Previews

Chelsea host the Premier League’s second lowest positioned side on Saturday, as the champions go searching for a much needed league victory. With the Blues set to spend Christmas Day in the bottom half of the table, can they at least get a win to give their fans a little cheer after a truly awful season so far?

Jose Mourinho doesn’t have too many injury worries ahead of this game, with only Radamel Falcao currently ruled out. Eden Hazard had to go off injured during the game at Leicester, and it remains to be seen if he’ll be back in time for this one. Also, if he does suddenly recover, would the manager even want to put him straight back in the team?

We do expect to see several changes from the poor display at the King Power, with several heads probably set to roll. At this stage Mourinho has already dropped everyone in the squad, but it’s hard to see him maintaining a team who are playing that badly. Seeing as he’s tried everything else, could a formation change be in order?

The manager has to make some kind of big change soon, because their current set up simply isn’t working. A new formation could at least give them a fresh approach, and it might shake up a few of the stars who currently appear to be sleepwalking through the season. While a top four place seems beyond this team, they can’t simply be left to rot for the last few months of the campaign.

If there’s any team to test out a new system against, it’s Sunderland. Sam Allardyce has made a few improvements since taking over, but they aren’t Premier League quality right now. He’ll likely have a busy January window, as there are gaps in his team that need filling. Sunderland should be a straightforward game for the Blues, but there are only a couple of spots between them in the table right now.

Failure in this game could well be the biggest indictment of Mourinho’s coaching this season. It would show how far the team have fallen in the last couple of months. But, having said that, people would have little confidence in backing the champions to win this weekend.

The defeat to Leicester wasn’t just a poor result, but it was also a dreadful performance. There’s not going to be much confidence in this team right now, so it’s hard to see the Blues blowing anyone away. They’ll be functional, and a win is possible, but it will be a struggle.

We’re going for a narrow home win, which will probably even be seen as a bad result. Right now, though, all Mourinho and his team need are points, the display isn’t important. Given how many defeats they’ve suffered, a return to winning ways would start to make fans happier before Christmas.

LCN Verdict: Chelsea to win 1-0

Chelsea head to Leicester on Monday night looking to get back to winning ways in the league against the current table-toppers. With the Foxes in fantastic form, it’s going to take a huge performance to get a win at the King Power, but it’s something the Blues need if they are to have any hope of making the top four.

The manager has close to a full squad available for this one, with only Radamel Falcao a doubt for the trip. But the lack of the team’s third choice striker shouldn’t burden Jose Mourinho too much, especially after getting three big stars back in the past week. Thibaut Courtois came back in against Bournemouth, while John Terry and Ramires returned from injury against Porto.

It’s hard to see Mourinho making many changes from the team who saw off Porto. It wouldn’t make much sense to potentially stop the momentum gained from the team’s best display this season. We should see basically the same line up, and they’ll have had a good few days to rest after their midweek exploits.

Leicester weren’t playing in midweek, which could give them a slight edge. Chelsea certainly have to be wary of the Foxes’ form, as they come into the weekend top of the table, having blown away half the league so far. After four wins and a draw from their last five, it’s hard not to be impressed by what former Blues boss Claudio Ranieri has accomplished so far.

Chelsea won in their last trip here back in April. That game was a very different one, with winning the league title the goal back then. Goals from Didier Drogba, John Terry and Ramires secured a 3-1 win for the Blues, which saw them go 49 points ahead of the struggling Foxes. Now, Chelsea sit 17 points behind their opponents, which shows how far Leicester have come, and how far Mourinho’s team have fallen.

Despite that, there is still hope for Chelsea fans here. Leicester haven’t been seeing off the big sides at home, they scrapped a few draws with Tottenham and United, but they lost to Arsenal. There is a chance for Chelsea to get a result here, they just need to play like the Chelsea of last term. While the leaders are dangerous, they’re still very beatable.

Right about now, three points are on Jose Mourinho’s Christmas list, along with goals from star men Diego Costa and Eden Hazard. The festive period would be much easier if either of those two had their confidence restored in front of goal. While both have shown signs of improvement, they won’t be back to their best until we see them scoring again.

Hopefully, those goals will come, and the Blues will get themselves on a winning run. A win at the King Power would send out a huge message, and could see the team back to their best but it might just be a bridge too far.

LCN Verdict: 1-1 draw

Chelsea face a massive clash at home to Porto on Wednesday night as they fight for their future in the Champions League. Going into the final game, no one has yet secured qualification from this group, with three sides battling to finish in the top two and make it into the draw for the last 16. Can the Blues get a result to secure progression, or will this be another big blow in a very tough season?

This group was going pretty much to plan until the last round of games. The Blues looked to be a win away from qualifying, but results elsewhere took it out of their hands. Dynamo Kiev’s win in Porto turned this group upside down, stopped the Blues from qualifying, and left a three way fight for the top two.

Dynamo currently sit third in the group, but they have the easiest job this week. They face bottom club Maccabi Tel-Aviv at home in the last game, and they know a win will take them through. Given that Maccabi haven’t picked up a point in this group so far, it’s hard to see anything stopping the Ukrainian side from making in through.

That leaves one place up for grabs, with Chelsea and Porto fighting for it at the Bridge. The Blues need to avoid defeat to go through, while the Portuguese side know they need a win. Should these two draw and Kiev win, all three would be on 11 points, which would leave Dynamo top and Chelsea second.

Jose Mourinho would clearly much rather see his team finish top of the group, which would see them avoid the likes of Bayern Munich and Barcelona in the next round. Don’t expect to see the team grinding out a draw here, they should push for a win and try and take top spot. Had you offered fans anything other than top at the start of the season it’s pretty unlikely they’d have taken it.

So, expect the Blues boss to go for a pretty attacking team, with the likes of Eden Hazard, Willian and Pedro set to start. Diego Costa should be playing up front again, with the pairing of Nemanja Matic and Cesc Fabregas in midfield. John Terry remains a doubt after getting injured in the win over Maccabi, while Ramires is set to miss out as well. This game comes a little too early for Thibaut Courtois, although he’s set to make a comeback this month.

This game is probably the biggest of the season so far for the Blues. Given the poor league start, it’s not unthinkable that defeat here could be the last taste of Champions League action at the Bridge for a while. Qualifying for next season’s competition is tall order, so it’s best to make this one count. We think the Blues will scrape through, but they’ll need to improve drastically by the time the next round comes along in February.

LCN Verdict: Chelsea to win 2-0

Chelsea host Bournemouth on Saturday knowing that they need to take all three points against the struggling south coast side. The Cherries are stuck in the bottom three, having slid down the table after picking up some costly injuries. Can Jose Mourinho’s men win consecutive homes games for the first time this season?

The Blues sit 14th after picking up a point at White Hart Lane last Sunday, and they know this month is their chance to pick up points and move up the table. They face a couple of big away ties, plus matches against some of the struggling sides. They can’t afford to start the New Year miles off the pace and in the bottom half, so a turnaround has to happen pretty quickly if they are to have any chance of making the top four.

They should be able to do that against a team who haven’t won in close to two and a half months. The Cherries have just one away win all season, and that should make them the perfect opponents for Chelsea right now. They need a few confidence boosting results, especially with some big games to come. This could end up being a make or break week for Mourinho.

After the Bournemouth game, the Blues are back in action in midweek, as they host Porto in the Champions League. Avoiding defeat puts them through to the next round, but a loss would see them fall in to the Europa League. That would probably be enough to cost Mourinho his job. Right now, he needs two wins from the next two, or else things could start to go wrong.

Diego Costa is likely to make a return in this game, after he was dropped against Tottenham. While the striker has been far from his best this season, he’s still capable of influencing a game up top, so fans want to see him in the team. Given how Eden Hazard has returned to form, plus Willian’s great season so far, the Spaniard should have plenty of ammunition to get himself a few goals. If he does that, he’ll be straight back into Mourinho’s good books.

This game comes too early for Thibaut Courtois, although the Belgian stopper is expected to make a return sometime this month. John Terry and Ramires both picked up knocks over the past week, and they are doubts for this game. Falcao is back from injury, but it’s unlikely that he’ll get a game here.

Expect to see a more attacking team than the one which frustrated Tottenham, as Jose knows he has to go all out for the win. Don’t expect to see anyone rested for the Porto game, but there will be some changes, as the boss is no longer keeping a settled team after the players’ recent struggles. Whichever side he picks here, he knows they need to go out and win, or else he could be running out of time.

LCN Verdict: Chelsea to win 3-1

Chelsea head to Tottenham on Sunday looking to continue their recent mini-revival. After back to back wins, can they pull off another huge result against the team who are fifth in the Premier League? As their top four ambitions begin to slip away, the champions need a big result in this one to ignite their push for the Champions League spots.

The injury list for this one is quite short, with just Radamel Falcao and Thibaut Courtois out once more. The Belgian keeper seems a few weeks away from a return, while no date has been set for Falcao. Expect to see a couple of changes from Jose Mourinho for this one, as he’s rarely been keeping a settled team of late. Eden Hazard could find himself out of the team, given how irate the manager was at him from the touchline on Tuesday night.

Tottenham head into this game in fantastic form, as they’ve put together a 12 game unbeaten run. They’ve blown a few teams away at White Hart Lane already, and with Harry Kane back to his best they’re a very dangerous prospect. This team has really changed over the summer, as Mauricio Pochettino has built a side full of energy and which is adept at pressing.

The one worry for the Spurs boss here, is timing. This game comes just three days after their involvement in a Europa League game. That game is Spurs’ longest away trip in Europe, and that could well leave them drained here. Of course, Chelsea were in Israel themselves, but they have an extra two days to recover. Will Tottenham be back to their best by the time this game comes around?

The Blues will be hoping to catch the hosts at a good time, but that would require a much better display than we’ve seen in the league for weeks. Luckily, that came the last time they saw off Maccabi 4-0, as they then went on to beat Arsenal 2-0 the following weekend. A repeat of that here would spark a lot of optimism in the Chelsea ranks, and it would take them a step closer to retaining a place in the Champions League.

But, given how inconsistent the champions have been this season, it’s hard to have too much faith in them. Seeing as Spurs have come through tests against Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool in recent weeks, it might be a bit of a stretch to see Chelsea suddenly bouncing back and getting a massive win. It might be more realistic to expect a draw here.

It wouldn’t be incredibly surprising if we saw Mourinho show up here playing a 4-3-3, looking to close down space and frustrate Tottenham. Not only could that work, but a hard fought draw would be a good result, all things considered. Fighting for a point against Spurs isn’t something Blues fans are used to, but right now, they’d probably take it.

LCN Verdict: 1-1 draw

Chelsea face a must win clash against Maccabi Tel-Aviv in the Champions League, as they look to move closer to making the last 16. With just two games left in the group stage, time is running out for the Blues to chase down leaders Porto. Can they pull off a win in Israel to keep their hopes of topping the group alive?

After their last gasp 2-1 win over Dynamo Kiev last time out, Chelsea are well placed to make the last 16. They’re currently second in the group, and with Kiev away to Porto on Tuesday, someone will be dropping points. That means a win here is crucial, to gain ground on the losers and keep pace with the winners.

While they’re doing ok in the three way fight, there’s still work to be done. Jose Mourinho will want his side to top the group to get what should be an easier task in the draw for the last 16. Fail to do that, and we could be welcoming the likes of Bayern Munich or Barcelona to the Bridge as early as February. With the Premier League title gone, it’d be nice to keep the Champions League hopes alive a little longer.

A win here should set up a big showdown with Porto in the final game, which is at home. But before that, the team need to win in Israel. Given that both of the other two in this group have managed that, a win here is the minimum required. Of course, if we’ve come to expect anything from Chelsea this term, it’s that no game is easy. This will be a test at least, or a disastrous shock at worst.

With almost a fully fit squad available for this one, let’s hope it’ll be a hard fought victory. No matter how badly the Blues are playing, this is a game they can’t slip up in. Remember, the team was mid crisis when they beat Maccabi 4-0 at home in the opening group game. A repeat of that result would be nice, although that might be pushing it a little too far.

Any win would do the trick right now. As we know from that incredible run in 2012, a poor group campaign doesn’t mean you can’t step up later on. We saw Chelsea toil in the group stage, qualifying on the final day before slowly improving as each round progressed. Right now the team don’t have to dazzle at this stage, they just have to ensure that they make it through the group.

Plus, 2013 told us that managers who look to have messed this stage up tend not to last at the club, no matter their status. This is a must win game for the club, the players and the manager. With pretty much everything on the line here, we see an away win, just barely.

LCN Verdict: Chelsea to win 2-1

Chelsea return to action after the international break with a game at home to Norwich, as Jose Mourinho comes back to the touchline. The manager served his one-match stadium ban in the defeat to Stoke, and now he needs to get his team back to winning ways to start easing the pressure on his job. But can Chelsea see off the Canaries and get three huge points after such wretched form so far this season?

The fact that’s even a question goes to show just how far the team have fallen. Few would dare place money on a home win here against a newly promoted side. With Chelsea coming in on the back of four defeats in five games and 13 points shy of the top four, it’s easy to see why they look decidedly dodgy. Norwich come into this game a place and a point above the Blues, with both sitting dangerously close to the bottom three.

The good news for Mourinho is that his international stars came through the break with few problems. On top of that his injury list is down to just two players, with Thibaut Courtois and Radamel Falcao still side-lined. But the rest of the squad is fit and available, which should help the manager to find a winning formula. With nearly all his key players ready, he’s bound to get a performance here.

One key to getting the team back to where they were last season is to restore the fear factor they had. Teams like Norwich will now come to the Bridge knowing a result is possible. There won’t be any fear from the players, when really there should be. The Blues when firing on all cylinders should terrify the visiting teams, but right now they’re far from that.

If Mourinho can get his team winning again, then that aura will soon be restored. There’s a lot for the manager to do before his side are well and truly back, but even a couple of wins to paper the cracks would work wonders in the eyes of the fans.

Just how the supporters approach this one will be interesting, as a nervy Stamford Bridge won’t help anyone. At the same time, it’s hard to blame the fans being on edge, seeing as they’re probably witnessing the biggest collapse in the history of the Premier League. No side has ever dropped quite this far so fast, which puts fans in a negative mind set. Will the team be able to give those fans a boost this weekend?

While it’s not exactly one to go betting on, we do see a home win here. Anything less than that and Mourinho’s job would be under serious threat. After a two week break, the boss should be a little more relaxed, and he should have worked out a few little improvements. We think that’ll be enough to secure a much needed victory.

LCN Verdict: Chelsea to win 2-0

Chelsea head to Stoke on Saturday without manager Jose Mourinho who will be serving a one-match stadium ban. The Blues will be desperate to turn around their poor form, but will they be able to shrug off a demanding week and win at the Britannia without their manager there? Or, could the lack of the Mourinho side show actually help the players?

The manager is expected to have basically his full complement of players available on Saturday, with only long term absentee, Thibaut Courtois, definitely out. Branislav Ivanovic is expected to be back for this game, although it’s not certain he’ll start. Kurt Zouma has been deputising for him at right back, and he’s been one of the few solid performers in the side. Diego Costa escaped a ban for his altercation with Martin Srktel, so he’s available to start.

This fixture last season was a defining game for Mourinho and his team. Goals from John Terry and Cesc Fabregas helped them claim a win that ensured they’d be top on Christmas Day, and it promoted big celebrations from the players at full time. This game will be very different, but possibly even more crucial for the team. With Stoke a place above Chelsea in 14th, they really have to get a result here, a fourth defeat in five league games is unthinkable.

Of course, the Blues have made this trip pretty recently. They visited Stoke last week in the Capital One Cup, and they managed to grab a late equaliser to get a 1-1 draw. The game went to penalties, and Mourinho’s side were knocked out. He won’t be in the stadium to see this one, after being handed a ban by the FA for his behaviour at West Ham, when he was sent from the touchline.

It’s been an awful week for Mourinho, who’s had bans, court cases and rumours of mutinies thrown at him following the Liverpool defeat. With his job under pressure, some big worries in his personal life, a weekend away from the game might not be a punishment from the FA, but a much needed lifeline.

Of course, the manager will most likely be involved in this game up until the teams get to the dressing room, and with modern technology he could easily keep in contact with the team. But, this should prevent him from having post-match media duties, and a break from the kinds of headlines that have followed his recent interviews could do the players a world of good.

While this is far and away from the pressure of the title fight that they had last season, a win here could provoke similar celebrations. While Mourinho should get more time to turn things around, he knows that their current form can’t keep going. No matter where he is on Saturday, if he can inspire a turnaround, that’ll be a massive boost to the team.

LCN Verdict: 1-1 draw

Chelsea face a make or break clash in their Champions League group, with Dynamo Kiev heading to the Bridge. After taking a point in the last meeting between the two sides, the Blues are third behind Kiev in the table. They need a win here to make the last 16, but the Ukrainian side will come here confident that they can pick up a point.

Jose Mourinho showed how good he is at grinding out results in that game in Kiev, while his side put on a strong defensive display. They came close to taking the win on a few occasions, but the 0-0 draw left them sitting outside of the top two at the half way stage. An improvement is needed, and the Blues realistically need to win their last three matches to top this group. Can they kick that off with a win, or will their hopes be in tatters after yet another poor result?

The team don’t really have the same fear factor as they did at this stage last year. They were blowing teams away then, now they can barely create a chance unless Willian is taking a set piece. It’s clear that Mourinho will have to take a new approach for this game, but can he inspire his side to victory?

The manager likely knows how Champions League results in 2012 cost Roberto Di Matteo his job. The club were struggling to make the top two, so Roman Abramovich moved to sack a boss who was loved by the fans after winning the European Cup just six months earlier. It seems nothing can save a manager from the sack if they can’t get the team past the first hurdle in Europe.

The good news for Jose is that his team should be close to full strength in this game, with Branislav Ivanovic set for a return. The only absentee will be long term doubt Thibaut Courtois, who should be back in December. Both Pedro and Diego Costa picked up injuries, but neither seem to be a major doubt for the Kiev game.

Expect Mourinho to go a little more attacking with his selection this week, after fielding a defensively minded team in Ukraine. There are enough options up front that Mourinho has real competition for places, which should force some of that talent to kick on. With Costa up front, in form Willian behind him and the creative talents of Cesc Fabregas or Oscar, you’d fancy Chelsea to get that much needed win.

While it won’t be easy, we see the Blues getting the job done here. So far, the Champions League performances have been pretty solid, they’ve just been unlucky with results. With their backs to the wall, the team should do enough to turn things around, and get back into the qualifying spots.

LCN Verdict: Chelsea to win 2-1

Jose Mourinho faces a massive 90 minutes of his Chelsea career this weekend, as Liverpool head to the Bridge. Jurgen Klopp’s side will be after a win, and they’ll be confident of getting one given the Blues’ recent form. After their struggles, can they get back on track in this one, or will the pressure on Mourinho’s shoulders grow yet greater?

There are doubts over the fitness of Diego Costa after the forward went off against Stoke with a rib injury. He could return in time to play, but he’s likely to face an uphill battle to start in this one. Branislav Ivanovic still doesn’t appear to be ready to return, so it’s unlikely the back four will change from the one that faced West Ham.

Liverpool head down to the capital on the back of three draws in their manager’s first three games at the helm. Klopp has yet to taste victory in the Premier League, and he’ll know a win here would delight his new fans. Both Southampton and Crystal Palace have managed victories here already this season, but can Chelsea produce a display like the one against Arsenal and pull off a big triumph of their own?

There have been rumours that a defeat here could cost Mourinho his job. While that may be a little bit of an exaggeration, a loss in this game would certainly do him no favours. Klopp will be eyeing the top four, and given how well Arsenal and the Manchester clubs are doing, it’s Chelsea’s spot that the Reds are looking to steal. Lose this, and Chelsea will be miles off the top four pace, with plenty of other sides beginning to eye it up. That would probably be enough for Abramovich to act.

So, Jose can’t really fathom losing here. The good news for him is he’s set to be back on the touchline despite his sending off last week. He’ll be hoping that will help his team bounce back, which is something they desperately need after losing at West Ham and going out of the League Cup. Their season seems to be falling apart all around them, losing their manager for the game might have been a blow too far, or an excuse too many.

There’s certainly unrest that Liverpool can take advantage of, but there are question marks over their team as well. They’ve not made the best start, and Klopp’s changes haven’t really suited them yet. This isn’t a bad time to play Liverpool, as they’re likely to be much stronger in a few months.

It could also be that the team need this big a fixture to refocus their minds. This is the kind of game that Mourinho’s teams specialise in, so maybe old habits will kick in and the team will click. It’s hard to know just how this one will go, but it could end up being a decisive point in the season, and the manager’s future.

LCN Verdict: 1-1 draw