Previews

Chelsea are hoping to build on their huge win over Manchester City when they head to St Mary’s on Saturday. Having secured progress in the FA Cup and having survived the first leg of their Champions League tie with their chances of progression in tact, they will now be hoping to improve their league fortunes. Can Guus Hiddink lead his men to another win, or will they be the latest side to fall against Southampton?

This is one of the most difficult fixtures the Blues could have been handed this week, as Southampton come into this one in fantastic form. They’re unbeaten in their last six, and they’ve won four on the spin at home. Fraser Forster has yet to concede a goal since returning from injury. In fact, the England international hasn’t conceded a goal since Diego Costa scored against him in March of last year.

That form has seen the Saints move into the top six in the league, and they’re just a point off Manchester United. They had a free weekend after going out of the cup in the third round, so they’ll be well rested ahead of this one. That should give them an edge over a Chelsea side who have been in league, European and cup action since the Saints’ last game.

That all builds up to a pretty tall task, even discounting the fact that this Southampton team were 3-1 winners at the Bridge back in October. They might have faced a much worse off Blues side back then, but Ronald Koeman’s men are more than capable of completing the league double over the champions on Saturday. They know that a draw or better will move them into the top five here, with Manchester United playing title favourites Arsenal on Sunday.

The Blues will be hoping to record back to back league wins for the first time this term, following their 5-1 victory over Newcastle at Stamford Bridge two weeks prior. With this game quickly followed by a trip to Carrow Road to face Norwich, there’s a chance for the Blues to build up some momentum and move further up the league table.

Hiddink will be hoping that John Terry will be back for this clash, although he’ll be tempted to keep Branislav Ivanovic at centre-half. Their current defensive line up sees the Serbian and Cesar Azpilcueta in their natural positions, which seems like a better fit. Even Abdul Baba Rahman seems to be doing well at left back. There are few other options to come in right now, but this back four probably needs a settled spell going forwards.

Expect few other changes up top, as it’s hard to fault anyone from the game on Sunday. Eden Hazard produced a sublime display in that win, and it would be incredibly harsh to drop him here. Barring a possible return for Terry, the team shouldn’t change much here.

LCN Verdict: 1-1 draw

Chelsea will be looking to bounce back from their Champions League defeat in midweek when they face Manchester City on Sunday in the FA Cup. Having lost narrowly in the first leg of their tie against PSG, this is a huge follow up for the champions. Can the team make a big statement with a victory, or will their season get even worse here?

Nemanja Matic returns after serving a suspension in midweek, and he is likely to move back into the team alongside John Obi Mikel. John Terry is a doubt for this clash, which could lead to Gary Cahill and Branislav Ivanovic to continue their makeshift centre half partnership. Guus Hiddink will be hoping his captain can return for this game, one which could well define their season.

While this year was seen as a write off, there are still two competitions that the Blues could win. While it’s hard to make a case for them after the season they’ve had, but the quality is certainly there. They can get the edge in these big games, it’s just a question of the team refocusing after a huge job in Paris on Tuesday night.

Luckily for them they should receive a boost for this game, with Manchester City facing Champions League action of their own. They head to face Dynamo Kiev, runners up to Chelsea in the group stage. They play in Ukraine on Wednesday, and the team is expected to travel out on Tuesday. Then, they return to play Liverpool at Wembley on Sunday in the Capital One Cup final.

The FA Cup is likely to drop down the list of priorities for City, with Champions League progress and the League Cup on the line. That should see a rotated side take the field in this one, with many of the top stars left to rest ahead of a crucial few days for Manuel Pellegrini and his men. Could that give Chelsea a slight edge?

They’d be a lot more confident if they see a team sheet lacking City’s biggest threats. That would really boost belief in the cup run, something the Blues really need. If they surrender their places in the cups early, then the season is effectively over. That leaves Hiddink as a bit of a lame duck in the dugout, with nothing to push for this season, and no future at the club towards which to build anything.

A cup run is the only thing keeping Chelsea fans remotely on board following the awful collapse they’ve seen this term, and the side has to guarantee that it continues. A defeat to City in unthinkable, especially if it’s against a weakened side. Hiddink’s big game record at the club is good, and that should continue against a team who are falling further and further off the pace in the title race.

LCN Verdict: Chelsea to win 2-1

It’s Champions League time for the Blues once again, as the competition returns following its winter break. The Blues head to Paris for the first leg of this clash, for which they are heavy underdogs. With their league season in tatters, can they pull off an incredible result here to boost their Champions League hopes or will their awful season just go from bad to worse?

Another year, another clash against PSG in the Champions League. After knocking them out two years ago, and being knocked out by them last year, these two know each other fairly well. It might have helped matters if the manager who had come through both those ties was here now to take advantage of what he had learnt, but that’s not how it works at Chelsea.

Guus Hiddink leads his team into this clash, and they do have quite an impressive away record under him. His best results so far have come away from the Bridge, and Blues fans would love to see a repeat of the performance at the Emirates here. To do that they’d need to pull off a task that no one has managed this year, to prevent PSG from winning.

The French champions have won 17 consecutive games, stretching all the way back to December 1st. That’s seen them take charge of Ligue 1, where they now have a 24 point lead. With France already dominated, the goal for them now is to move up a level and dominate in Europe. While they’ve yet to really make a huge splash in the Champions League, they’re more than capable of it.

The French side have a team full of stars and manager Laurent Blanc recently signed a contract extension at the club. They have so much ability, just how could Chelsea possibly stop them? It would take a massive defensive display to hold this team off, is that something that this Chelsea team are capable of? Can they replicate the heroics of the 2012 side?

They have a strong defence on paper, but it’s just not worked for them this term. Branislav Ivanovic is showing signs of age, Cesar Azpilicueta has been far from his best and our most reliable centre back is now out injured. Without Kurt Zouma, Gary Cahill and John Terry will have to roll back the years here.

Hiddink did coach Chelsea to a 0-0 result in the Camp Nou before, back in 2009. That was the year that Andres Iniesta’s last minute strike knocked the Blues out on away goals. A display like that would do it here, but it’s hard to see the team being able to pull it off.

If the side could play like they did at the Emirates, we’d have a chance. The problem is, PSG are a much better side than Arsenal, and they’re tougher to shut out. This looks like a task too far for Hiddink and this could well be the Blues’ last big away European trip for some time.

LCN Verdict: PSG to win 2-0

Chelsea will be hoping to end a run of four consecutive draws at Stamford Bridge when they take on relegation threatened Newcastle on Saturday. After getting last gasp equalisers in their last two home matches, the Blues need to up their game ahead of the Magpies’ visit. While they have little to chase in the league for the rest of the season, they simply have to start winning games.

With the return of Champions League action getting very close, there’s a risk that the Blues head in to their last 16 clash with PSG undercooked. They look like a team who are just getting through games without really pushing themselves, and that’s not something fans want to see. It’s not easy to just go from a side slowly manoeuvring through their schedule to one capable of taking on Europe’s best in a few short days.

While we can’t expect that much from the Blues after the season they’ve been having, it’s not too much to be expecting better. Guus Hiddink was brought in to initially steady the ship, but the club would have been hoping he could kick the team on and see them push up the table.

That has yet to materialise, with the team still 13th, only a place above where Jose Mourinho left them. There have been positive signs in the games we’ve seen lately, but not enough points. The displays haven’t been complete, and they need to get better if the team is to do anything in the cups this season.

You would imagine that a clash with Newcastle is the perfect opportunity for the team to start putting things right, given that the Geordies have lost their last five away games. Since August, they’ve won two and lost the rest of their matches on the road, and it’s hard to say that they played well in either victory. The team have a great chance to get back to winning ways here, and not taking it would be a huge blow ahead of the midweek trip to Paris.

The Blues will be missing Kurt Zouma for this game and every other game this season. The young defender is expected to miss the next six months after suffering a horrible injury against Manchester United. That’s not just cost him the place in the Chelsea team that he earned this season, but also a place in the European Championships.

Gary Cahill should step in for Zouma, while there should be little change elsewhere in Hiddink’s team. He’s so far resisted the urge to introduce Eden Hazard from the start, instead sticking with two holding midfielders. Given the state of the defence, which is now missing Zouma’s pace, the defensive approach will likely continue.

Given that this Newcastle side have conceded 44 goals in the league, you’d like to see Chelsea push to score a few here. While we’d take a win, a comfortable victory would surely boost morale ahead of the game against PSG.

LCN Verdict: Chelsea to win 2-0

Chelsea head back to Stamford Bridge on Sunday as they take on a newly resurgent Manchester United side. After a good FA Cup win was followed by a big win in midweek, the Red Devils will be heading down here with plenty of confidence. The Blues should be feeling pretty good themselves after a fine FA Cup win of their own, but they’d certainly feel a lot better if they could get the three points here and move up the table.

Chelsea travelled to Old Trafford just last month in the league, and they came back with a 0-0 draw after a pretty poor display. Neither side were playing well back then, but United dominated a tame Chelsea side. Now that both sides have a few wins under their belts, will we get a more interesting game this time around?

It will certainly be a busy one, as there are plenty of things to watch out for. While this is another clash between Dutch managers in the Premier League, something the press seem to enjoy, there’s much more going on at the club. This will be the first home game since it was announced that John Terry won’t be having his contract renewed at the end of the season.

That news rocked fans, and there’s surely going to be some show of support for the captain, even more than usual. The majority of the fans seem to want him kept at the club, so this is the time for them to make their voices heard. If they campaign loud enough, it might just extend the defender’s stay, and he could possibly retire at the Bridge.

While Terry is set for the exit, we have two players who came in last month. Both Alexandre Pato and Matt Miazga were brought into the squad, but neither seem to currently have much match fitness. Pato doesn’t seem ready for the demands of the league, while Miazga came across from MLS, and their season has been over for a few months now. While they won’t start, we might see a brief substitute appearance at some stage for the new signings.

They’ll face an uphill task to make it into the team, as right now almost everyone is fit to play. While Radamel Falcao is still struggling, there doesn’t appear to be any other problems ahead of this one. Expect Hiddink to go with the two defensive midfielders once more, giving the team a solid base.

United won 3-0 at home to Stoke on Tuesday night, and it looked like they were playing with some creative freedom. Louis van Gaal had previously tied his men up in shackles defensively, which contributed to their problems. Will he keep up this new more expansive approach, or will he go defensive for this big game? We will see on Sunday, as Chelsea look to put a spanner in United’s top four hopes.

LCN Verdict: Chelsea to win 2-1

Chelsea will be aiming to get back to winning ways when they travel to take on league leaders Arsenal. The champions facing the table toppers is usually one of the highlights of the season, but this game certainly has less shine now that the Blues are struggling down in 14th place. Can Guus Hiddink’s men bridge the 19 point gap between the London rivals and pull off a huge win?

The last two games haven’t gone that well for the Blues, they’ve dropped points in both, and looked sloppy at the back. A last minute West Brom equaliser denied them in midweek, before they went 2-0 down against Everton. They may have fought back well, but there are some alarming problems that just won’t go away. How will they deal with this step up?

The free week should be a big boost to the team, giving them extra time to rest and more time on the training ground. Working on their defensive shape will be key, as that absolutely has to improve. Hiddink played with two defensive midfielders last weekend, and the team still shipped goals. Even with extra screening, there are serious problems at the back.

While there probably won’t be too many reinforcements for the backline, we should see more work put in to fixing those errors. That work will probably be done with both John Obi Mikel and Nemanja Matic in mind, as those two are likely to keep their places ahead of this game. Naming two defensively minded players in midfield was Jose Mourinho’s tactic in these games and we expect Hiddink to take a similar approach.

The Gunners should have Mesut Ozil back in their team before this one, and it’s hard to imagine what he could do on Sunday given the space the Blues have been affording the opposition this term. The German is having his best season since joining Arsenal, and if the Blues let him roam free then this clash won’t end well for them. If their defensive display is anything like what happened on Saturday, then Match of the Day 2 might be one to miss for Blues fans.

Ahead of these kinds of big games teams tend to sharpen up, just look at how much tighter United and Liverpool were in their clash after both recording 3-3 draws days before. The visitors should be a lot better at the back, but even that might not be enough.

There are parts of the team that are working, like Willian’s wing play, and Diego Costa’s return to form. The problem here is that Costa is expected to miss out, after coming off injured on Saturday. Just as the partnership between him and Cesc Fabregas began to click once more, the forward has picked up a knock.

Given the mounting problems, it’s hard to see anything but a home win here. The days when Chelsea would bully Arsenal off the park are gone, which means this game is going to be a real struggle.

LCN Verdict: Arsenal to win 2-0

Chelsea return to league action on Wednesday night as they aim to complete a league double over West Brom. The Baggies are three points and two places ahead of the Blues in the table as things stand, but Guus Hiddink will be hoping his side can keep up their good recent form and leapfrog their opponents. Can they avoid another setback and take maximum points here?

Chelsea will have to go into this game without Eden Hazard, who continues to be out after coming off against Crystal Palace. Many are wondering just how serious his injury is, given how it didn’t seem too serious at the time. With rumours circulating about a move or PSG or Real Madrid, is the Belgian trying to avoid playing, or does the manager think he’s not mentally right to feature yet?

Either way, the midfield trio of Willian, Oscar and Pedro should be enough to get through this game. Pedro scored on his debut against the Baggies in August, so hopefully he can get back to scoring ways here. On top of that, Rueben Loftus-Cheek was on target against Scunthorpe, and he could be pushing for a starting berth, given how impressed Hiddink was with the youngster’s contribution.

Either way, they’ll likely need an attacking edge in midfield, with Diego Costa set to miss out. He came off against Scunthorpe, and he’s not expected to be back in time for this midweek clash. Loic Remy should step in up front, giving the forward a deserved chance under the new manager.

West Brom head here in rather mixed form; they’ve had a pretty inconsistent season which has seen them rooted in mid-table. With Tony Pulis at the helm, it’s hard to see them going down, but they’ve not yet kicked on under the Welshman. His time at the Hawthorns hasn’t been as impressive as his spell at Crystal Palace was, but this is a team that you can’t really write off.

Expect them to be functional and organised against the Blues, which could prove a tall task to oppose with Costa out. He’s so often the battering ram that takes down a camped defence, and without him the team may struggle to find an opening. It may well take another moment of brilliance from Willian to carve through the Baggies here. Aside from the Brazilian, there won’t be that much in the way of goalscoring threat in the team on Wednesday night.

Hiddink’s approach does feel more open than Moruinho’s, however, as we’ve been seeing the full backs pushing on and more midfield runners getting into the box. The Dutchman’s approach is much more forward thinking, so hopefully that will help get through a team parking the bus at the Bridge. A win here would give them momentum ahead of another home game on Saturday, in a week which could truly get the Blues up and running in the league.

LCN Verdict: Chelsea to win 2-0

Chelsea kick off their FA Cup campaign on Sunday as they host League One side Scunthorpe. The Blues will be looking for a strong showing in this competition after the horror show that has been this season, while Guus Hiddink would love to end his second spell here the same way as the first. Can he lead his team to an FA Cup triumph, as he did in 2009?

The cup remains Chelsea’s best chance of having any success this season, and it’s also their best chance of making it into Europe. While a high league finish is still possible, it would take an incredible run of form. A cup win would be an easier path, and a much more enjoyable one at that.

Standing in the way of the Blues in the third round is Scunthorpe, who will be hoping to pull off a Bradford-like shock at the Bridge. That early exit last term was embarrassing for the entire team, something they need to avoid this season. Their form this term would have hinted at a fair chance of an upset here, but their win last time out seems to have boosted morale and put them back on a steady footing.

That victory against Palace on Sunday will hopefully be the turning point we’ve been waiting for since August. Everything about the display was fantastic, it was so good that the majority of fans even warmed to John Obi Mikel. That was certainly a special feat. On the back of that win, don’t expect too many chances here, as Hiddink will be aiming to build up momentum, and put together a good run on all fronts.

Building momentum will be key for the Blues, which should mean a pretty settled team, as long as they keep winning. One expected change is Diego Costa, who probably isn’t fit enough to feature here and in the two Premier League games the following week. Loic Remy, who has been attracting attention elsewhere, will likely step in for the Spaniard for this one.

Hiddink has everything to lose here and nothing to gain really. His team are expected to win the match with ease, as they should given that they are the current Premier League champions, but the talk of a recovery won’t come following a win. Many will reserve judgement no matter how good the display is, while a defeat would cause all kinds of panic. A third round cup exit against a third tier team would be a new depth to the crisis that has plagued the team this term.

But, the hosts should have more than enough to make it through here, keeping their FA Cup hopes very much alive. While there’s too much of a gap to make up in the league, the cup is an even playing field, and Hiddink’s men might have what it takes to end the season with some silverware, and a return to Wembley.

LCN Verdict: Chelsea to win 2-0

After their Boxing Day clash with Watford, Chelsea are quickly back in action as they face a trip to Old Trafford on Monday evening. This is the first big game for Guus Hiddink since returning to the club, just how will be match up against his countryman Louis van Gaal? Can he deliver a blow to United’s hopes of making the top four?

This isn’t exactly the kind of game the Blues would have wanted as they try and kick start a revival, but with United struggling, it may be the perfect time to play them. The Red Devils haven’t won since November, and now they’ve slipped out of the top four having gone on a poor run of results. The last visitors to Old Trafford, Norwich, came out 2-1 winners here. Surely the Blues have at least a chance?

This will certainly be a major test for Guus Hiddink, as he looks to lead the team back up the table. While catching United isn’t a realistic ambition, beating them certainly is. There’ll be little confidence in either side following their recent results, so it’ll take a lot of motivation if either manager is going to lead his side to victory in this one.

As far as team news goes, there should be little to worry about in terms of injuries for Hiddink, although he may have to rotate his side, with his team playing 48 hours earlier at home to Watford. We may see the appearance of a couple of squad players, but the boss will most likely try and name his strongest side for a potentially defining clash.

One thing the team do have going for them is the fact that this is away from home. Home games for the next few weeks will see continued protests about Mourinho’s sacking, and the majority of the players won’t be given too warm a welcome. That could end up having an effect on the team. Away from home the players might have one less thing on their minds, without fans booing them.

All being well, this game won’t be the reunion between Jose Mourinho and Chelsea that many have been dreading. Van Gaal heads in to Christmas as the favourite for the sack, with Mourinho favourite to replace him. He’d be the obvious choice if the Red Devils were to move right now, but it seems like they’ll hold off for the time being. Seeing the club’s greatest manager in the opposition dug out so soon would be enough to ruin any fan’s New Year.

Van Gaal’s United are incredibly functional, and their lack of cutting edge is good for a Chelsea team who aren’t great at the back. Expect a better defensive display from United than their last home game, which could make this clash a very tight affair.

LCN Verdict: 1-1 draw

Chelsea’s first game under Guus Hiddink comes on Saturday, as they take on an in-form Watford side at Stamford Bridge. Can the Dutchman kick off his second spell with a win, or will the Hornets carry on their fine run? One thing’s for sure, given all their recent troubles, the Blues can ill afford another slip up.

The first game of the post Jose Mourinho era on Saturday was an impressive win over Sunderland, but it was one that left fans scratching their heads. The players went at it from the off, going 2-0 up after just 13 minutes. While it was a much needed return to form, it felt like a slap in the face to both Mourinho and the fans.

It seemed like these players had been holding back until the manager was gone, and now they are suddenly able to play to their full potential. What’s the alternative to that idea? As great a servant as Steve Holland has been, it’s hard to see him coming up with a tactical tweak that Mourinho didn’t think of. This win had to have come straight from a mentality shift, which justified the fans’ anger during the game.

Expect more anger towards the players who underperformed this week, and more songs in support of Mourinho. Fans will move on in time, but now those wounds are fresh. It could be counterproductive to turn on the players like this, but Blues fans have been through enough managerial turmoil to know how to act during the interim.

Hopefully Hiddink will be more successful and liked than the previous interim coach, as none of this is his fault. He’s simply stepped into an opening bigger than his recent record merits, plus he’s returning to a club of which he has some very fond memories. The big question will be over his ability, is he still as good as the coach the fans begged to stay in 2009? And can he do enough to pull the team up the league, and earn himself a contract beyond May?

To do that, he’ll have to make a good start, but he’s got a tough task ahead. Watford have been simply brilliant of late, winning four on the spin in the league. They’re up to seventh, a point off the top four, a position Chelsea can only dream about. Their strike partnership of Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo has been tearing through teams, with 17 goals between them. Again, that’s something the Blues can only dream of having right now.

So, Watford will be coming into this one with nothing to lose and with momentum carrying them very much in the right direction. They could be dangerous, and it will take all of Hiddink’s wit to pull off a result here. While this won’t make or break his second spell, it will be a big indicator of how he’ll handle it.

LCN Verdict: Chelsea to win 3-1