Previews

Chelsea take on Watford on Sunday as they kick off their FA Cup campaign. The Championship side come here as big outsiders, and the Blues will be hoping for a comfortable win to erase memories of their humbling defeat to Spurs on New Year’s Day.

The Blues have been handed a good draw here, avoiding a trickier side and getting to play at home, and they’ll expect to make it through to the fourth round, so we’ll no doubt see a bit of player rotation here. Given how tired some of the squad looked in the last game, it seems likely that a few players could do with a rest.

We expect to see Petr Cech come in, along with the likes of Kurt Zouma, John Obi Mikel, Mohammed Salah and even possibly a couple of academy stars. Given that Chelsea don’t have a squad player for every position, a few youngsters might get a call up, as this is the perfect opportunity for them to get a run out, especially at Stamford Bridge. Nathan Ake is another who could come in, having missed a large part of the season though injury.

Watford are doing well in the Championship, currently sitting in fifth place as they look to secure promotion to the Premier League for the first time since 2006. They come here after four wins from their last five games, so expect them to be full of confidence, especially as this is a game where they have nothing to lose.

The Blues saw how difficult Championship opposition can be in their recent League Cup quarter final clash with Derby, where they ran out 3-1 winners but had to put up with significant pressure from the home side. This game shouldn’t be as tough as that, with it being at Stamford Bridge. Despite that, they need to be on their toes to avoid an upset here, as we all know the reputation the FA Cup has for shocks. They certainly need to put in an improved performance from the game at White Hart Lane.

We know Jose Mourinho values trophies, so he’ll be taking this game very seriously. With Chelsea still in all four competitions at the minute, there is still the chance of an unprecedented trophy haul this term. Even if that doesn’t happen, the Blues and their manager will want to win as much as they can this term, given their trophy-less 2013-14 season. A third round exit to Watford at home just isn’t an option.

The Blues will be looking for a first FA Cup win since 2012, to add to their impressive record in the competition. Having won it four times since 2007, Chelsea have a history with the cup in recent years that many can only dream of. Mourinho kick-started all that by winning it in 2007, and now he’ll be looking to repeat the trick. Before he does that, of course, he needs to guide his team past Watford.

LCN Verdict: Chelsea to win 2-0

Chelsea start 2015 as the Premier League leaders, and they face their first game of the year at White Hart Lane against a Tottenham side who are nothing if not unpredictable. The Blues will be looking to bounce back from their draw at Southampton on Sunday, but they face a Spurs side who have been playing better of late as they look to make a push for the top four.

Coming into this one, the Blues actually have Burnley to thank for their spot at the top of the table. The draw with Southampton meant Manchester City could have taken over top spot ahead of this game, as they kick off earlier on Thursday. But Burnley rallied at the Etihad and came back from two goals down to draw with City, keeping Manuel Pellegrini’s men three points behind the league leaders.

Chelsea are going to face a battle to keep that advantage with Spurs in good form and given that the north Londoners have really started to improve defensively. They held Manchester United to a 0-0 draw on Sunday, and they won their last four games before that. They’re just two points off fourth place after picking themselves up from a poor start and problems that occurred as a result of trying to balance domestic and European football.

The hosts also come into this with a fully fit squad, so they have a chance at turning around the awful form they have against Chelsea. They’ve failed to beat the Blues in 10 meetings, including their 3-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge at the start of December. If they’re going to get a positive result, they’ll need the likes of Christian Eriksen and Harry Kane to be at their best.

Jan Vertonghen is another one to watch, as he’s formed a good partnership with Federico Fazio this season. They’ve only lost one game while playing together, but that was the defeat at Stamford Bridge, and Vertonghen put in a poor performance that day. Given that came against Didier Drogba and, later, Loic Remy, it will be interesting to see how they fare against the more wily Diego Costa.

Chelsea have no injury worries heading in to this one, and after the rotation at Southampton and the subsequent four day break we expect to see close to the strongest team back for the trip to north London. With Mourinho looking to get back to winning ways, it’s hard to see him rotating much before this game, especially when he can change the side for the weekend cup game against Watford.

While this is a tough game for the league leaders, it is also an important one, as it highlights the difficulty of their fixture list compared to City. The game at Spurs is their fifth of six away games against last season’s top seven, while City have only faced one of those teams on the road. Even if the lead at the top shortens on Thursday, the Blues know they’ve overcome one of the last big challenges they have on their path to the title.

LCN Verdict: Chelsea to win 2-1

Chelsea visit Southampton on Sunday just two days after playing West Ham at home. It’s a quick turnaround for the Blues, like all Premier League sides, playing two games across this Christmas weekend. With another big away game to come next week, the trip to Spurs, we could see a bit of squd rotation here.

The Blues come in to this one on the back of a 2-0 win over West Ham, so Jose Mourinho will be unlikely to make too many changes, but there will be a few who need a break. The advanced midfield players would be most prone to injury in this situation, given their playing style, so we could see one or two of them miss out. Mourinho has been fantastic at keeping his team fresh this year, so hopefully he can keep that up.

Southampton will be facing the same issues, and they have a much smaller squad. Their team was in London on Boxing Day for a trip to Crystal Palace. The Saints are currently fifth in the Premier League table, having had a great season so far. Given their recent blip where they lost to Man City, Arsenal and Manchester United, you’d expect Chelsea to be heavy favourites for this one, regardless of the fixture list.

Still, to be in that position at this stage of the season shows just how well they’ve been playing, and their defence has been a big part of that. Alongside Chelsea, they have the best defensive record in the league this season. That may just make this game quite a low scoring affair.

Interestingly, the Blues actually kicked off 2014 in the same place that they’ll end it. This trip to St Marys is their last match of the year, and they visited here on New Year’s Day last season. They beat Southampton 3-0 that day, but the game is most remembered for the constant close ups of the soon to depart Juan Mata, after he was hauled off. Chelsea struggled for the first hour down there, before Fernando Torres, Willian and Oscar put the game to bed.

The Blues would take another result like that, as they look to go in to 2015 as Premier League leaders. Manchester City are hot on their tails, and they have a much easier Christmas fixture list, with Sunderland and Burnley visiting the Etihad over the next week. With City unlikely to drop points, this is a must win game for Chelsea.

The Blues have a good record against Southampton, and they should be able to get a win here. Expect to see a couple of changes from the side that beat West Ham, but both teams will need to make changes and, as said, it is the Blues who possess the greater depth of talent. This is the part of the season when Chelsea’s squad should help them through, and they’ll need more than just 15 great players if they want to win the title.

LCN Verdict: Chelsea to win 2-0

Chelsea kick off early on Boxing Day as they host fourth placed West Ham at Stamford Bridge. It’s the start of a tough week for the league leaders, with games at home to Southampton and away to Spurs coming up in double-quick time.

The Blues are looking to protect their narrow lead at the top of the Premier League table, with second placed Manchester City having a much easier set of fixtures between now and New Year’s Day. That could hand them the advantage going into 2015, given the tough games Chelsea have. Chelsea will be looking to rise to the occasion over the next week, which they’ll need to do to become champions.

West Ham know they’ll be in for a very tough game here, after their win over Manchester City earlier this season their manager Sam Allardyce said Chelsea were a more difficult side to face than City. He talked about how tactically ridged City were, while Chelsea could adapt their tactics from game to game depending on the opposition.

West Ham have that ability too, as they have shown this season. They’ve been known as a physical, aerial side in recent years, but fan protests last season have led to them adding more firepower and adopting a more attacking style. Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho joined in the summer, and they’ve given West Ham more options up front, and that means they can also play football on the floor and have someone up top to finish it off. They can still play a direct game, with Andy Carroll coming back into the fold.

That makes them a difficult team to play against, and it is part of the reason they’re doing so well this season. Given Andy Carroll’s recent form and the problems he causes John Terry, he should make an impact against the Blues on Friday. Stewart Downing is another one to watch, he’s been in excellent form for West Ham this season.

For Chelsea, expect a couple of changes from the side that won at Stoke on Tuesday night. Oscar will be a prime candidate to come in, possibly for Mikel. Aside from that, it’s hard to see Mourinho making many other changes, unless they’re enforced. He’s given nearly all the players a rest at some point this month, so they should be fresh for this clash after Christmas.

This game last season finished 0-0, with Jose Mourinho criticising West Ham’s defensive tactics. This fixture is hardly likely to be the same, and we think there should be goals here with both sides having an attacking outlook. That result was one of the games where Chelsea couldn’t finish off their chances, which led to the signings of Cesc Fabregas and Diego Costa. A few goals would be good for Chelsea in this one, as would a start like the one they had against Stoke on Monday night.

LCN Verdict: Chelsea to win 3-1

Chelsea head to Stoke on Monday night looking to maintain their narrow three point lead over Manchester City at the top of the Premier League. This game kicks off a hectic period that incorporates four games in 10 days for the Blues, a tough run into the New Year which could make or break their title challenge.

They’ll be glad of the six day rest between the Derby game and this one, but it’s doubtful that Jose Mourinho will stay tight lipped about his title rivals having an extra two days rest before the Boxing Day games. On top of that, Stoke is a very difficult place to go. They may have seen their home form drop off this season compared to the last few years, but the Britannia Stadium on the Monday before Christmas isn’t an ideal trip for many players and managers.

Mourinho will have an eye on the tough run of games following this, with fourth placed West Ham next up before trips to Southampton and Spurs. With title rivals Man City facing four of the current bottom six between now and New Year’s Day, Chelsea have a very important few games coming up if they’re to lead the table coming in to 2015.

In this fixture last season, Stoke came out 3-2 winners after hitting a late winner. Fans may remember that Andre Schurrle was hauled off in that game after Mourinho thought he was being too selfish. Schurrle had scored twice, and looked to be going all out to get a hat-trick. Little things like that are what the manager does to keep everyone’s feet on the ground and their minds focused. While that seemed harsh at the time, it is exactly the approach needed at this stage of the season.

It’s unlikely that we’ll see Schurrle start here, despite two goals in his last two games. Mourinho should revert to his usual 11 after making changes in the League Cup last time out. With almost a week in between this and the last game, there should be no need to rest anyone. Diego Costa is likely to come back in up front for Didier Drogba, and you’d imagine he’d relish this sort of game against a physical side like Stoke. The only worry is his discipline, hopefully he remembers to keep his cool.

Stoke will be coming into this game on the back of a nine day break, so it’s safe enough to say that they’ll be well rested. Their recent form has been patchy, to say the least; they’ve won one, drawn one and lost three of their last five games. Bojan is the player to watch out for on their side, but Peter Crouch is another who has hit a rich vein of form. The lanky striker has scored on his last two outings, and John Terry never seems to like playing against him. Hopefully this time, Terry and the Blues can manage to edge this one.

LCN Verdict: Chelsea to win 2-1

Chelsea are looking to claim a place in the semi finals of the League Cup with a win at Championship side Derby this week. Expect changes to the Blues team but with a few first choice players in the side, as Mourinho will be eying some silverware in this competition.

It was at this stage last season where Chelsea crashed out, going down 2-1 at Sunderland after extra time. They lead at the Stadium of Light for most of the game, but they couldn’t finish their chances and conceded late on against the buoyed Mackems. Hopefully there will be a different outcome this season.

That game highlighted many problems for Mourinho, and after that he went to a more defensive approach, because he didn’t trust his strikers to finish enough chances. He went out and improved that in the summer, signing Diego Costa, Loic Remy and Didier Drogba.

The Blues have certainly been impressive going forward this term, no matter which striker has featured up front. For this game at Derby, expect manager Jose Mourinho to make more changes. He said that every player would get a rest in December, given the number of fixtures they have to play. Most have already been given a break, but expect to see a few of the fringe players come in. With the next game after the League Cup tie being next Monday’s visit to Stoke, there’s a long enough break for a few first teamers to start.

Petr Cech had to come in against Hull after Thibaut Courtois picked up a muscle injury, and Cech will probably keep his place for the trip to Derby. In defence Gary Cahill is likely to sit out, with Kurt Zouma coming in. Expect Branislav Ivanovic and Cesar Azpilicueta to start in the full back positions.

Given that Nemanja Matic and Cesc Fabregas have been given breaks in recent weeks through suspension, they could be in line to play this week. Fabregas missed the game against Hull on Saturday, so don’t be surprised to see him come in. Another man who may make an appearance is Ramires, as he’s had few starting opportunities in recent weeks.

Further forward, Oscar, Eden Hazard and Willian got a rest in the game at home to Sporting last week, but don’t expect all of them to feature here. Mourinho praised Mohammed Salah in his press conference before the Hull game, while Andre Schurrle was impressive in his last start. Oscar could start alongside them, as Mourinho tends to play him in the cup games.

Finally, up front is once again a hard one to call. Many had expected Costa to be given a rest last week against Sporting, but he started. You’d think if he was fine for a meaningless Champions League game that he could start here, but Mourinho may rest him for the game at Stoke. Both Drogba and Remy have looked good of late, so you’d be confident here with any of them starting.

LCN Verdict: Chelsea to win 3-1

Chelsea are looking to bounce back from losing their unbeaten record last weekend with a win over Hull this Saturday. After losing to Newcastle at St James’ Park, the league leaders know they have just a three point advantage, and they need to get on a good winning run to extend that lead. They host a Hull side who have already got results at Arsenal and Liverpool this term, so they know they need to be on their toes.

The Blues beat Sporting Lisbon in midweek in the Champions League, but that was with a much-changed side and with nothing on the line for them. The stakes are higher here, with Manchester City hot on the heels of Mourinho’s men. This fixture last season was the big return to the Bridge for Mourinho, and he’ll be looking for a similar result here.

Expect the team that takes the field here to be back to near the strongest side, after the changes made in midweek. Mourinho said every player in his team would get a rest at some point, but that’s more likely to come in the midweek League Cup game against Derby than in this match.

We should see the usual suspects in the backline for Chelsea, with Thibaut Courtois and John Terry ready to come in for Petr Cech and Kurt Zouma respectively. Filipe Luis should also make way, with Branislav Ivanovic coming back into the team, as Cesar Azpilicueta moves out to left back once more.

The big problem for the Blues is once again a suspension. While Nemanja Matic makes a welcome return after being suspended against Newcastle last week, his partner in the middle, Cesc Fabregas, is suspended for the game against Hull for picking up five yellow cards. It’s something which makes the game trickier for Chelsea, but hopefully it won’t be as bad as the gap Matic’s suspension left last week. Ramires is likely to come in for Fabregas and play alongside Matic.

Further forward, Mohammed Salah and Andre Schurrle should both make way for this game. Both of those players were solid against Sporting, with Schurrle grabbing a goal, but it’s hard to see Mourinho leaving out Willian or Eden Hazard. Oscar should also come back in here, with John Obi Mikel likely to make way. Those three are now firmly the first choice attacking midfielders, with Willian putting in some very impressive performances in recent weeks.

Diego Costa was the surprise choice in the Chelsea team against Sporting, he looked like he’d be rested given his injury record. Mourinho started him, saying that he got a break when he was suspended against Spurs last week. Given Costa’s recent performances, he looks like he needs a goal more than a rest. He’s not as clinical or as confident as he was earlier in the season, and a goal against Hull would be a great boost for him. We think he’ll find the net and help his side to a relatively comfortable victory.

LCN Verdict: Chelsea to win 2-0

Chelsea go into their final game in the Champions League group stage knowing they have already secured top spot in the group. Their name is already in the pot for the last 16 draw, unlike their opponents, and they will therefore play without any pressure. Expect a lot of changes for the home side, who will be trying to bounce back from their first defeat of the season after losing to Newcastle on Saturday.

Jose Mourinho already said after the Schalke game that he wanted to wrap up the group with a game to spare, because it gives him a chance to rest players in the middle of a busy run of fixtures. With little riding on this game, we’ll probably see a side similar to the one that has featured in the League Cup this season.

Petr Cech should get another chance in goal, and he should be playing behind quite an experienced defence. Cesar Azpilicueta could move over to the right hand side, with Filipe Luis likely to come into the team. Expect at either (or perhaps both) of John Terry or Gary Cahill not to feature, with Kurt Zouma expected to start in the middle of the back four.

In midfield, Cesc Fabregas and Nemanja Matic aren’t likely to play. Nathan Ake probably would have featured here, but he’s currently injured. Ramires is likely to feature, alongside John Obi Mikel. Willian, Oscar and Eden Hazard have been the first choice three in the attacking midfield positions for the last few weeks, so expect at least a couple of them to get a rest.

Mohammed Salah and Andre Schurrle should both feature, with one of those three probably starting alongside them. Mourinho could throw a couple of the youth players into the team, with Lewis Baker, Dominic Solanke and Isiah Brown mentioned at the start of the season as possibly making a couple of first team appearances. Expect them to at least make the bench, and maybe one may sneak into the first 11.

Up front, Diego Costa won’t feature given the problems he’s had with playing three games in a week. Mourinho obviously won’t risk him here, so Loic Remy or Didier Drogba will come in. Both have been in good form of late, and Drogba was effective after coming on against Newcastle. Loic Remy hasn’t had too many starts this season, so expect him to get a chance here.

The Blues have a run of five games in 15 days coming up shortly after this game, so it makes sense to give the first team stars a rest. Despite that, Mourinho knows his side needs to be competitive, given that Schalke are relying on them to get a win to have a chance of making the next round. A point sees Sporting through, and Blues fans will of course be hoping that Roberto Di Matteo can take his side through as well, given everything he’s done for the club. Chelsea’s fortunes will still come first, and their necessary changes could hand Sporting a crucial point.

LCN verdict: 1-1

Chelsea head to the North East for the second time in a week when they face Newcastle United at St James’ Park on Saturday. After suffering back to back defeats at Newcastle in recent times, the visitors will have to up their game going into this one if they’re going to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.

Newcastle’s 2-0 win in this fixture last season bemused Jose Mourinho, as his side just didn’t turn up despite coming up on the back of a good run of form. That should act as a warning here, to make sure the team aren’t too complacent after starting the season in such fine fettle.

After not suffering a defeat in 21 games in all competitions this season, complacency should be something the Blues boss will be looking out for. It’s hard to imagine him as someone who would put up with such an approach, given his overtly driven nature and incredible single-mindedness.

The Blues took a sloppy Tottenham side apart on Wednesday night without ever seeming to hit top form. They played some lovely stuff at times, but you always felt that they could kick on further if Spurs had managed to magically get themselves back into the game. If the side keeps playing like that, there’s bound to be a point at which they don’t work hard enough, don’t play well enough (or both), and pay the price. The longer this unbeaten record continues, the bigger that price might be.

At least we can now see that Jose knows his strongest team. The right wing position was the one that hadn’t been settled, but Willian’s good form of late, coupled with whatever has happened to Andre Schurrle, has lead Mourinho to settling on a starting 11. Chelsea will need to perform as well as they can at Newcastle, even if the home side’s recent spell of good form has dried up. After a five game winning run, the Magpies have earned just a single point from their last two games, their momentum is starting to wane.

Mourinho will need to juggle things a little on Saturday, with Nemanja Matic out suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season against Spurs. Mourinho recently called Matic his best player, so he’s going to be a big miss for this trip. However, striker Diego Costa will return to the side after he served a similar suspension, although there’s going to be a little bit of pressure on him with Didier Drogba and Loic Remy both scoring in his absence in midweek.

Costa should still start, but at least it means the other strikers should be high on confidence if called upon. Other than Matic, who’ll likely be replaced by either John Obi Mikel or Ramires, don’t expect many other changes to the first 11. Given the league leaders’ form at St James’, Mourinho can’t afford to change that team too much ahead of this difficult tie and it could be a tough afternoon for all concerned.

LCN Verdict: 1-1

Chelsea are looking to bounce back from a disappointing draw at Sunderland with a win over fierce rivals Tottenham. The Blues failed to find the net for the first time this season at the weekend, but they should find things easier against a Spurs side who struggle defensively.

The Blues come into this game quite a distance above the visitors, who are currently mid-table. Tottenham are a shadow of their former selves, currently being propped up with luck and the fantastic form of Christian Eriksen. The Pensioners are clearly heavy favourites for this one given that they’ve not lost in their last nine against Spurs, and few would bet against them.

Jose Mourinho’s men will of course be looking to extend their unbeaten start, having not lost in 20 games in all competitions this season, including 13 Premier League matches. The further into the season we go, the more they will try to protect that record. If they are going to do that, and improve on the Sunderland result, then we’ll need to see a few changes here. Chelsea looked tired on Saturday, and it seems like a few players need a bit of a rest.

One certain change will be up front, as Diego Costa picked up his fifth booking of the season against Sunderland which means he’s suspended for the Spurs game. Costa will be a big miss, but given his recent injury record the rest will probably do him good, just in time to return for the trip to Newcastle on Saturday.

It’s unlikely that Mourinho will leave out either of his central midfielders, given how well both Cesc Fabregas and Nemanja Matic have played this season. Neither of those two look like they should be replaced, but the side could do with more energy. Ramires coming in would help that, either replacing Oscar and making a midfield three or coming in on the right in place of Willian.

Willian has had a good run of games, but you could still see him dropping to the bench. Oscar could be one to drop out, as a player his age will need more breaks than he’s currently getting. Eden Hazard should keep his place on the left hand side, despite looking quiet at the Stadium of Light.

There should be a few changes at the back too, despite the team looking solid in recent weeks. The defence is rarely changed, but with nine games to come this month some players will need a break. Thibaut Courtois will continue in goal, but Kurt Zouma could come in for either of the centre halves. Filipe Luis is likely to make an appearance, probably instead of Branislav Ivanovic, with Cesar Azpilicueta moving to right back.

A couple of changes should freshen the side up, especially after two long return trips in the last week, with another on the horizon. With a 100% record at home in the league, Chelsea should have enough to get a win here, and we predict they will keep up their pace at the top of the table.

LCN Verdict: Chelsea to win 2-0