Previews

Chelsea play their neighbours from the east as West Ham visit Stamford Bridge and the home fans will be looking forward to a comprehensive win over their beleaguered rivals. Whilst the Pensioners are hitting their straps at the right time of the season, the Irons are doing the opposite and many Chelsea supporters will be expecting an easy three points from this one.

Of course, football has a nasty habit of throwing up surprises and rarely do things pan out exactly as it would seem they should. Back in October Sam Allardyce took his side to Spurs, who then held the best defensive record in the top flight, and somehow they came away with three points after a fine 3-0 win! Such a result is unlikely in the extreme here but it just goes to show that the home players – and fans – must guard against complacency.

Complacency is not usually an issue for any Jose Mourinho side and nor, ordinarily, is losing on home soil. Mourinho’s incredible home league record is well documented and whilst the continuation of his run for Chelsea relied on a dubious penalty decision against West Brom, the fact remains that this season the Blues have dropped points at the Bridge just once in 11 league games.

Chelsea, as said, are finding their best form as the season approaches the business end and Eden Hazard has been central to much of that. Willian has also excelled and if Samuel Eto’o can do as his Portuguese boss predicted, and come into his own as he adjusts to Premier League life as the season wears on, Chelsea will take some stopping.

They should certainly have far too much for a West Ham outfit that could be forgiven for suffering from shellshock at the moment. Big Sam’s men lost 9-0 in the League Cup over two legs to Man City and were dumped out of the FA Cup 5-0 by Championship side Nottingham Forest. Of course, Premier League survival is the club’s number one aim and a 2-0 win at Cardiff on the 11th January was a huge boost.

If the Hammers can continue to win the games against the fellow strugglers they won’t care what happens in games like this but even so, with Allardyce welcoming key players such as Andy Carroll back into the fold, the home side must be at their best. Carroll can menace any side, even one with six clean sheets in the last 10 (prior to the FA Cup game with Stoke) and his battle with John Terry and co could be crucial here.

Overall we expect this may prove closer than many people think. Whilst Mourinho’s men are starting to play more expansive and impressive football, on the whole they have not steamrolled sides at the Bridge and with West Ham sure to try and defend in numbers we think a safe, yet unspectacular home win is the order of the day.

LCN Verdict: Chelsea to win 2-0

Chelsea welcome former player Mark Hughes to Stamford Bridge on Sunday as the Welshman hopes to lead his Stoke side to what would be a shock victory in the FA Cup fourth round. So do the Potters have any chance of even avoiding defeat against a Blues side who are full of confidence at the moment? We think not.

These sides had very mixed fortunes at the weekend; Chelsea beat champions Manchester United 3-1 at the Bridge (thanks to a Samuel Eto’o hat-trick) while Stoke went down 1-0 at Crystal Palace, Tony Pulis masterminding the victory against his former side.

For Chelsea, everything is looking rather rosy at present. Despite not having appeared to fire on all cylinders they are third in the Premier League table, just two points behind leaders Arsenal, having won their last five league matches. They have a relatively easy draw in the first knockout round of the Champions League (against Galatasaray) and one of their strikers even managed more than a single goal in a match! One downside of their victory on Sunday was the loss to injury of Fernando Torres, but if Eto’o can recreate the form he showed against United on an ongoing basis, it might not be a big issue.

Stoke, meanwhile, have had a torrid time of things in the league of late, losing four of their last five and managing only a draw in the other. They are just four points above the relegation zone having amassed just 22 points from as many games. And with each of the bottom three sides on 18 points Mark Hughes will be nervously looking over his shoulder, especially since their next three away matches look tough: Sunderland, Southampton and, gulp, Manchester City.

With their trip to the Stadium of Light coming just four days after this one, there is the chance Hughes will opt to rest some of his key men for this visit to his old stomping ground. If he does, Stoke will have no chance of success given the lack of depth of the squad. But even putting out a full strength side they are unlikely to trouble a Chelsea side whose second string (assuming Jose Mourinho chooses to rest some of his players) includes the likes of Frank Lampard, Juan Mata, Ashley Cole and Demba Ba.

The Blues have a very winnable match on Wednesday – at home to West Ham – so there is no great need to rest too many players, but Mourinho is sure to want to give his new £21m signing Nemanja Matic a run out and his tenacity in the centre of the park will give Mata and others license to hurt Stoke, especially if Hughes does shuffle his very limited pack. Overall we think a straightforward home victory is on the cards here as Chelsea march on in the FA Cup.

LCN Verdict: Chelsea to win 3-0

The biggest game of the weekend sees the Blues host Manchester United in a contest that could give either side a huge boost. United may not be enjoying their greatest campaign but they are still a prized scalp, much as Jose Mourinho is sure to insist that three points is all that matters.

If the Pensioners can take all three points here, and do so in convincing fashion, it could lend real momentum to their title charge. Thus far they have largely enjoyed better results than their performances would generally warrant but recently they have been playing better football and there are signs that Mourinho’s reshaping of the style is beginning to pay off. Eden Hazard has been at the centre of much of Chelsea’s finest moments and, man of the match in three successive games, he could be the key player here.

The home side will be expected to win against opponents that seem to have problems all over the pitch. Even their major strength, up front, is limited due to injuries to Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie and if neither are passed fit here it is hard to see where the away goals will come from. Adnan Januzaj is a bright talent but he has much development to do before he can be classed as the finished product like his countryman Hazard. United will be buoyed by the return of Darren Fletcher and Michael Carrick but David Moyes will no doubt be looking enviously at the midfield resources on which his counterpart can call.

Willian has been a growing influence in the Chelsea midfield and his all round game offers a nice balance alongside the more mercurial talents of Oscar and Hazard. With Mourinho’s men beginning to find their customary solidity at the back – five clean sheets in six will have pleased the Portuguese boss immensely – they are a tough nut for any side to crack, let alone one missing its key strikers.

Earlier in the season the sides played out a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford, the Blues seeming content to take a point. Here only three will do and the roles could well be reversed, with United sitting back and looking to play on the counter. The home side must be careful not to push too hard, too early and if they remain patient the chances are sure to come. Moyes’ side have collected a good number of points on the road but only one point from three games against sides above them in the league.

With Chelsea looking to improve an already impressive home record (of nine wins and a draw from 10 games) and hoping to add to their five consecutive wins in all competitions, we feel confidence and general superiority should see them home. It will be close and tight with United almost certain to come looking for a point but the Pensioners have enough class to break down any side and a narrow home win is our prediction here.

LCN Verdict: Chelsea to win 1-0

Chelsea had a very decent festive period with a draw at title rivals Arsenal preceding a run of three victories (against Swansea, Liverpool and Southampton). Jose Mourinho’s men followed that up with a 2-0 victory at Derby County in the third round of the FA Cup, and though the Blues were hardly at their scintillating best, the Portuguese boss will be pleased with their fourth clean sheet in five games.

Hull, meanwhile, also won 2-0 in the cup, away to Middlesbrough. Prior to that Steve Bruce’s side lost 2-0 at Liverpool, but gave as good as they got for most of the game. Their last home match was a 6-0 hammering of in-trouble Fulham, and Chelsea will be wary of the side who have the sixth best home record in the top flight and the joint best home defence (having conceded just six goals on home soil, the same number as Man City, Arsenal and Liverpool).

The Blues have not been firing on all cylinders away from home this season and have already lost at Everton, Newcastle and Stoke. When Hull visited Stamford Bridge back in August the home side won 2-0, but the Tigers were not overawed by the occasion and had chances to score; had they taken them it could have been a very different story. As it was, goals from Oscar and Frank Lampard were enough to get the three points for the home side, and goals from midfield have been what have kept Chelsea in the title hunt this term since Fernando Torres, Demba Ba and Samuel Eto’o have hardly been setting the world alight.

Realistically Chelsea should have enough to get the win, but former Man United defender Bruce has got his side playing well at home and they can be a real danger, even against the better sides. They beat Liverpool 3-1 at the beginning of December, and though they lost at home to Man United on Boxing Day, they were the better side for much of the game and the 3-2 scoreline in favour of the Red Devils was somewhat flattering.

Given Mourinho is well aware of the risks Hull pose, however, we expect him to set his team out to play a patient game that retains defensive solidity whilst probing for the crucial opening. With Willian coming into his own and putting in some fine performances of late, and Eden Hazard and Oscar offering guile and creativity whenever they take to the field, we fully expect the Blues to edge this one. While they might have to wait until late on in the game to get the breakthrough, we think they will force a narrow victory and keep their title challenge on track. An early goal for the visitors might instigate an open and free-scoring affair, but we think a tight, tactical battle is more likely and a 1-0 triumph for the Blues looks on the cards.

LCN Verdict: Chelsea to win 1-0

Derby host the Blues as the never ending fixtures continue and this televised FA Cup third round clash will be a real test for Chelsea. Read on for our match preview and the latest news.

Given Chelsea’s well documented struggles on the road this season it is no surprise that the TV executives chose this game for coverage. With the home side flying high in the Championship, Jose Mourinho’s men will have to be at their very best here to avoid being one of the big news stories of the weekend.

Whilst they are slowly and quietly going about their business and doing well in both the Premier League and the Champions League, there is no doubt that their form away from the Bridge will have to improve if this campaign is ultimately to be deemed a success. Draws at Arsenal, Spurs and Man United are no disaster but defeats at Newcastle, Everton and Stoke are not good enough, nor is a record of just three away wins from nine Premier League away days (prior to the New Year’s Day trip to Southampton).

Of course, a win at St Mary’s, coming on the back of the fine home success over Liverpool, could put a different complexion on this one but whatever happens against the Saints this will be a tough task. The Blues played nine games in a frantic December and this will be the second of three away matches in 11 days. Whilst Southampton, Derby and Hull are not the three hardest matches Chelsea will play this year, tired legs are sure to start to impact on performance levels.

Of course, the Rams will face similar issues and whilst their squad doesn’t have the depth or talent of the Blues’, the home side faced two fewer games throughout December. They will also be roared on by the home support and have the benefit of this game being, for them, effectively a cup final. Chasing for lost causes with mental and physical fatigue is far easier for the underdog than the overwhelming favourite and the visitors will have to guard against complacency and apathy.

Derby have been something of a revelation under new boss Steve McClaren, the former Boro and Twente (oh, and England if we HAVE to remember that) boss replaced Nigel Clough in September and they are now (prior to the New Year’s Day match against Wigan) unbeaten in nine, winning eight of those. Whilst it could be argued they are actually better away from home, they will still put up stiff opposition for what is sure to be a much changed Pensioners XI and as such we think the visitors could struggle.

Class dictates they should win but on balance, with the myriad factors considered we expect McClaren’s men to just about have enough to earn a draw and given they have scored 13 goals in their last four home games we fancy it to be a high scoring one.

LCN Verdict: 2-2 draw

Chelsea posted a massive victory on Sunday as they beat Liverpool 2-1 at Stamford Bridge with goals from Eden Hazard and Samuel Eto’o. The victory moved Chelsea up to third in the table, a point behind second place Man City and two behind leader Arsenal.

Jose Mourinho’s men played as well as they have for some weeks as they went toe-to-toe with the Merseyside team, but it was the visitors who struck first blood, Martin Skrtel tapping in a Luis Suarez knockdown with just three minutes on the clock. But the goal seemed only to awaken the Blues who fought well and created plenty of chances. It was no surprise, then, when the home side equalised through a fine strike from Hazard, the Belgian’s eighth league goal of the season. Eto’o then struck after being played in by Oscar and while Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet could have done better, the lead was deserved.

Chelsea will need to put in a similarly fine performance when they travel to Southampton on New Year’s Day. Despite the Saints having lost five of their last eight in the league – winning only once in that time – they are a dangerous side, as they showed when they gave Chelsea a run for their money at the Bridge despite the home side eventually running out 3-1 victors.

Mauricio Pochettino’s men were narrowly beaten by Everton on Sunday, the 2-1 defeat meaning they drop down to ninth position in the table. But they gave as good as they got for much of the game and they could certainly have enough to trouble the Blues if they are not on top form. It was Chelsea’s on-loan striker Romelu Lukaku who scored the winner for Everton and Pochettino will be disappointed given his side created more chances and had 55% of the possession. But the only stat that counts is the number of goals and Everton did enough on that front to earn the win.

Last season the Saints took four points off Chelsea, winning at St Mary’s and earning a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge, so Mourinho would be right to be wary of the threat the south coast club pose. If he’s not and the Portuguese boss decides to rotate his squad, the Blues could be in for a tough game.

There will be the temptation to keep the core of the side who played so well against Liverpool, but then who are we to second guess the Special One? On balance though we think the Blues will have enough to get the three points, though we can’t see it being a walk in the park. We think both sides will get on the score sheet but that Mourinho’s men will just edge it, with 2-1 our prediction here in what could be hard-fought but highly entertaining match – the perfect remedy to a New Year’s Day hangover.

LCN Verdict: Chelsea to win 2-1

Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho seemed relatively satisfied with his side’s dour 0-0 draw against Arsenal at the Emirates on Monday night and it is clear he set his side up to defend with the hope of nicking a goal on the break. In a match that saw few chances for either side it was Chelsea’s all-time top scorer Frank Lampard who was the closest to breaking the deadlock. His canny run was spotted by the ever-aware Eden Hazard who floated the perfect ball for Lampard to crack on the volley, the ball smashing the underside of the bar before bouncing out to safety.

The point keeps the Blues well and truly in the mix at the top of the table and – prior to the Boxing Day fixtures – they are just two points adrift of leaders Liverpool. But with Brendan Rodgers’ men facing a very tough trip to the Etihad to play Man City (who have a 100% home league record this season) before they head down to Stamford Bridge, victory for Chelsea here could see them claim top spot for themselves or, more likely, second place behind City.

There really is little separating the top sides at the moment with just eight points between the league leaders and eighth-placed Man United. Let’s just repeat that: eighth-place Man United! It’s not often the Red Devils are so low down the division at Christmas, but they – along with the other seven teams at the top – shouldn’t be written off just yet, such has been the topsy-turvy nature of this top flight season.

So can Chelsea get the three points from this one? Yes, of course. But they are also in danger of defeat if Uruguayan hotshot Luis Suarez maintains his outstanding form (19 league goals in just 12 matches so far this term!). If the Blues can (somehow) keep him quiet though, they should have enough firepower of their own (probably from midfield in the form of Hazard and Oscar) to nick the win. Daniel Sturridge and Steven Gerrard will both miss this one with respective ankle and hamstring injuries, and though the likes of Jordan Henderson and Raheem Sterling have stepped up to the mark in their absence, the Chelsea midfield will be able to handle them with relative ease.

In his interviews after the draw at Arsenal, Mourinho suggested he is happy with the possession and passing side of his team’s performances but that he wants to see more chances (and half chances) being converted into goals. With Swansea the visitors to the Bridge before Liverpool, the home side might well get the chance to find their scoring boots, but against Liverpool we predict a low-scoring affair in which a single goal might well decide the result. Whether that goal goes to Chelsea or Liverpool will depend on whether Suarez can be kept quiet. And we think he can… let’s face it, he’s due an off day!

LCN Verdict: Chelsea to win 1-0

Chelsea and Swansea do battle on Boxing Day and whilst most of the nation will be recovering from a serious food and drink hangover, the players of these sides will be focused on this crucial game.

Christmas is no time to be a football player, least of all in England where the games come thick and fast, often in freezing weather conditions. A good rest, let alone endless days of feasting and stuffing oneself beyond the point of nausea, would be a welcome Christmas present for most Premier League stars but try not to feel too sorry for them of course, they do have the other 360 days of the year to spend their millions on Champagne, fast cars and faster women, and can buy themselves the sort of presents us mere mortals can only dream of dreaming about!

Anyway, to the game at hand. Chelsea are due to play away at Arsenal just three days prior to this one whilst the Swans will host Everton a day earlier, giving them a whole four day rest ahead of this one! The results of those games will have an impact on the outcome here and in fact the mere physical exertion of the preceding clashes is sure to be telling here.

Chelsea’s squad is clearly better equipped to deal with these tests than that of Swansea, and as hard as the Blues’ trip to the Emirates is, the Welsh side are sure to be tested as much, if not more, by Everton with the pressing, harrying style that has helped them prosper under Roberto Martinez. With both teams playing yet again just a few days after this, conserving energy could be crucial and rotation will be essential and so all in all we have to be confident the Blues will get the job done here.

Their form at the moment is far from convincing and their strikers just aren’t finishing the chances that are coming their way. That said, their form at home in the league remains superb, their only dropped points thus far being the 2-2 draw with West Brom. They were knocked out of the League Cup last week at Sunderland and went down 3-2 at Stoke in the away game prior to that but they have won their last three at home and with 22 points from 24 at Stamford Bridge they will be confident of getting a result.

Swansea have enjoyed a stuttering campaign as they have struggled to adapt to the requirements of playing Europa League football and their already weary squad may find the festive fixture overload a step too far. Michael Laudrup’s men have lost away at all three top 10 sides they have faced without scoring a goal and with just one win in six (prior to the Everton game) we think they could get overpowered here.

A relatively comfortable home win looks the order of the day and if the home strikers can find their shooting boots it could even be three or four.

LCN Verdict: Chelsea to win 3-0

Either of these sides could be top at Christmas (depending on whether Liverpool get a result against Cardiff on Saturday) and it will also go some way to influencing whether either of these sides will be there in May. In what promises to be a hard-fought encounter in which festive cheer is far from the players’ minds, there’s all to play for as both Arsenal and Chelsea seek to strike a significant blow in the race for the Premier League crown.

Chelsea’s last visit to the Emirates was a successful one: their 2-0 victory in the League Cup. It’s hard to read too much into that though as neither side was at full strength (by design rather than necessity). The downside of that victory for the Blues, however, was that they have had less time to prepare for this league clash as their “reward” was a trip up to Sunderland in the next round, a match they lost 2-1 after extra-time.

Jose Mourinho was again left bemoaning his side’s wastefulness in front of goal in a match they controlled in the large part. Although he rested a couple of first-teamers, the fact the match wasn’t decided one way or the other within 90 minutes will no doubt add a level of irritation as his players will need to be in tip-top condition when they face an Arsenal side who have had since last Saturday to prepare physically, tactically and mentally.

Chelsea have enjoyed a decent run of league results at the Emirates in recent seasons, winning three and drawing one of their last five there, and they did the league double over the Gunners last term. But this season’s Arsenal side are a cut above those of the previous few years, with Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud showing a marked improvement in form and the likes of Mesut Ozil, Theo Walcott and Santi Cazorla all capable of both creating and taking chances, even against the tightest of defences, of which – let’s face facts – Chelsea’s is not.

Away form has been a struggle this season for Mourinho’s men with defeats at Everton, Stoke and Newcastle and draws at Spurs and Man United, the last of which seemed a reasonable result at the time but – with the benefit of hindsight – appears more like a missed opportunity. But Arsenal have had their fair share of disappointments too. Aside from their anomalous opening day home defeat to Aston Villa, losses at both Manchester clubs (and especially last week’s 6-3 hammering at City) will have rocked their belief, and this is something Chelsea must take advantage of if they are to get a result.

An early goal for the visitors and we could see the home side crumble under the pressure. But given the Blues’ lack of form in front of goal of late we think the more likely result is the draw, with Liverpool likely to nick top spot in time for Christmas.

LCN Verdict: Draw 1-1

Chelsea visit Sunderland for the second time this month as the sides battle it out for a place in the League Cup semi-final. In the last encounter (on 4th December) the sides played out a thrilling match which the Blues edged 4-3, but Jose Mourinho will be hoping for a much more controlled display from his side at the Stadium of Light this time around.

Two goals from Eden Hazard, one from Frank Lampard and an own goal from Phil Bardsley were enough to get the three points for the Pensioners against Gus Poyet’s men, despite the home side grabbing goals through Jozy Altidore, John O’Shea and Bardsley, who was swift to make amends for putting it in his own net.

Sunderland have enjoyed home draws in the three previous rounds of the League Cup, beating Milton Keynes Dons 4-2, Peterborough United 2-0 and Southampton 2-1. Chelsea, meanwhile, have been drawn away in the two previous rounds, winning both 2-0 at Swindon and – more impressively – Arsenal.

Chelsea moved to within two points of table toppers Arsenal (whom they visit in their next league match on Monday 23rd December) as they narrowly beat a plucky Crystal Palace side at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. The Gunners, meanwhile, lost 6-3 in an amazing match at the Eithad, a result which blasts the title race wide open.

The Blues had the lion’s share of possession against Palace, but Tony Pulis has got the Eagles playing well and the visitors showed courage and determination as they kept attacking Chelsea. Had the home side taken all the chances they created in the first half, they would have had the match won by the break, as has been a recurrent scenario of late. But goals from Fernando Torres and Ramires were enough to get the three points despite Marouane Chamakh volleying a decent goal for Palace.

While Mourinho would clearly prefer to win the Premier League or Champions League, he wouldn’t be averse to picking up the League Cup again (after winning it with Chelsea in the 2004-05 and 2006-07 seasons). And though his side were run close on their last visit, we think they will do a lot better this time around.

Mourinho is sure to rest some of his first team players as he seeks to avoid injuries with a trip to Arsenal looming, but his squad is deep enough to be able to do that and still get the result. Especially as Sunderland have a massive relegation six-pointer against Norwich on Saturday, which could encourage Poyet to rest some of his key players – and they certainly don’t have the depth in their squad for their second string to cope with Chelsea.

Chelsea have beaten Sunderland in each of the last six league meetings between them and we think they will do so again here in the cup. As the Black Cats will certainly give this one a good go we think another goalfest is on the cards, but with slightly more breathing room for the Blues.

LCN Verdict: Chelsea to win 4-2