4-4-2 formation, which could cause his side problems here. Teams who start with four in midfield against Kante and co rarely come out on top.

Burnley Form

Burnley come into this game 12th in the table, and they’re now nine points clear of the relegation zone. It’s their best Premier League season so far, having been relegated in their previous two. While they could still go down this term, there’s a lot going for the Clarets at the moment. Their fantastic home record has been the foundation of their push for survival, and it’s something that Chelsea need to worry about this weekend.

Burnley have the third best home record in the Premier League. Only the top two, Chelsea and Spurs, have taken more points at their own grounds than the Clarets have on theirs. They’ve averaged 2.15 points per game at home this term, winning 69% of their home games. They’ve won their last seven at Turf Moor in all competitions, which makes this a very tricky test for the leaders. Can they continue that fantastic run when they host the side with the best away record in the league?

Burnley v Chelsea Head to Head

Chelsea have had mostly good results against Burnley of late. They won at Turf Moor in both 2010 and 2014, winning the league in both seasons. They’ll be hoping for a repeat of that on Sunday, especially as they’ve won their last three visits to this stadium, with their last defeat away to the Clarets coming back in 1973. Will we see a repeat of the routine 3-0 victory they recorded at Stamford Bridge earlier this season?

• Chelsea 3-0 Burnley, Aug 2016
• Chelsea 1-1 Burnley, Feb 2015
• Burnley 1-3 Chelsea, Aug 2014
• Burnley 1-2 Chelsea, Jan 2010
• Chelsea 3-0 Burnley, Aug 2009

Betting Tips

• Both teams to score – 11/10 with Coral
• Eden Hazard to score – 11/8 with Sky Bet

Chelsea are priced as the 2/5 favourites with Betfair, despite Burnley’s impressive record at home. Betfred make the draw 7/2, while you can get 8/1 on an eighth consecutive home win for Burnley with BetVictor.

The leaders are expected to continue their push for the title. The Blues aren’t far away, with 34 points the all-important number for them. That’s the combined total of points claimed for Chelsea and dropped by their nearest rivals, which guarantees them another title. Can they cut that number this weekend?

Given Burnley’s strong form at home, the visitors are going to face a difficult test. The Clarets have scored in 85% of their home games, including their last eight consecutive home league matches. The Blues have found the net in 83% of their away league games, so they should grab a goal when they visit Turf Moor. We’re backing both teams to find the net this weekend, which looks very well priced at 11/10 with Coral. Given the form of these two sides, goals seem more than likely here, which makes that a huge price.

We also see Eden Hazard getting on the scoresheet for the Blues, after his wonderful effort against Arsenal last time out. The Belgian has been fantastic all season, and we’re backing him to follow up his excellent display against the Gunners by grabbing a goal at Turf Moor. We’re going with him to score anytime against Burnley, which seems like good value at 11/8 with Sky Bet. Given that he’s already scored 10 goals in the league this season, he’s well priced to add to that total.

Chelsea’s first massive game this week was a solid result; can they follow that up with a win over Arsenal? After drawing 1-1 at Anfield, the Blues actually ended up having a strong week. They’ve kept their lead intact after their rivals slipped up in some straightforward encounters. They can’t rely on the same thing happening this weekend, plus they can deliver a serious blow to the Gunners’ title hopes with victory in this game.

Chelsea will also be aiming to avenge their 3-0 loss to Arsenal in their first meeting this season. That result had Antonio Conte stood on the side of the pitch looking helpless, with his head in his hands. He switched to a 3-4-3 in the second half, which then prompted the 13 game winning run which put them top of the table. That makes this game a big test of Conte’s new set up, can it result in a reversal of that defeat at the Emirates? A big win here would really stamp the Blues’ position as champions in waiting.

Team News: Conte to keep faith with Anfield 11

One again Conte comes in to this match with no injury worries. His side came through the January window with no signings, despite being linked with a couple of players on deadline day. They didn’t let any of their first team players go, despite interest in Nathan Ake. That gives the Blues a strong squad to pick from here, but the manager is likely to keep faith with the side which picked up a 1-1 draw at Anfield. The only possible change is Cesc Fabregas coming in for Nemanja Matic, given that they should be able to attack more at Stamford Bridge than away to Liverpool.

Arsenal aren’t just missing a couple of players for this game, they’re also without their manager. Arsene Wenger is serving a four game touchline ban for pushing a fourth official, which keeps him out of the dugout this weekend. He’s joined in the stands by Granit Xhaka, who is suspended. Both Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey are out injured, which leaves the Gunners looking a little light in central midfield. That leaves Francis Coquelin as their only available central midfielder, with Mohamed Elneny off at the Africa Cup of Nations with Egypt. That’s a serious problem, given that they’re up against N’Golo Kante this week.

Arsenal Form

Arsenal are coming into this game on the back of a disappointing 2-1 defeat against Watford, which was a serious blow to their title hopes. They found themselves 2-0 down within 14 minutes at the Emirates, and they failed to get back in to it in the following 76 minutes. Alex Iwobi did manage to pull one back, but the Hornets managed to claim a win which knocked the Gunners down to third in the table, they’re now behind Tottenham on goal difference. That defeat was also a blow to their Champions League hopes, as things are very tight between second and sixth.

That defeat followed a 5-0 win for Arsenal at Southampton in the cup. The Saints had fielded a weakened side, which played a part in their collapse. They had won six of their seven matches before that loss on Tuesday night, will they be able to get back in form with a result at Stamford Bridge? They come here with a very weak away league record, winning just one of their last four, and only nine of their previous 24.

Chelsea v Arsenal Head to Head

Obviously the 3-0 defeat to Arsenal will still leave a scar for the Chelsea players, they’ll be out to make up for that loss here. Their recent record against the Gunners has been mixed, with a defeat to them at Wembley in the 2015 Community Shield. The Blues won home and away last season despite struggling to defend their title. They also have an excellent record at Stamford Bridge against Arsenal, winning their last four home meetings with Arsene Wenger and his team. That includes a 6-0 thumping back in 2014.

• Arsenal 3-0 Chelsea, Sep 2016
• Arsenal 0-1 Chelsea, Jan 2016
• Chelsea 2-0 Arsenal, Sep 2015
• Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea, Aug 2015
• Arsenal 0-0 Chelsea, Apr 2015

Betting Tips

• Chelsea to win – 21/20 with Betfred
• Diego Costa to score first – 7/2 with Sky Bet

Chelsea are 21/20 favourites for this game with Betfred, while Arsenal are priced at 3/1 with BetVictor to take the points. The Blues will be hopeful of continuing their four game winning streak at home to the Gunners, especially given their midweek defeat. A win here would also be massive for their title chances, but can they find a way past Wenger’s team on Saturday lunchtime?

Given that this is a tactical battle between Conte and Arsenal’s stand-in touchline manager Steve Bould, it’s easy to see a home win. On top of that, the Blues have an excellent home record ahead of this game, winning 91% of their outings at the Bridge, averaging 2.73 points per game. They’ve won their last 10 at home in all competitions, conceding in just three of those clashes. That should be enough to see a home win this weekend, which is what we’re backing here. A win for the Blues is our bet at 21/20 with Betfred.

Results against Arsenal tend to depend on the performance of Diego Costa up front. He scored the winner at the Emirates when these two met last season, while his absence was obvious during the Community Shield game at Wembley last season. The striker was isolated during the meeting at Arsenal earlier this season, but with the 3-4-3 we expect things to be different at the Bridge. The Premier League’s top scorer is now back in the side and scoring, and we’re backing him to get over his penalty miss at Anfield with the first goal here. The Spaniard is priced at 7/2 with Sky Bet to open the scoring.

Chelsea return to Premier League action on Tuesday night, as they face title rivals Liverpool at Anfield. This is a huge clash for the league leaders, as they’ve been in awful form in matches against their rivals at the top. They lost at home to Liverpool earlier in the season, and they’ve suffered defeats away to Tottenham and Arsenal this term. Can they do any better when they take on the Reds this week?

Liverpool are in shaky form of late, so Conte will see this as a chance to knock them out of the title race. With 10 points separating these two ahead of this meeting, a win for the visitors would basically end Jurgen Klopp’s ambitions of leading his side to the Premier League crown. A 13 point gap at this stage, with the league so competitive, would be too much for them to claw back in final 15 matches of the season. Can the Blues deliver a major blow to one of their rivals for top spot? It’s going to be a pretty tall order.

Team News: Huge test for Conte’s new system

Chelsea have no injury concerns ahead of this game once again. Antonio Conte has a full squad to choose from, and he’s likely to restore his key men after rotating during the FA Cup. Expect another 3-4-3 formation, which is a set up they weren’t using in the first meeting at Stamford Bridge. That change has paid off, it led to that 13 game winning streak. With only one defeat under the new system since October, it’s clearly a huge part of the Blues’ push for the title. Expect that formation to feature again, as it might be able to cause Liverpool some problems.

The hosts come into this game with no major injury worries. Striker Danny Ings is their only notable absence, he’s set to miss the season. The former Burnley man isn’t exactly a regular starter. They are likely to have to go without Sadio Mane, with the forward away on African Nations Cup duty. Without his pace, the Liverpool frontline looks a little toothless. Can Klopp find a way around that on Tuesday night? He’s been trying a 4-3-3 with Daniel Sturridge, Roberto Firmino and Philippe Coutinho. While that’s a threatening front three, they’ll match up with the Blues’ back three. The Liverpool forwards are likely to struggle for space, given how defence-minded the four in front of the backline are.

Liverpool Form

Liverpool are currently on a terrible run, which has seen them struggle in the FA Cup and crash out of the EFL Cup. Their defeat here to Southampton made it back to back losses at Anfield, after former Chelsea coach Paul Clement led his Swansea side to victory here in the league. That 3-2 defeat to the worst defence in the top flight must have set alarm bells ringing for Jurgen Klopp, as that result saw them fall to fourth and drop even further off the pace in the fight for the Premier League title.

They are yet to record a league win in 2017, which hasn’t done their hopes of winning the league any favours. Klopp has seen his team score four times in their opening seven matches of the year, so their attacking swagger seems to have gone as well. There are quite a few issues for them to fix, especially as Klopp looks limited on options in his side. There’s no one he can really call on to step up to the first team and make a difference. At this stage of the season, squad depth is key. Liverpool just don’t seem to have enough in reserve.

Liverpool v Chelsea Head to Head

The Blues haven’t had the best record against Liverpool of late, losing twice to Klopp at Stamford Bridge since he took over in late 2015. They did pick up a draw at Anfield last year, and that was after leading for most of the game. Their last victory over the Reds was a 1-0 League Cup win, which came two years ago this month.

• Chelsea 1-2 Liverpool, Sep 2016
• Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea, May 2016
• Chelsea 1-3 Liverpool, Oct 2015
• Chelsea 1-1 Liverpool, May 2015
• Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool, Jan 2015

Betting Tips

• Under 2.5 goals – 19/20 with Bet365
• Chelsea to win draw no bet – 11/10 with Betfred

The bookies seem to be favouring the Reds here, as Liverpool are priced at 7/5 with Sky Bet to take the points. Meanwhile, you can get 2/1 with Betfair on a win for Chelsea. The draw is a 12/5 shot with BetVictor. A point wouldn’t be the worst result for the Blues, but it would allow others to cut into their lead. After a few games with no success over Klopp, Antonio Conte’s side should be aiming to leave here with all three points.

We expect Conte’s men to keep things tight if they can, and they have an excellent defensive record of late. Since switching to the 3-4-3, few sides have found a way past their defence. That’s likely to be true of Liverpool as well, given how they’re struggling to make an impact in front of goal. We’re expecting a low scoring game, which has been the case during most of the Reds’ matches this year. We’re backing under 2.5 goals in this one, which is priced at 10/11 with Coral.

We’re also backing a win for Chelsea, as they look like the best team in the division by quite some distance. While the others have clear issues, the Blues are a reliable unit who aren’t easily shaken. While the leaders are excellent value on the win market, we’re going with a slightly safer bet here. We’re backing the Blues draw no bet, which is priced at 11/10 with Betfred. Given how Liverpool are struggling for wins, that seems like a pretty safe option.

This weekend sees the return of FA Cup action for Chelsea, as they take on Brentford at Stamford Bridge. Not only are the Blues up against Championship opposition, but they’re facing a local derby, with just six miles separating these two sides. Can the visitors claim a shock cup victory at Stamford Bridge, or will the Premier League leaders continue to compete on two fronts? This should be a straightforward win for the hosts, but things might not be that easy.

The main difficulty for Antonio Conte will be keeping his team focused on this game ahead of a massive week. They face Liverpool and Arsenal in key Premier League matches in the next week. Both of those fixtures are likely to be crucial in deciding the fate of the Premier League title. With those big clashes looming, the Blues boss needs to make sure his side keep their attention focused on beating Brentford before they cast their eyes elsewhere. After all, the Italian will want his side fighting for this trophy too.

Team News: Conte to rotate ahead of big week

Once again Chelsea come here with a fully fit squad from which to choose their starting XI, they have no new injury news. However, we expect a lot of changes to be made from the side who saw off Hull City. Diego Costa only just returned to the side at the weekend, but he’s likely to drop out once again here. Expect some changes in defence, with Kurt Zouma and John Terry likely to feature. Given that there are some huge games in the next week, it’s likely that the Blues will name an almost entirely different side between this game and their trip to Anfield.

Brentford are still in danger of losing key man Scott Hogan, who is being linked with a switch to West Ham. Reports claim that the deal is close, but he could still appear here if that deal isn’t done. The forward appeared in the last round of the cup, so he’s already cup-tied ahead of any potential move. Alan Judge and Lewis Macleod are both out with long term injuries here, while Alan McCormack and Sam Saunders missed out at the weekend and could sit out once again.

Brentford Form

Brentford come into this game having lost back to back matches against Newcastle and Wigan. That has left them in 15th place in the Championship table, so they’re some way off the play-off spots. They’re not in huge relegation danger either, they’re just a middling club so far this season. They come into this game having won just one of their last six in the league, which makes them unlikely to pull off a shock result at the Bridge.

Brentford also come here with some really poor away form, having lost 57% of their matches on the road this season. They have just four away wins from 14 games, while they’ve failed to score in 30% of their outings in the Championship this term. They hammered Eastleigh 5-1 to make it to this round of the cup, but things are about to get a lot more difficult for them this weekend. Will they be able to pull a performance out from nowhere, or will they continue their awful away form?

Chelsea v Brentford Head to Head

Aside from their last meeting in this round of the cup, it’s been quite a while since these two sides have met. Despite being local rivals, they’ve played one another just three times in the last 70 years. We doubt those old meetings will play much into this one, but a repeat of Brentford’s 3-1 win here in 1939 would probably be one of the biggest cup upsets ever. Their last meeting at Stamford Bridge was a comfortable 4-0 victory in a cup replay, which came under Rafa Benitez.

• Chelsea 4-0 Brentford, Feb 2013
• Brentford 2-2 Chelsea, Jan 2013
• Brentford 0-2 Chelsea, Mar 1947
• Chelsea 3-2 Brentford, Nov 1946
• Chelsea 1-3 Brentford, Feb 1939

Betting Tips

• Chelsea -2 Asian Handicap – 4/5 at Bet365
• Cesc Fabregas to score any time – 19/10 at Betfair

Chelsea come into this game as massive favourites to win here, as you’d expect. They’re priced at just 2/11 with Sky Bet to see off the Bees, with the away side priced at 17/1 with BetVictor to cause a massive shock. An upset here would be up there with the Bradford defeat in terms of shock value, and it would also be a huge dent for the Blues ahead of their big matches over the next week. Conte will want a routine victory here, wrapping things up early on before shifting focus back to the fight for the Premier League title.

The Blues should be able to record a comfortable win without too many problems. They beat Peterborough by three goals in the last round, while 70% of their home Premier League victories have been by two goals or more. The Blues have scored an average of 2.73 and conceded just 0.55 goals per game at home against their fellow top flight sides. Against a team from the division below they should be able to record an even bigger margin of victory. We’re predicting a very comfortable home win for the Blues, as we’re backing them with a -2 Asian Handicap, at 4/5 with Bet365.

With changes likely, we see an appearance by a few players who tend to sit out of Conte’s team. Cesc Fabregas has shown his talents in the starting 11 of late, but he’s hardly the man Conte will turn to for games against Liverpool and Arsenal. The midfielder should look a class above against Championship opposition, and we’re backing him to make an impact when Brentford visit. We like the look of the Spaniard to score any time on Saturday. He’s priced at 19/10 with Betfair to score, and we think he’d due a goal, especially if he gets the full 90 minutes.

Can Chelsea continue their push for the Premier League title by seeing off Hull this weekend? The Blues are returning to Stamford Bridge for the first time since getting permission to renovate their ground. This is also their first home game since the fall out between Diego Costa and Antonio Conte, so will the forward miss out again here? Or will the striker-less formation continue after featuring last weekend?

Hull come here buoyed by a few good results, with new boss Marco Silva making a good impression. The Tigers have won two of their last three games under their new manager, but this is by far his toughest test yet. They face an EFL Cup semi-final in midweek after this clash, but expect them to prioritise the league as they chase top flight survival. Will that see them claiming a shock result at the Bridge? That would certainly be a blow to the Blues’ hopes of regaining the title.

Team News: Costa likely to be frozen out again

Chelsea come here with no injury worries, they should have a fully fit squad to choose from. However, it’s unlikely that Diego Costa has done enough for selection. His tantrum and links with a move to China threatened to derail the Blues’ push for the title. Losing the Premier League’s top scorer isn’t exactly something that Conte is welcoming, but he’s dealing with the situation well. It wouldn’t be surprising if the boss goes with the exact same 11 who won 3-0 at Leicester last weekend, which included no striker, with Eden Hazard as the false nine. That at least gives Willian some deserved game time, along with Pedro.

Hull started the season with a depleted squad, and that has haunted them all campaign. They’re without at least five players for this game. Dieumerci Mbonkani and Ahmed Elmohamady are away at the African Nations Cup, which hasn’t affected Chelsea this season. The Tigers selection woes are made even worse as Jake Livermore is set for a switch to West Brom, so he won’t be available here. However, the incredible £10million fee that the Baggies are paying should make up for that. The Tigers are expected to line up in a 3-5-2 formation here.

Hull Form

Hull are looking up after a few good results, they won 3-1 at home to Bournemouth last weekend to boost their hopes of survival. They also claimed an FA Cup win over relegation rivals Swansea. That has given Silva a strong start at the KCOM, he’s continuing their impressive record in the cups, as they’ve already earned a spot in the last four of the EFL Cup.

A huge problem for the Tigers here is their awful away form. They’re coming to Stamford Bridge as one of the worst travelling sides in the top flight. Hull have just one away win all season, losing 80% of their trips so far, while they’ve failed to win in any of their last nine league away days. They’ve taken just 0.4 points per game on their travels, giving them the third worst away record in the league. That shouldn’t trouble the Blues, who have won 90% of their home matches so far. The visitors have an awful defensive record home and away, as they’ve conceded a goal in their last 19 Premier League outings.

Chelsea v Hull Head to Head

Chelsea have a strong record against the Tigers of late, winning both matches during their last full season in the top flight. They’ve now won five straight against their next opponents, while they’re yet to taste defeat against Hull in any encounter. The first meeting with Hull this season was the debut of Conte’s 3-4-3 formation with the Blues. They won 2-0 at the KCOM, which kicked off their excellent 13-game winning run. Can a victory here have a similar effect?

• Hull 0-2 Chelsea, Oct 2016
• Hull 2-3 Chelsea, Mar 2015
• Chelsea 2-0 Hull, Dec 2014
• Hull 0-2 Chelsea, Jan 2014
• Chelsea 2-0 Hull, Aug 2013

Betting Tips

• Chelsea to win to nil – 4/5 with BetVictor
• Eden Hazard to score any time – 21/20 with Coral

Chelsea are heavy favourites to win this one, priced at odds of just 1/5 with Sky Bet. That’s hardly surprising, given Hull’s awful away record. They’re going up against the side with the best points per game record at home in the league. A victory here would see Chelsea move on to 30 points from 11 matches at the Bridge. Given the gulf in class between these two teams, it’s easy to see the hosts recording a big win. However, it’s not worth backing them on the win market, but there are other value bets to consider on this game.

Chelsea come here having conceded just 0.6 goals per game at home, while they’ve kept a clean sheet in 60% of their outings at Stamford Bridge. They’ve also recorded a shutout in five of their last seven in the Premier League, and it’s easy to see them improving that record on Sunday evening. Hull come here averaging just 0.6 goals per game on the road. Half of their away matches have seen them fail to score, so it’s easy to see them struggling at the Bridge. We’re backing a home win to nil, which is big at 4/5 with BetVictor.

Chelsea are set to come here without Costa, given the striker’s recent troubles. That should see Hazard playing as the false nine here, and we think the Belgian will revel in that role. Playing with him up front worked against Leicester, and we see it causing problems for a Hull team who concede 2.4 goals per game on the road. That should see Hazard getting plenty of chances up front, and we’re backing him to make an impact. He’s 21/20 with Coral to score at any time on Sunday.

Chelsea return to Premier League action on Saturday evening, as they travel to reigning champions Leicester. The Blues are looking to regain the trophy which the Foxes took from them in May, and a victory here would go a long way towards that. Defeat at Tottenham may have ended their impressive winning run in the top flight, but they can’t let that hold them back here.

While Leicester are struggling in the table, this will still be a big test for the Blues. The King Power still isn’t an easy place to visit, especially now Claudio Ranieri’s men aren’t being distracted by the Champions League. Will Chelsea come away from here with their five point lead intact, or will they suffer another blow in their push for the title?

Team News: Stars set to return ahead of tough test

Chelsea are hoping to get John Terry’s suspension overturned, after he was sent off against Peterborough last weekend. However, he probably would have dropped out of the team this weekend anyway, as Antonio Conte is likely to restore many of his top stars to the line-up this weekend. He made 10 changes for the FA Cup third round tie, all of which are likely to be reversed. The Italian switched to a 3-5-2 for that game, but he’ll likely revert to a 3-4-3 once he puts his main men back in the starting line-up.

Only Gary Cahill kept his place from the defeat at Tottenham, with fringe players getting a run out. There was a welcome return for Kurt Zouma, after 11 months on the sidelines. He should push for a place in the starting line up over the coming weeks, although this might come a little early for him. He’ll have more competition at centre-half, now that Nathan Ake has returned from his loan at Bournemouth. Conte clearly rates the young defender, so expect to see him in the first team soon enough.

Leicester have no injury worries ahead of this clash, but they do have a few key absentees. The Foxes are without three players, who have all travelled to Gabon for the Africa Cup of Nations. Daniel Amartey, Riyad Mahrez and Islam Slimani are all on international duty. Missing those three is a blow for Ranieri, just as they started to find form in the Premier League.

Leicester Form

Leicester are down in 15th place in the league, which is some drop from their excellent campaign last time around. The Foxes have mostly struggled on the road, having taken just three points on their travels. At home they’re a lot more comfortable, winning half of their 10 games here, claiming 18 points overall. They’ve lost just two of their league matches at the King Power, but both of those have come in their last five here. Even their strong home form looks to be tailing off, which is a worry for Ranieri.

The Foxes recently recorded an impressive win over Manchester City here, which seemed like a return to their title winning form. They were 3-0 up in 20 minutes against City, before going 4-0 up with 10 minutes to go. City had a small fightback, but that display was an impressive one from the champions. Their strong performance was thought to be down to Pep Guardiola’s tactics, rather than anything Leicester did. His City side were so open, it was the kind of approach which the Foxes took advantage of regularly last term. Few sides give them that much space now.

Leicester v Chelsea Head to Head

In their last meeting at Stamford Bridge, the Blues had few problems dispatching the champions. They’ve met twice this season, winning both games. They made the trip to the King Power in the League Cup, going 2-0 down before fighting back to force extra time. Their last league meeting here was Jose Mourinho’s final match in charge of the club, as they lost 2-1 against the then league leaders.

• Chelsea 3-0 Leicester, Oct 2016
• Leicester 2-4 Chelsea, Sep 2016
• Chelsea 1-1 Leicester, May 2016
• Leicester 2-1 Chelsea, Dec 2015
• Leicester 1-3 Chelsea, Apr 2015

Betting Tips

• Both teams to score – 5/6 with Coral
• Diego Costa to score first – 3/1 with Betfair

Chelsea are heavy favourites to win here, despite Leicester’s strong home record. The Blues are priced at 8/13 with Betfred to take all three points on Saturday evening. Meanwhile, BetVictor make Leicester the 5/1 outsiders for the points. There’s little value in backing the leaders to take the points here. They’re justified in that short price, given that they have the best away record in the top flight, even after their loss at Spurs. However, there a couple of value bets to grab on this clash.

Leicester’s strong record here means they should be able to get a goal in this game. They’ve scored in 70% of their league matches at the King Power, while they’ve found the net in seven of their last eight in all competitions at home. Chelsea have a strong defence, but we can see it being exposed by the likes of Jamie Vardy. We’re backing both teams to score in this game, which seems well priced at 5/6 with Coral ahead of kick off.

We’re also backing a big impact from Diego Costa here, with the striker returning to the side after being rested last weekend. That short break allowed some game time for Michy Batshuayi, but it’s unlikely to give the Belgian another start. Costa is the league’s top scorer, and he should get the chance to continue his fantastic scoring record with a goal here. We can see the Spaniard opening the scoring in this one, he’s priced at 3/1 with Betfair to score the first goal. You can back him to score any time here at 8/11 with Sky Bet.

Can Chelsea bounce back from their 2-0 defeat at Tottenham with victory in the FA Cup on Sunday? The Blues take on Peterborough in this third round tie, and Antonio Conte will be looking for his side to kick off a cup run to go alongside an impressive league campaign so far. Carlo Ancelotti managed to land the league and cup double in his first season at Stamford Bridge; could Conte manage to emulate his compatriot this term? That would be some return for a side who finished 10th in the table last season.

Peterborough will no doubt be looking to repeat Bradford’s shock third round win at Chelsea from a few years ago. That 4-2 defeat was one of the biggest ever upsets in FA Cup history, so it’s going to take something special from the visitors, or something incredibly stupid from the Blues, for that to happen again. Conte’s men will be looking to make up for their 2-0 defeat at Everton in the quarter-finals last year. That dismal defeat basically ended their season and hopes of making Europe. Can they manage to produce a better performance in the cup in 2017?

Team News: Changes likely after winning run ended

Chelsea saw their 13 game winning run in the Premier League brought to an end on Wednesday night. However, they’re still five points clear at the half-way stage. With attention now shifting to the FA Cup, it’s likely that we can expect a few changes here. Conte has stuck with the same side for most of this run, but it’s easy to see him making a few adjustments ahead of a clash with lower-league opposition. The lack of European football means the players are playing a lot less than usual, but it also means the fringe players are lacking minutes. They need a run out, just so they’re ready if needed down the line.

John Terry is one who could make a return, while Kurt Zouma should get some time on the pitch. After Gary Cahill’s poor display at Spurs, Conte needs options in defence. We expect a rest for the likes of Eden Hazard and Diego Costa, who should be saved for the Leicester game next weekend. Hopefully some of the younger players can get a run out in the team, especially as they’ve had opportunities limited during the season.

Peterborough don’t have any injury worries ahead of this trip, so their full squad is in with a chance of getting a run out at Stamford Bridge. Grant McCann is likely to field a strong side for this game, despite the demanding Christmas fixture list taking a toll on his men. While a rest might help them, it’s hard to see him risking a rotated side at a Premier League team. It’s also unlikely that he’d deny any of his key starters an appearance in a game like this.

Peterborough Form

Peterborough come into this game sitting just outside the play-off spots in League One, as they look to return to the Championship after a four-year absence. Posh may not be in the top six right now, but they’re just two points off a place in the play-offs. They sit 12 points off automatic promotion, so they’re unlikely to push for either of the top two places. However, they are in good enough form to be serious contenders for sixth place or higher.

Posh have drawn their last three games, but they’ve suffered just one defeat in their last 13 outings. They saw off Notts County in a replay to make it this far, which gave them a huge third round tie to complement their push for promotion. The visitors are unbeaten in six matches away from home, but it’s hard to see that record continuing here. This is set to be a huge step up for the away side, and they look short on the talent needed to cause a huge shock here.

Chelsea v Peterborough Head to Head

This is the first ever meeting between Chelsea and Peterborough, so we currently don’t have a head to head record to look at. Can the Blues manage to come out on top when they host the League One side in their first ever meeting? Looking back over the Blues’ cup form, it’s hard to see a shock. Chelsea have just six losses in the last 10 years in this competition. That spans across 50 games, with the Blues winning this trophy four times in that period.

Betting Tips

• Chelsea to win to nil – 10/11 with Ladbrokes
• Cesc Fabregas to score any time – 2/1 with BetVictor

Chelsea come into this game as heavy favourites, they’re 1/6 with Coral to book a place in the fourth round. Given the gulf between them, that’s hardly surprising. Meanwhile, Sky Bet are pricing the League One side at 14/1 to claim a shock victory. This one seems like a straightforward win for the hosts, but we think we’ve found some good value bets on this clash.

During their 13 game winning streak, Chelsea managed 10 clean sheets. The Blues have a lot of defensive cover ahead of this game, and we’re expecting to see the likes of Ola Aina, Kurt Zouma and John Terry. Even the Blues’ second string defenders should be able to shutout League One Peterborough, so we’re backing a win and clean sheet for the hosts, which is 10/11 with Ladbrokes.

With Chelsea expected to score a few goals, it’s worth looking at the anytime scorer market. Ruben Loftus-Cheek is one worth keeping an eye on, he’s 23/10 with Coral to get a goal, just as he did in last year’s third round. However, our pick is another midfielder. Cesc Fabregas should step in here after missing out in midweek, he’s likely to lend experience to this side. The former Arsenal and Barcelona man should be far too good for the League One opposition, so we’re backing him to grab a goal at 2/1 with BetVictor.

Can Premier League leaders Chelsea continue their fantastic winning run when they make the trip away to Tottenham on Wednesday night? This frenetic festive period wraps up with a mouth-watering London derby, which is possibly the Blues’ toughest test since their 3-0 defeat at the hands of Arsenal. Will Antonio Conte and his men be able to make a strong start to 2017, or will they fail to pick up three points for the first time since September?

Tottenham will also be confident coming into this game, they’ve put together some strong form; they also finally returned to the top four, albeit for only a day. Their push for a Champions League spot isn’t their main aim, however, as they’ve got outside ambitions of winning the title. However, they’re 10 points back from Chelsea, so they’ll need to claim all three points here to boost their title charge.

Team News: Conte to keep faith in search for 14th straight win

Antonio Conte has resisted the urge to make too many changes across the Christmas period. He welcomes back Pedro this weekend, after the Spaniard was suspended for the Stoke game. However, with Willian and Eden Hazard in excellent form, Pedro is unlikely to find his way back into the team here. We’re backing a familiar 11 here, with Nemanja Matic and N’Golo Kante both moving in to central midfield. That should give them a more solid base against a side in great attacking form.

In fact, Conte only has two injury concerns ahead of this game. John Terry is still a doubt, although he’s unlikely to beat any of the current back three to a starting place. Going into this clash, Terry would be a substitute at best. The Blues have Kenedy and Charly Musonda back from their loans, although they’ve not played much this season. Musonda isn’t fit after returning from Real Betis. Neither of those two are likely to appear on Wednesday.

Tottenham’s only injury worry for this game is Erik Lamela, aside from that they’re set to have a fully fit squad. They’ve been lining up in a 3-5-2 formation of late, and they’re likely to continue that here. That allows their attack minded full-backs to push on, while it also gets Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen into their favoured number 10 roles. However, they’re playing with just Victor Wanyama in front of their back three. That could leave them vulnerable.

Tottenham Form

Since losing 2-1 at Stamford Bridge in November, Tottenham have won six of their last seven matches. That saw them make a return to the top four, dumping Manchester City out in the process, before City leapfrogged then again with a home win against Burnley. Spurs have scored 21 goals in that time, with Harry Kane and Dele Alli hitting solid form up top. They each scored twice in Spurs’ 4-1 win over Watford on New Year’s Day, that was their second consecutive 4-1 victory on the road. Can they continue that excellent scoring form when they return to White Hart Lane on Wednesday night? Or will they struggle against the league’s best defence?

One issue for Spurs is their packed Christmas schedule. Spurs’ kicked off their winter fixtures just a week before this game. They’ve got three games in a week, while the Blues have been resting since Saturday. The Spurs’ squad has already been juggling European football with league action, they might not be able to match the Blues here. Tottenham don’t have the biggest squad, and seeing as they’ve not rotated that much, they might come up a little short when they face the league leaders.

Tottenham v Chelsea Head to Head

Tottenham gave the Blues a scare at Stamford Bridge, as they scored the opener. However, Conte’s side managed to turn things around to continue their impressive winning run Their last trip here was a 0-0 draw under Jose Mourinho, while the season before they lost 5-3 here. It’s hard to see a repeat of either of those results, given how the Blues are playing up front and at the back. It’s tough to see them letting in five goals in any game.

• Chelsea 2-1 Tottenham, Nov 2016
• Chelsea 2-2 Tottenham, May 2016
• Tottenham 0-0 Chelsea, Nov 2015
• Chelsea 2-0 Tottenham, Mar 2015
• Tottenham 5-3 Chelsea, Jan 2015

Betting Tips

• Diego Costa to score anytime – 6/5 with BetVictor
• Draw – 12/5 with Sky Bet

Given the form of these two coming into this game, it’s clear that this is a really tough match to call. There’s next to nothing between them in the pre-match betting, Coral price Tottenham at 13/8 here, while Chelsea are 17/10 for the win. It’s hard to see just who will take the points, but this is clearly one of the toughest trips that that the Blues are going to face. They were almost gifted the points at Man City when Pep Guardiola’s men collapsed. They won’t get that lucky here, they’ll need to be at their very best to get anything out of this meeting.

The Blues will need Diego Costa firing, and he made a scoring return to the side at the weekend. He hit a late goal against Stoke on his return from suspension. The forward had a much needed break when he was suspended against Bournemouth. That looks to have helped him, and that’s got to be a worry for Spurs. The way they set up is likely to create space at the back, and Costa is one who can take advantage. We’re backing him to score any time, at 6/5 with BetVictor.

Tottenham are yet to suffer defeat at home all season, which highlights just how difficult this game is for the league leaders. We can’t see a 14th win here for Chelsea, but the Blues should avoid defeat in this one. We’re backing these two to take a point apiece, with the draw priced at 12/5 with Sky Bet ahead of this clash.

Chelsea’s final game of 2016 sees them host Stoke at Stamford Bridge on New Year’s Eve, can they finish the year six points clear? The Blues will be widely expected to continue their impressive winning run, which has led them to a commanding lead at the top of the Premier League. Can they extend that with a victory over 13th placed Stoke?

The visitors come here in a poor run of form, can they repeat the draw that they picked up here last season? This Chelsea side are a lot different, they’ve put together a fantastic 12 game winning run. They can equal Arsenal’s 13 game winning run record with a victory on Saturday. They’re heavy favourites for the points, especially now that Antonio Conte has almost a full strength side to choose from.

Team News: Conte Welcomes back Costa and Kante

Chelsea’s only missing player ahead of this game is John Terry, who hasn’t started a league game since the trip to Swansea in early September anyway. David Luiz, Gary Cahill and Cesar Azpilicueta are set to start at centre back for the 13th game running. They’ll be protected by N’Golo Kante, with the former Leicester man now back from suspension for this weekend’s game.

Kante and Diego Costa were both suspended for the victory over Bournemouth, but they return for the final game of the year. Cesc Fabregas came in to the side ahead of the last game, and he’s probably earned a place in the starting line-up. Nemanja Matic has started the last two games, and he could be rested here. Conte played Eden Hazard as a false nine, with Willian and Pedro in support. The Spaniard impressed, opening the scoring, so we expect the Brazilian to drop out for Costa. Conte is likely to shift back to the side which won 1-0 at Crystal Palace before Christmas.

Stoke have a couple of injury worries for this game, with Jack Butland once again missing in goal. Stephen Ireland and Geoff Cameron are both injured for this trip, while key attacker Marko Arnautovic is suspended. The Potters started with a back three at Anfield, but it’s hard to see them taking the same approach here. After all, the last sides who tried to match Conte’s system were Man City and Everton, and that didn’t finish well for either of them. Expect a more conservative team selection from Mark Hughes here.

Stoke Form

Stoke come here having failed to win any of their last four games. That includes their first match of the festive period, which saw them thumped 4-1 at Anfield. They took a shock lead against Liverpool, but they couldn’t cope with the Reds’ forward line. The way that back three crumbled doesn’t bode well for them in this trip, especially given how lethal the Blues can be going forward.

Stoke are usually a side who push for the top half, but they’ve spent a large chunk of this season fighting relegation. They’ve manged just over a goal per game in the league, while they’ve let in 28 in total before the half-way stage. There are clearly some big problems for Hughes to fix, and his side still needs plenty of work. A trip to Chelsea isn’t exactly what he would have wanted, given how Conte’s side are in incredible form and full of confidence.

Chelsea v Stoke Head to Head

The Blues really struggled in three meetings with Stoke last season. They were dumped out of the EFL Cup on penalties in October last year, before a 1-0 league defeat there the next month. Even their meeting at Stamford Bridge was disappointing, with a late equaliser giving the Potters’ a 1-1 draw. Chelsea did win home and away against Stoke on their way to the 2015 title, can they do the same this term?

• Chelsea 1-1 Stoke, Mar 2016
• Stoke 1-0 Chelsea, Nov 2015
• Stoke 1-1 Chelsea, Oct 2015
• Chelsea 2-1 Stoke, Apr 2015
• Stoke 0-2 Chelsea, Dec 2014

Betting Tips

• Over 2.5 Chelsea goals – 6/5 with BetVictor
• Diego Costa to score first – 5/2 with Coral

Chelsea come in to this game as heavy favourites: they’re 1/4 with Ladbrokes to take the points on Saturday. Meanwhile, Stoke are 12/1 outsiders with Betfred. Clearly the leaders are expected to continue their excellent winning run, but will they make this a 13th victory out of 13? They’ll have to be careful, as Stoke have a decent away scoring record. They’ve found the net at Old Trafford, Anfield and the Emirates so far this season. The hosts have conceded just two goals in their winning streak, but backing them to win to nil here could be risky, especially as the Potters have scored on their last two trips to the Bridge.

However, we can see quite a few goals for the Blues this weekend. They’re up against a side who have conceded far too many in recent games. The Potters shipped four at Liverpool, three at Arsenal and two at home to a 10 man Leicester side. With Chelsea in excellent form and scoring for fun, we can see them adding to Hughes’ misery. Six of the Blues’ last nine games here have seen them score three or more goals. We’re backing a repeat of that, with over 2.5 goals for the hosts priced at 6/5 with BetVictor.

Costa wasn’t missed last time out, and the forward got a much needed rest. He’ll walk back into the side for this game, given that he’s the league’s top scorer. We can see him being refreshed, given that he’s had two weeks break heading into this game. That’s bad news for Stoke, and we’re backing them to suffer. Costa has six goals in his last eight outings, and we’re predicting him to open the scoring this weekend, which is priced at 5/2 with Coral.

Can Chelsea make it 12 straight league wins with a victory at home to Bournemouth on Boxing Day? They’re out to extend their six point lead at the summit and keep their fantastic run going. If they can carry their excellent form in to 2017, then it’s hard to see how the rest of the title hopefuls can catch them. However, they need to watch out against a useful Cherries side.

Bournemouth sit in the top half of the table, they’ve been pretty solid in their second season in the top flight. They’ve got a couple of dangerous players, and they recently beat Liverpool 4-3 after a fantastic comeback. This is another new challenge for Antonio Conte, can he inspire his side to another victory? The Blues come in to this one as heavy favourites for the points.

Team News: Suspensions leave Conte without key men

Chelsea have built their excellent form on the back of little rotation, keeping much of the same side across this run. However, that isn’t going to be the case on Monday, as they face a couple of big suspensions ahead of this clash. Diego Costa and N’Golo Kante are both out here, after picking up yellow cards at Crystal Palace last weekend. Those two have been key parts of the title push so far, so just how will the Blues fare with two big absentees from the spine of their team?

Luckily, there are a couple of easy solutions for Conte ahead of this game. Cesc Fabregas has been pushing for a place in the team, so he can step in for Kante. While the Frenchman will be missed, Nemanja Matic will have to pick up the defensive slack. Between him and Fabregas, they should be able to make up for it. Meanwhile, Michy Batshuayi can finally get a league start with Costa out. The Belgian can at last start to show why he cost so much in the summer. He’s been limited to substitute appearances so far.

Bournemouth are missing some players ahead of this trip too, with Lewis Cook, Andrew Surman and Junior Stanislas all set to miss out for the Cherries here. Eddie Howe should be able to cope with those absences, although they’re going to miss a key man at the back. Nathan Ake has established himself in their defence, while he’s also been in strong scoring form of late. However, the Chelsea loanee is unavailable for this clash against his parent club.

Bournemouth Form

Bournemouth took a couple of big wins recently, seeing off Leicester 1-0 at the King Power. That came off the back of their win over Liverpool, so clearly the south coast side are not to be taken lightly. However, they’ve not got the greatest record on their travels. Will they be able to cause a massive shock at Stamford Bridge?

They’ve managed just one victory in seven away matches this season, which isn’t the kind of form they want to take into a tough match like this. Even that win at Stoke was surprising, and they followed it up with back to back defeats at Arsenal and Burnley. When you compare that to the Blues’ form going into this clash, it’s hard to see how the visitors can cause a shock on Boxing Day.

Chelsea v Bournemouth Head to Head

These two sides have only met twice before, and both of those came last season. The first meeting, their only encounter at Stamford Bridge, was one of the lowest points of Jose Mourinho’s tenure. They lost 1-0 to the newly promoted Cherries in December last year, before turning that around for the second meeting. Guus Hiddink led them to a 4-0 win at the Vitality in April. Hopefully Conte can produce something closer to Hiddnk’s result, rather than another home collapse.

• Bournemouth 0-4 Chelsea, Apr 2016
• Chelsea 0-1 Bournemouth, Dec 2016

Betting Tips

• Michy Batshuayi to score any time – 5/6 with Coral
• Chelsea to win to nil – 29/20 with BetVictor

This game will represent a huge moment for Conte and his team. The lack of European football has given them plenty of time to prepare for each game, while it has also allowed them to keep basically the same side across their winning run. There’s been a core of nine players, plus four others who have made starts. That all changes this week, with a couple of suspensions forcing Conte’s hand. On top of that, he might want to rest a couple of players, with a busy Christmas period coming up for the Blues. Could that lead to a new look side taking the field on Boxing Day?

We know that striker Costa is going to miss out and without the forward in the team the Blues will look a little short on goals. The Spaniard has hit 13 goals in 17 appearances, so obviously he’s a huge player to have to do without. This is the perfect chance for Batshuayi to step in. The forward cost £33million last summer, but he’s spent most of the season on the bench. He’s been Conte’s most used substitute so far, and he’s managed a few goals off the bench. We see him finding the net in his first league start, so we’re backing him to score any time at 5/6 with Coral.

We’re also backing another win to nil for the Blues. They’ve kept a clean sheet in nine of their last 11 games, which has been a huge help to their winning run. While Kante misses out, the usual back five will start. They should be good enough to keep out the Cherries, so we’re backing a clean sheet here for the Premier League leaders. We’re also backing their excellent winning run to continue, as we’re going with Chelsea to win to nil at 29/20 with BetVictor.