Previews

Chelsea started their season with an awful home defeat to Burnley, leaving the champions in trouble ahead of their clash with Tottenham. The Blues were the first defending champion in the Premier League to concede three on the opening day, a worrying snapshot of their awful defending. The last thing they need after losing to one of the relegation favourites is a clash against last season’s runners-up. With the game taking place at Wembley, will that be the saving grace for Antonio Conte and his threadbare squad?

This could well be a third loss at Wembley across the Blues’ last four competitive games in all competitions. Having lost twice to one London rival, Arsenal, going down to Tottenham too is unthinkable for most fans. However, Mauricio Pochettino’s men started the season with a solid win at Newcastle, which suggests they’re ready for the new campaign despite their lack of additions to their squad. If only Chelsea could say the same, having been left short by the selling policy of the Stamford Bridge hierarchy this summer.

Team News: Suspensions leave Conte short with his selection

Chelsea come into this game with just one of their three scorers from their mast meeting with Spurs. While Willian is likely to make an appearance, Eden Hazard is injured and Nemanja Matic is now at Manchester United. The Blues are without the suspended Gary Cahill and Cesc Fabregas, meaning Cesar Azpilicueta is set to take the armband. After barely managing to field a team on Saturday, those two absences leave Antonio Conte with a tough task preparing a side to face Spurs. A formation change has been mooted, simply because they lack numbers to fill the regular 3-4-3.

Tottenham are set to miss Danny Rose once again, with the full-back still out injured. Given his comments to the press, he’d probably be fighting for a starting place even if he was fit. Aside from that Spurs should be at full strength, with Harry Kane starting up front. However, the forward is still searching for his first career goal in August, can he find that on Sunday?

Tottenham Form

Tottenham were able to make a comfortable start to the new season, winning 2-0 at newly promoted Newcastle. Spurs weren’t completely convincing until Jonjo Shevley received a red card, which changed the game and allowed them to take control. However, that win has likely built up confidence in the Tottenham squad going in to this game, which would have been needed after the summer they have had. While the part line has been to boast about the strength of the team, cracks have begun to appear.

Danny Rose’s decision to come out and blast the club’s transfer policy and wage limit means things weren’t rosy at the club last week. Pochettino even said that his side have fallen behind the rest of the top six after failing to sign anyone. While the Blues are having problems with regards to transfers, this is the same side which lost to Chelsea twice last season. Can they turn that around at Wembley, or will their awful run of form at this ground hurt Spurs?

Tottenham vs Chelsea Head to Head

The last clash between these two sides came at Wembley, as the Blues came from behind to win 4-2 in an FA Cup semi-final. That has set the scene for this game, with Spurs set to kick off their Premier League campaign in their temporary home. That makes this another landmark meeting between these two rivals, after a strong of high profile games. Before that cup semi-final Spurs ended Chelsea’s 13 game winning run, a streak which contained a 2-1 win over Spurs in November. The Blues stopped Spurs from winning the title in May last year, so these clashes have been quite high profile of late.

• Chelsea 4-2 Tottenham, Apr 2017
• Tottenham 2-0 Chelsea, Jan 2017
• Chelsea 2-1 Tottenham, Nov 2016
• Chelsea 2-2 Tottenham, May 2016
• Tottenham 0-0 Chelsea, Nov 2015

Betting Tips

• Both Teams to Score – 8/11 with Betfred
• Tottenham to win – 21/20 with Sky Bet

Coming into this game, Tottenham have been priced up as 21/20 favourites with Sky Bet, with clear distance between them and the Blues. The champions can be backed at 5/2 with BetVictor, while the draw is available at 12/5 with Bet365. Unfortunately we have to side with Spurs on this one, because they seem to represent value in this match. However, we should get a pretty entertaining game when these two meet.

With Chelsea’s issues at the back, we think a Spurs goal is pretty much nailed on. They’re facing a makeshift back line which is weaker than the one which conceded three at home to Burnley. However, the Blues fought back in that game and got on the scoresheet, with Alvaro Morata looking sharp. There’s a chance that Conte pairs him with Michy Batshuayi in the absence of Eden Hazard and Pedro, so we expect the champions to score here. Spurs won’t have enough to cover all the space behind their defence at Wembley, and Morata proved that he can run in behind and exploit that with his weekend display. We’re backing both teams to score in this clash at 8/11 with Betfred.

However, the Blues have too many problems with their selection to get a result here. There are too many similarities to 2015 for us here, in which Chelsea defended their title, lost to Arsenal in the Community Shield and then slipped up at home to Swansea in their opener. They followed that up by heading to the previous runners-up, Man City, in which they were heavily beaten. We think that history will repeat itself once again, and Spurs will win this clash. Given their price of 21/20 with Sky Bet, it’s hard to say they aren’t well priced with everything going on right now.

Can Chelsea kick off their title defence with a victory over Burnley this weekend? Antonio Conte’s side have had an odd summer, despite adding a few big money signings. However, those players have been bought in to replace some big name departures, leaving the squad looking a little thin ahead of a tilt at four competitions. There’s more than a few similarities between this term and the 2015/16 season, when Jose Mourinho’s side fell apart after a lax summer. However, Conte is aware of that risk and the Italian is determined to avoid a similar fate.

Hosting Burnley is a relatively straightforward way to start the season, but we did say the same about Swansea two years ago. Could Burnley pull off one of the biggest shocks in their history? With survival being the goal for the Clarets once again, this game isn’t a real test for them in the relegation battle. However, they could do without a demoralising opening day loss to the champions.

Team News: Conte lacking options following Wembley loss

Chelsea were down to the bare bones for their clash with Arsenal in the Community Shield. Eden Hazard and Tiemoue Bakayoko remain out, while Diego Costa is still an outcast. Victor Moses was allowed to play in the curtain raiser because it was classified as a friendly, but he’s suspended here. That’s going to lead to a reshuffled backline, with Cesar Azpilicueta moving to right-wing back and Antonio Rudiger stepping into the back three.

Outside of that, Conte doesn’t have the room to make changes. He’d probably like more competition amongst his players, but right now he has a side which picks itself. That was a bonus last season, but it’s a big issue this time around.

Burnley boss Sean Dyche should keep the faith with the side that helped them to safety last season. That was a huge achievement for the club, and they’ve made a few understated signings after securing another year of Premier League TV revenue. They may introduce a few of their new signings to their side here, but we don’t expect them to be too different from the side which hosted the Blues at Turf Moor earlier this year. One doubt for the Clarets is Andre Gray, who is being linked with a big money move away from the club, possibly to high-spending Championship side Wolves.

Burnley Form

Sean Dyche has made some odd signings this summer, bringing in established Premier League names like Phil Bardsley and Jon Walters. He’s brought former Blue Jack Cork to Turf Moor, which seems like a solid signing. However, is that enough to keep them in the top flight? And can it help them pull off a result away to the champions this weekend?

Burnley’s survival last season was largely down to their excellent home form, their away results were awful. They were beaten in almost every away trip, though they just about got their act together late in the season. However, the pressure was off them by then, as their home results got them over the line. The worrying thing for Dyche is that they were safe with some time to spare last season, and then they limped to the finish line. Sides who do that usually have a tough start, and that’s something that the Clarets simply can’t afford.

Chelsea vs Burnley Head to Head

Given that this is the first time Burnley have kicked off a second consecutive Premier League season, meetings between the pair aren’t that regular. The Blues have been comfortable winners in most of their clashes, although the Clarets did put in a strong showing during their meeting at Turf Moor back in February. Will Conte’s side find this game as tough after their difficult summer?

• Burnley 1-1 Chelsea, Feb 2017
• Chelsea 3-0 Burnley, Aug 2016
• Chelsea 1-1 Burnley, Feb 2015
• Burnley 1-3 Chelsea, Aug 2014
• Chelsea 3-0 Burnley, Aug 2009

Betting Tips

• Chelsea to win and both teams to score – 21/10 with Ladbrokes
• Cesc Fabregas to score any time – 21/10 with Coral

Chelsea may not be having the best of times lately, but they’re still massive favourites to see off the Clarets at home. Sky Bet have priced them up at 1/4 for the victory at home, and we struggle to see the Blues failing to win this opening game. They should be able to get around the Clarets, but we don’t think it’s going to be an easy match. There could be a few goals in this one, and not all for the hosts. With a reorganised back line taking the pitch here, could the Blues slip up at the back?

While the 3-4-3 blew teams away last season, there were signs that it was being slightly figured out as they went along towards the end. Eight of the Blues’ last 10 home matches saw them concede, and they’re at risk of adding to that poor run here. Burnley were struggling for goals on the road in the first half of last season, but once they got started they were tough to stop. They scored in 10 of their last 12 matches on the road, but they still didn’t win too many of those. We see them scoring again, but like we said a Chelsea win seems inevitable. We’re backing a home win and BTTS at 21/10 with Ladbrokes.

Chelsea are missing most of their key goalscorers up front, so they’ll need someone to step up in this clash. Alvaro Morata doesn’t look match fit, and Michy Batshuayi is still unproven in the Premier League. Cesc Fabregas is going to be the big winner from this injury crisis, as he’s slotting into central midfield. He is going to need to use all his experience to help the team through the opening weeks, and we can see him providing a goal. He’s priced at 21/10 with Coral to score any time, which we think is worth backing.

Chelsea kick off their season just as they finished the last, facing Arsenal at Wembley. This time the Community Shield is on the line, a trophy which ranks fifth in the Blues’ list of priorities. However, this is the best indicator of where the champions are in their preparations for the new season, following a busy summer of incomings and outgoings. This is also a test of the squad, something which could prove key to the last month of transfer business at the Bridge.

The Blues are limited in terms of selection, but they have plenty of last season’s star names ready for a new campaign. After the poor title defence we saw during 2015/16, Conte needs to keep these players hungry for success, their performances could be key, alongside some new signings to add competition for places and squad depth. We’ll know more about what the Blues need following this Arsenal game, but will they be able to warm up for a new campaign and their return to the Champions League by claiming silverware at Wembley?

Team News: Chelsea to revert to type in curtain raiser

While Chelsea’s transfer business in 2017 has been hugely successful financially, they’ve arguably come out of the summer weaker so far. They’re looking light on bodies, especially with Tiemoue Bakayoko missing the start of the campaign. With limited options, we see the champions going with a 3-4-3 set-up once again, as Conte doesn’t have the capacity in his squad to switch things up.

The Blues are missing Victor Moses, who was sent off in the FA Cup final against Arsenal, while Eden Hazard is injured. That’s likely to see Cesar Azpilicueta step across to right wing-back, with Antonio Rudiger coming into the back three. Cesc Fabregas will partner N’Golo Kante, while Michy Batshuayi is rivalling Alvaro Morata for a place in the side. After starting every preseason game, the Belgian must be in with a shout, and he’s surely in better shape than the £58million new boy.

Arsenal have a new striker of their own on show, with Alexandre Lacazette set to start up front. He’s likely to be supported by Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez in a 3-4-3 formation, which Arsenal switched to following Chelsea’s success with the tactic last term. With no other major signings, don’t expect to see too many changes from the Gunners’ last clash with Chelsea at Wembley.

Arsenal Form

Arsenal managed to end their Bayern Munich hoodoo in preseason, beating the Bavarians on penalties. That probably sums up the unpredictability of preseason. The Gunners were able to celebrate two trophies, one of which came after that victory against Bayern. The resulting presentation did see Petr Cech having to tell his teammates to not go overboard in their excitement to lift a meaningless trophy.

The Gunners’ last game saw them lose 2-1 to Sevilla, before being presented the Emirates Cup as a result of the number of goals they’d scored. All of that will count for little at Wembley this weekend. Arsenal have played more minutes in preseason, but they may have gone a little overboard in terms of travelling.

Arsenal v Chelsea Head to Head

Our head to head record for these sides doesn’t include a meeting between them this summer, during their preseason tours. Chelsea won that game 3-0 despite having significantly less preparation, but that should mean little here. Both managers are experienced enough to avoid taking much from friendly games, especially as the Blues went and lost to Bayern and Inter shortly after.

• Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea, May 2017
• Chelsea 3-1 Arsenal, Feb 2017
• Arsenal 3-0 Chelsea, Sep 2016
• Arsenal 0-1 Chelsea, Jan 2016
• Chelsea 2-0 Arsenal, Sep 2015

Betting Tips

• Chelsea to win – 23/20 with BetVictor
• Michy Batshuayi to score – 7/4 with Betfred

The Blues’ Wembley defeat in May hasn’t affected the bookies’ confidence in them. Not only are they leading contenders for the title, but they have been made favourites for this clash. However, they seem to represent good value at 23/20 with BetVictor. While Chelsea are missing a couple of star names, they do have players to step in during the short term, although reinforcements are needed. The Blues should be able to manage without Moses at right-back, it may actually help them based on his display during the cup final. Hazard’s absence is a blow, but having Willian, Pedro and Fabregas on the pitch should create chances.

While those three in the same team can be seen as a risk – Fabregas in a midfield two always feels like a weak link – Azpilicueta’s solidity should help. He won’t venture forward at the same rate as Moses, meaning that Rudiger, Cahill and Luiz will have plenty of cover. That should be enough to frustrate Lacazette, so we’re backing the champions to take a victory from the curtain raiser. Barring an awful start against Bayern, Chelsea have been solid this summer, and they will be itching to make up for their FA Cup defeat. We see more silverware for Conte, and we’re backing the Blues at 23/20 with BetVictor here, with a win to nil looking very tempting at 3/1 with Bet365.

The one area that we can see Conte pulling a surprise is up front. The players available to him mean he can only really play a 3-4-3, which forces a choice between Batshuayi and Morata. The Belgians’ late flourish, preseason displays and his summer bulk make him a serious contender for a starting spot. Morata made one start this summer, before being taken off after 65 minutes. He might not be ready for a competitive game, while Batshuayi is an adept replacement who hit two against Arsenal last month. We’re backing him to score any time at 7/4 with Betfred and he’s also worth a punt to score first we fancy.

Can Chelsea add the FA Cup to the Premier League title they lifted last weekend? After the party atmosphere against Sunderland at Stamford Bridge, this is going to be a very different occasion. This is the first time since 2007 that two of the top five have met in the final of this famous competition. The Blues won the cup that day, with Didier Drogba sealing the cup in the first final at the new Wembley. They’ve been regular visitors since, winning the competition four times in the last 10 years.

However, it’s been five years since they last won this competition, with Arsenal winning it in 2014 and 2015. Arsenal are also the joint leaders in the all-time FA Cup winners table with 12 and this will be their 20th final, more than any other side.

The Blues won the league and cup double for the first time in 2010 under Carlo Ancelotti, something they’re aiming to emulate here. Roberto Di Matteo won this competition alongside the Champions League in 2012 during his first campaign as manager. Will Conte be the latest Italian boss to lift two trophies in his debut season in charge? To do so he has to see off one of the most successful sides in FA Cup history. Can the Gunners move clear of Man United with their 13th FA Cup trophy on Saturday?

Team News: No early changes as Conte demands focus

Chelsea have no injury concerns this weekend, with Conte able to give his first choice players a run out against Sunderland. The Blues were heavily changed for their win against Watford, but they were basically at full strength during the game with the Black Cats. While they gave John Terry a guard of honour mid game on Sunday, Conte won’t stand for anything like that in such a huge game.

The Blues will need 100% focus on this massive occasion, so we expect the strongest possible line up here. Having claimed league success thanks to their consistency in selection, we expect that to continue when they head to Wembley.

Arsene Wenger has been forced in to switching to a 3-4-3 set up of late, after struggling for results. He decided to ape Conte’s formation, and so far it’s brought Arsenal positive results. We expect them to continue with that set up, despite their current defensive problems. The Gunners lost Gabriel and Laurent Koscielny in their win over Everton, which means they’re short of options in central defence. With three slots to fill, we could see both Per Mertesacker and Rob Holding starting at the back for Wenger, which would leave them potentially very open at the back.

Arsenal Form

The Gunners recently pushed themselves back in to the fight for the top four after a string of victories, thanks to their decision to move to a 3-4-3 set up. Arsenal won their FA Cup semi-final with Manchester City during that run, but they needed extra time in order to see off the Citizens. It’s been a tough year for the club, brought on by the uncertainly over Wenger’s future.

The Gunners have won their last five games coming into this match, but they were recently beaten 2-0 at Tottenham. Chelsea’s FA Cup semi-final opponents comfortably saw off the Gunners, sealing one of the most one sided north Lon derbies ever. That result pushed Arsenal even further from the top four, and now they’re facing the prospect of Europa League football next term, regardless of the result at Wembley.

Chelsea v Arsenal Head to Head

Chelsea’s two matches against Arsenal this term have been key. The 3-0 defeat might be the most important result of Conte’s tenure, as he switched to a 3-4-3 following that heavy loss, kicking off a great run of form. They won 3-1 in the return leg, easing to a victory thanks to their new approach. The Gunners managed to win the last meeting between these two at Wembley, in August 2015, but can the Blues claim revenge for that defeat with a victory this weekend?

• Chelsea 3-1 Arsenal, Feb 2017
• Arsenal 3-0 Chelsea, Sept 2016
• Arsenal 0-1 Chelsea, Jan 2016
• Chelsea 2-0 Arsenal, Sept 2015
• Arsenal 1-0 Chelsea, Aug 2015

Betting Tips

• Over 1.5 Chelsea goals – 4/5 with Ladbrokes
• Chelsea -1 Asian Handicap – 52/35 with BetVictor

Chelsea are priced at 5/6 with Betfred to win the match, while they’re as short as 4/9 with Bet365 to lift the trophy. The draw, and extra time, is priced at 11/4 with Coral. Arsenal can be backed at 7/2 with Betfair, with the Gunners drifting out of contention according to the bookies. While the Blues are tempting at just below evens to claim the win, we think there is other bets here which represent much better value.

Chelsea come into this match facing an Arsenal defence which is down by two men. If Arsene Wenger persists with his new 3-4-3 set up, then he’s going to have a field a couple of below par players at the back. If he switches, they could be going back to the poor form they exhibited earlier in the season, during which Chelsea beat them 3-1. We think this Blues’ attack will get plenty of chances, and over 1.5 goals for the Blues looks like cracking value at 4/5 with Ladbrokes, especially when you consider how their last FA Cup clash at Wembley went.

With Chelsea likely to get chances, we’ve turned our focus to the defence. The likes of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil don’t tend to do much in big games like this, they were absent against a weak Manchester United side recently. The Blues have a solid backline which looks back to its best right now, and we can see that holding out. However, we aren’t going for the win to nil, as the -1 Asian Handicap looks better value. It’s priced at 52/35 with BetVictor for the Blues to win by two or more goals, with a refund should they only win by one.

For the second time in three seasons, Chelsea are going to lift the Premier League title against Sunderland at Stamford Bridge. The Blues have the title wrapped up, and they’ll finally get their hands on the silverware after this meeting with the already relegated Black Cats. Neither side has much to play for on the final day of the season, but don’t expect the champions to slack off. They can move on to 93 points for the season with a victory over the worst side in the league, which would leave them two shy of the Premier League record.

Chelsea can also become the first side in a 38 game season to claim 30 Premier League victories. They’re massive favourites to take the points in this game, so it seems likely they’ll claim that record. After all, it would ruin the occasion slightly if the title was lifted after slipping up to a side who are on their way down to the Championship. Given the nature of boss Antonio Conte, whatever side he names for this game should be focused on taking the three points. However, just how big a part will the prospect of the cup final play?

Team News: Final Terry run out as he teases retirement

While we expected rotation from Chelsea on Monday night, the whole-sale changes made by Conte were quite surprising. It remains to be seen if that was purely down to the team playing twice in four days, or if the title celebrations took their toll on the first choice players. However, with the FA Cup final just six days away, it’s hard to see the first XI taking the field for this game with little on the line. There are plenty of fringe players who are ready to step up and try to earn their place.

Sunderland have a lengthy injury list, one which has played a big part in their relegation this season. They’ve been without Paddy McNair and Duncan Watmore for a lengthy period. Defensive midfielder Jan Kirchoff is unavailable, while forward Victor Anichebe also misses out. One time Chelsea target Steven Pienaar is another name who sits out for the Black Cats this weekend. They switched to a 3-5-2 set up at Arsenal in midweek, and that is likely to be the approach they take at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. After all, the same formation helped Watford to three goals on Monday night.

Sunderland Form

The Black Cats have one win in their last 12 games, as they head down to the second tier with a whimper. That victory was at Hull after they were relegated, and it looked like Sunderland were going to kick on with no pressure on them. However, back to back defeats at home to Swansea and at Arsenal have left them bottom, and they’re set to wrap up a dismal season in the top flight on Sunday.

Sunderland’s away form has been terrible, which is a huge part of their quick relegation to the Championship. They’ve lost 14 of their 18 away games, averaging just 0.56 points per game on their travels this term. Having conceded 64 goals across the season, the visitors are likely to struggle in this trip. Having lost five of their last six games on their travels, we’re expecting another loss for David Moyes’ men this weekend.

Chelsea v Sunderland Head to Head

The Blues claimed a narrow 1-0 at the Stadium of Light back in December when these two sides last met. Chelsea have won 3-1 in back to back meetings with the Black Cats at Stamford Bridge. They’ll be hoping to avoid a repeat of the 3-2 defeat they suffered in May last year, which looked like it would be John Terry’s final match in a Blue shirt. It seems like this meeting with the Mackems will be his last Chelsea game.

• Sunderland 0-1 Chelsea, Dec 2016
• Sunderland 3-2 Chelsea, May 2016
• Chelsea 3-1 Sunderland, Dec 2015
• Chelsea 3-1 Sunderland, May 2015
• Sunderland 0-0 Chelsea, Nov 2014

Betting Tips

• Chelsea to win and over 2.5 goals – 4/5 with Coral
• Cesc Fabregas to score – 7/4 with Bet365

Chelsea come into this game priced at 1/6 with Sky Bet to take the three points, while Sunderland are massive 28/1 outsiders with Ladbrokes. The draw can be backed at 15/2 with Betfair, but we can’t see anything but a home win this weekend. That’s despite the collapse the Blues suffered at the back on Monday night. Following three straight wins to nil, the champions then edged out Watford 4-3 on Monday night to make it four straight home victories. However, their rotated side clearly struggled, with Cesc Fabregas scoring late on to secure a win.

While Sunderland aren’t prolific scorers at home, they’ll fancy their chances of troubling Chelsea’s second string defence. They’ve found the net in five of their last six visits to this ground, scoring eight goals across those six trips. With nothing to lose in their final game at this level, we expect the Black Cats to push forward. However, the champions should be able to rack up a few goals against one of the worst defences in the division. We think this game will be filled with goals, so we’re backing Chelsea and over 2.5 at 4/5 with Coral.

We expect most of the side which started against Watford to feature here, it’ll likely only have a few first team players involved. We can see a spot in the side for Cesc Fabregas, who will be looking to build on his goal against Watford. The Spaniard has been in wonderful form of late, while he struck the only goal when these two sides met earlier in the season. We’re backing him to get among the goals once again, as we’re tipping Fabregas to score any time at 7/4 with Bet365.

Chelsea return to Stamford Bridge fresh from winning the Premier League title. A late goal from Michy Batshuayi gave the Blues a 1-0 win at West Brom on Friday, which saw them confirmed as champions. Having opened up a 10 point lead on Friday night, can they finish the season with that kind of advantage over Spurs? Antonio Conte is known for driving his sides on in meaningless games, having grilled his players ahead of the final Serie A game in 2014. Despite having the title won, Conte wanted to break the 100 points barrier. He tore into Gigi Buffon for taking his eye off the ball, and Juve won 3-0.

Expect Chelsea to head into this clash with Watford with a similar mentality. While they can’t hit 100 points this term, the Blues are on 87. Two victories would put them on 93, two shy of the Premier League record set by Jose Mourinho’s side in 2005. If they can finish with two victories, the champions will finish the season 43 points better off than last time around. That’s an incredible swing, and it would be a great way to finish a brilliant league campaign, before they lift the title against Sunderland on Sunday.

Team News: Expect changes after title party

Conte has guided Chelsea to the title thanks to a settled team selection, but that’s all about to change. By the look of the celebrations in the dressing room on Friday night, there could be a few players who aren’t ready to start this game. Diego Costa might need a little break, while a few of the stars should be rested with one eye on the FA Cup final later this month. It’s likely a few will sit out here and then the others get the weekend off, as Conte will still want a strong finish before the meeting with Arsenal. Hopefully John Terry can get on the field for his final two games in a Chelsea shirt.

Watford have a lengthy injury list for this game, with five players set to miss out. The Hornets are missing defenders Younes Kaboul and Craig Cathcart, while January signing Mauro Zarate is also injured. Roberto Pereyra is another forward player missing here, with those two Argentines both capable of easing Watford’s scoring worries. With those two out, the visitors could continue to struggle in the run in. The hosts are likely to set up in a 3-5-2 formation, which will be an interesting test for Conte’s 3-4-3 set up.

Watford form

Due to this clash, Watford’s latest game was also brought forward to Friday. The Hornets lost 1-0 at Everton, as they continued a dismal run of form. It’s now four defeats in five for the side from Vicarage Road, having secured safety a while ago. They’re sat in 15th place with 40 points to their name, which means they’ve achieved their immediate aim of staying in the top flight.

However, the visitors don’t have a strong record on their travels to back them up here. They’ve now lost their last six away games, all without conceding a goal. They’ve got one of the worst away records in the division, averaging just 0.67 points per game. It’s easy to see why the Blues are such heavy favourites.

Chelsea v Watford Head to Head

The Blues left it late to beat Watford at Vicarage Road, with two goals inside the last 10 minutes seeing off the Hornets. The first of those goals came from Batshuayi – his only Premier League goal this season before that crucial strike on Friday. Last season these two shared a pair of draws during the Hornets’ first season back in the top flight, but that’s unlikely to be repeated here given the visitors’ awful record on the road this term.

• Watford 1-2 Chelsea, Aug 2016
• Watford 0-0 Chelsea, Feb 2016
• Chelsea 2-2 Chelsea, Dec 2015
• Chelsea 3-0 Watford, Jan 2015
• Chelsea 5-0 Watford, Jan 2010

Betting Tips

• Chelsea to win to nil – 13/10 with BetVictor
• Chelsea to win 3-0 – 8/1 with Bet365

Chelsea are priced at 2/7 with Coral to take the points this weekend, while the draw is 5/1 with Sky Bet. Watford are 9/1 with Betfred to rain on the Blues’ parade this weekend, although their recent away form makes that pretty unlikely. While there are bound to be changes for the champions, we still see them being too strong for the Hornets. However, there’s obviously little value in backing the hosts at such short odds. There is value elsewhere in this one, and we believe we’ve found a couple of bets well worth backing.

We’ve detailed Watford’s poor recent away record, but they’ve been awful all season on their travels. With 12 defeats from 18, we can’t see anything but another away loss for the Hornets. They’ve managed just 12 goals away from Vicarage Road so far, and Stamford Bridge isn’t the place to go in order to add to that awful total. With little creativity on their travels, we can’t see Watford getting any joy against the Blues. After three straight wins to nil, we’re backing another clean sheet and victory for the champions. Given that Watford have lost to nil in six straight away, and in four of their last five games, 13/10 with BetVictor looks like a brilliant price.

We’re also backing Chelsea to win with a little more swagger than they did on Friday. The Blues have been in great scoring form at home, hitting at least three in four of their last six. Given how poor Watford have been of late, the Blues should be able to rack up a few more goals in this one. There’s plenty of attacking talent to come into the team, so we’re backing a 3-0 win for the champions at 8/1 with Bet365.

Chelsea travel to West Brom on Friday night knowing that three points will seal the Premier League title. Their 3-0 win over Middlesbrough on Monday moved them seven points clear of Tottenham once again, meaning that victory over the Baggies will secure the trophy for the second time in two years. There’s little left for the Blues to do, and they have plenty of insurance with two more home matches to come after Friday’s clash. However, Antonio Conte won’t want to wait any longer to win his first trophy as Chelsea boss, he’ll want his men to get over the line with two games to spare.

Their meeting with West Brom comes at exactly the right time, with the hosts in awful form at the minute. Baggies boss Tony Pulis was in the crowd for the Boro game, but he’d struggle to find a way to stop this relentless Blues side. They looked brilliant in that win over the second bottom side, and now they’re on the verge of wrapping up their fifth Premier League title.

Team News: Status quo to remain in defining game

Once again Conte comes into this game with a fully fit squad to pick from. While N’Golo Kante missed out on Monday with a slight knock, he’s expected to return this weekend. However, it’s hard to see who drops out for him. Is it Nemanja Matic, who scored against Middlesbrough, or Cesc Fabregas, man of the match on Monday night? That’s a tough choice for the boss, it’s probably going to be Pedro who drops out, with Fabregas stepping forward into a more attacking role behind Diego Costa. Aside from that, the side should remain unchanged.

West Brom have a pretty big absence ahead of this game, as they’re without former QPR man Matt Phillips. He’s added a different element to West Brom’s attack, and they look a little short up top without the winger in the team. Welsh forward Hal Robson-Kanu is another absentee for the Baggies, as they look to improve their awful recent form. Their last home game saw them operate a slightly more attacking 4-2-3-1 formation, but it’s hard to see Tony Pulis going with the same set up for a game with the league leaders.

West Brom Form

West Brom are currently searching for their first win since March 18th, following their late drama on Saturday. The Baggies led 2-1 at Turf Moor on Saturday, before Sam Vokes hit a leveller for Burnley. That 2-2 draw kept them eighth in the league, but they’re 13 points behind seventh placed Everton. Their European dream has faded, just as their form fell apart.

West Brom have lost 1-0 in their last three home games, including a meeting with Liverpool. Their last victory here came against Arsenal almost two months ago, a game which saw an abysmal display from the Gunners. The Baggies have just one point from four home meetings with the current top five, but can they add to that tally this weekend?

West Brom v Chelsea Head to Head

West Brom put up a fight at Stamford Bridge in the latest meeting between the sides. The Baggies were in the game until Diego Costa’s strike gave the Blues all three points, continuing their winning run. The Blues lost 3-0 at the Hawthorns shortly after winning the title in 2015, but they returned four months later to win 3-2, which is their most recent visit to this ground.

• Chelsea 1-0 West Brom, Dec 2016
• Chelsea 2-2 West Brom, Jan 2016
• West Brom 2-3 Chelsea, Aug 2015
• West Brom 3-0 Chelsea, May 2015
• Chelsea 2-0 West Brom, Nov 2014

Betting Tips

• Chelsea to win to nil – 21/20 with Coral
• Eden hazard to score any time – 5/4 with Sky Bet

Chelsea are priced at 4/11 with BetVictor to take the three points they need at the Hawthorns. Given how poor the hosts have been here of late, it’s no wonder that the champions elect are priced at odds so short. The draw this weekend is priced at 17/4 with Bet365. The Baggies are priced at 8/1 with Betfred to take the points, which would be a huge shock in the title race. Can the Blues make the most of this opportunity and seal the title, or will Tony Pulis spoil the party? We all remember how his Crystal Palace side struck down Liverpool’s title hopes in 2014, could the same thing happen here? We think not.

Luckily, West Brom are in no kind of form to stop the leaders. They’ve been far from their best, tailing off just as they looked on course to book a place in Europe. They’ve now lost 1-0 in three straight home matches, and they look far too short up front. The Baggies have failed to score in five of their last six matches in the Premier League, while the Blues finally look solid at the back. After back to back 3-0 wins, they should be in strong enough shape to keep a clean sheet on Friday night against the goal shy hosts. We’re backing Conte’s side to see out their title push with a clean sheet, so we’re backing the Blues to win to nil at 21/20 with Coral.

Our second tip is Eden Hazard to score any time on Friday night, despite him failing to hit the target on Monday. Not only has the Belgian scored key goals against Southampton and Tottenham recently, but he’s got form in massive matches like this. His goal settled the 2014/15 season, winning the title for Chelsea. Last term Hazard scored the goal which handed Leicester the title. Can the Belgian score the title deciding goal for the third season running? That would be some accomplishment, and we’re expecting him to find the net at the Hawthorns. We’re backing Hazard to score any time, which is priced at 5/4 with Sky Bet.

Can Chelsea continue their push for the Premier League title against Middlesbrough on Monday night? A 3-0 win at Everton saw the leaders come through what was supposed to be their final big test on their path to the championship. Antonio Conte and his team are just three wins away from glory, with a very forgiving fixture list to round off the season. After facing second bottom Middlesbrough, they play West Brom, Watford and bottom side Sunderland. It just seems like a matter of time before the trophy returns to Stamford Bridge, but will the Blues move closer to becoming champions by seeing off a poor Boro outfit?

You’d expect the hosts to triumph here, especially as this match kicks off a crucial week in the season. Chelsea have three games in seven days, with West Brom away on Friday and Watford at home the following Monday. Tottenham face Manchester United in between those two clashes, so there’s a good chance that the title will be finished off next weekend, as long as Conte can keep his team focused for the visit of Middlesbrough.

Team News: Steady selection to keep Blues on course

Once again Conte can call upon a full strength side for this clash on Monday night. He named his strongest team at Everton, and there’s little need for him to rock the boat this week. They’ve had eight days between their last win and this clash, which gives them plenty of time to rest and prepare. That win at Goodison was an impressive display, and there’s little need to change anything. While Willian and Cesc Fabregas were impressive coming off the bench, they’re likely to find themselves with a watching brief from the start here. After putting out a strong message at Everton, Conte will have faith that his men can deal with Boro.

Middlesbrough come into this game without Victor Valdes in goal, but that’s not too much of a blow. The former Barcelona stopper hasn’t really impressed since coming to England, and Brad Guzan seems to be a better option for the visitors anyway. Boro are also missing Grant Leadbitter, but aside from those two they travel to the Bridge at full strength. They’re likely to line up in a 4-5-1 formation for this trip, with wingers in support of Alvaro Negredo. They had a slightly more attacking line up at home to City, but expect them to be a little more reserved in this trip.

Middlesbrough Form

Middlesbrough come into this game having won just one of their last 17 Premier League games. That victory came two weeks ago, but it was against bottom side Sunderland. The men from the Riverside haven’t beaten a side above them in the table since mid-December, and that was against the other side in the relegation zone, Swansea.

Despite their 2-2 draw at home to City being a positive, they’ve shipped four goals in trips to Bournemouth and Hull recently. They’ve lost five of their last six on their travels, scoring just twice across their last seven away days in the league. Those are all worrying stats for Boro, especially as they’re coming up against the league leaders, who have won 88% of their home games.

Chelsea v Middlesbrough Head to Head

Chelsea won the first meeting between these sides back in November, with Diego Costa scoring the only goal in that one. The last league meeting between them at the Bridge was in January 2009, with Salomon Kalou scoring both goals in a 2-0 win. Just who will be the hero who pushes the leaders ever closer to taking the title? Judging by the recent head to head record, there’s only one winner here.

• Middlesbrough 0-1 Chelsea, Nov 2016
• Middlesbrough 0-2 Chelsea, Feb 2013
• Chelsea 2-0 Middlesbrough, Jan 2009
• Middlesbrough 0-5 Chelsea, Nov 2008
• Chelsea 1-0 Middlesbrough, Mar 2008

Betting Tips

• Chelsea to win to nil – 8/11 with BetVictor
• Over 2.5 Chelsea goals – 5/6 with Coral

Chelsea come into this game as massive favourites for the points, with Sky Bet making them 1/6 to wrap up a win. The hosts are clearly expected to move toward the title with another three points. The draw is 6/1 with Ladbrokes ahead of this clash, while Middlesbrough are out at 14/1 with Bet365 to take the points. Obviously there’s little value in the match betting, as we can’t see anything but a win for the leaders. However, recent meetings between these two point to a quiet afternoon for the Blues’ back line. Given their recent troubles, conceding in 10 of their last 11 in the league, that’s got to be welcome news for the current back three and Thibaut Courtois.

Chelsea come have now won to nil in their last seven meetings with Middlesbrough. That includes the 1-0 win at the Riverside earlier this term. The Blues know they’re facing one of the two lowest scoring sides in the top flight. While Boro hit two at home to City last time out, they score just 0.59 goals per game on their travels. The Blues may have fallen apart at the back of late, but their clean sheet at Everton raises expectations here. We expect another win to nil for the leaders, which is priced at 8/11 with BetVictor.

While we see Chelsea keeping things tight this weekend, we do expect the leaders to win in style on Monday night. Their 2-0 defeat to Manchester United now looks like a blip, as the Blues have scored at least three in four of their last five. Given that Boro conceded four times in a trip to Bournemouth recently, we’re confident that the Blues will put on a show going forward at the Bridge. We’re backing the hosts to score at least three goals against the league’s second bottom side, which is priced at 5/6 with Coral.

After seeing off Southampton on Tuesday night, the Blues head to Merseyside on Sunday as they continue their Premier League title push. The Blues made it back to back 4-2 wins after beating the Saints, which was another step towards sealing the title. However, they’re facing possibly the toughest of their remaining games, as they make their penultimate away trip of the league season. Could former Blue Romelu Lukaku cause problems here, and get in the way of the leaders’ title push? With a £100 million price tag and rumours linking him with a return to Stamford Bridge, he’ll surly be out to impress.

Ronald Koeman had his Everton side on the verge of the Champions League fight, but they seem good for a top seven place at least. They could yet move into the top six in the final stages of the campaign, repeating the finish that the Dutchman achieved with Southampton last term. Of course, the Toffees will still remember the thumping defeat they suffered in their trip to west London earlier this season. Just how will that loss play on their minds ahead of a crucial game for both sides?

Team News: Eight goals in a week gives Conte a headache

It’s been a brilliant week for the Blues ahead of this game, booking a FA Cup final spot and claiming another Premier League win. Eight goals have propelled the league leaders towards the double, but it’s left Antonio Conte with some questions to answer. Having started four players in the two attacking midfield spots, he now has to decide who has earned a place. After how Eden Hazard and Cesc Fabregas played together, they could keep their place in the side.

With Diego Costa scoring again we can’t see too many changes from the side which beat Southampton, although that’s quite harsh on Pedro and Willian, who were both very effective at Wembley last weekend. With no injury worries, Conte has plenty of room to make changes, something the opposition manager wishes he had.

Everton have a considerable injury list ahead of this clash, with Irish duo Seamus Coleman and James McCarthy still out. Ramiro Funes Mori and Yannick Bolasie both miss out this weekend, while Aaron Lennon is another who is set for the sidelines. That leaves Koeman with limited options, but they’re expected to continue with their usual 4-3-3 set up, which looks to involve Lukaku as much as possible.

That’s a distinct change from Chelsea’s former policy for the Belgian, who will be looking to show his former side exactly what they’ve missed out on this weekend. Both he and Ross Barkley are set to start in attack, with both players making noises about potential moves to Champions League sides in the summer.

Everton Form

Everton have been strong in the Premier League overall, they’re certainly much improved from their dismal campaign under Roberto Martinez. The Toffees are on course for European football, which was probably the minimum aim as their new owner is promising to take the club to new heights. They were in the mix for the Champions League spots, which would certainly have been a new height for the club, but recent form has seen them fall away from the top four.

The Toffees have managed just two wins in their last five, which has left them six points shy of fourth, despite having played two more games than the team around them. However, they are impressive at Goodison Park, having won their last six outings at their own ground. Can that run continue when Chelsea come to town?

Everton v Chelsea Head to Head

Chelsea were in the midst of a poor run against Everton, but their brilliant form in late 2016 brought that to an end in impressive style. A 5-0 win for the Blues followed up three meetings without a win. Can Conte guide his side to another success over the Toffees on Sunday? After two defeats at Goodison last season, each under a different manager, the Italian has his work cut out.

• Chelsea 5-0 Everton, Nov 2016
• Everton 2-0 Chelsea, Mar 2016
• Chelsea 3-3 Everton, Jan 2016
• Everton 3-1 Chelsea, Sept 2015
• Chelsea 1-0 Everton, Feb 2015

Betting Tips

• Both teams to score – 7/10 with Bet365
• Eden Hazard to score – 29/20 with BetVictor

Chelsea come into this game priced as favourites, but they’re still 21/20 with Betfred to secure the points. Meanwhile, the draw is priced at 5/2 with Sky Bet while Everton are 12/5 with Ladbrokes to claim a victory. There’s certainly value in backing the leaders to take the win, but as this is the toughest match in the run-in, we’ve looked elsewhere for our betting tips on this clash. The Toffees are strong opposition at home, as shown in recent meetings with the Blues, and we don’t expect things to be anywhere near as easy as that 5-0 win at Stamford Bridge earlier this season.

After conceding another two goals on Tuesday night, the Blues’ defensive woes continue to bug them. With a trip to Everton this weekend, we can’t see their run getting any better. As we mentioned, Everton have six straight home victories ahead of this meeting. The leaders have now conceded in 11 straight league games, which is an awful run for a side of their stature. We can’t see things getting better any time soon, so we’re backing both teams to score at 7/10 with Bet365.

Our final tip for this game is another goal from Eden Hazard. We’re expecting Chelsea to grab a goal on Merseyside, and the Belgian’s form should see him cause problems. Having opened the scoring against Southampton, after hitting a vital third goal against Tottenham, we Hazard will play a key role this weekend. After all, he has scored the title winning goal in the last two seasons, so he’s coming into form at the right time. The winger is 29/20 with BetVictor to score any time on Sunday.

Chelsea are back in action pretty quickly following their enthralling FA Cup win over Spurs. They face Southampton on Tuesday night as they return to their Premier League title charge. While Antonio Conte has suggested that hands Spurs an advantage in the title race, any prospective Champions League side should be able to handle a Saturday then Tuesday schedule, especially given how light the Blues’ fixture list has been this term compared to others. While the Italian boss is hoping his mind games switch the pressure on to a reeling Tottenham side, he won’t accept any excuses for a slip up this week.

The Blues will want to claim the first of the five wins they need when they host Southampton. They can potentially go seven points clear of Spurs with a win, with their nearest rivals facing a tough trip to Crystal Palace. This could prove to be a great week for Conte’s side, but they need to avoid another slip up at home to Southampton. The Saints have been impressive at this ground since returning to the top flight, which makes this a tough fixture to play 72 hours after a crunch match at Wembley.

Team News: Changes likely after shock Conte selection

Following Sunday’s incredible rotation from Conte, it’s hard to know what to expect here. We still aren’t fully sure if Diego Costa and Eden Hazard were rested or dropped, but they should have done enough to return to the side after both coming off the bench on Saturday. The only issue is that both Willian and Michy Batshuayi, their replacements in the starting XI on Saturday, were both very impressive. We know that the 3-4-3 formation will stay, with Gary Cahill set to return. N’Golo Kante is set to play his first game since being named PFA Player of the Year on Sunday night, capping off an excellent weekend for the Blues.

Southampton are missing Virgil van Dijk at the back, who is a rumoured target for Antonio Conte in the summer. They’re also missing Charlie Adam ahead of this game. The Saints have stuck with a 4-2-3-1 formation of late, and we expect them to use that set up once again on Tuesday. Claude Puel should be able to name his strongest available side, as the Saints had the weekend off to prepare for this fixture. Will that prove to be an advantage for them? With an EFL Cup campaign and Europa League games earlier in the season, the visitors have played more matches than the leaders this term. That week off might not be the biggest of boosts after all.

Southampton Form

Southampton have been solid enough under Puel this season, but there’s a clear step down in quality between this side and the one which finished sixth last term, The Saints aren’t in any position to push for Europe this season, although they did have a League Cup final appearance earlier in the campaign. Since losing to Manchester United at Wembley, there’s been little for Southampton to fight for. They’re on course to make the top half in the league, but that seems to be the height of their ambitions right now.

The Saints’ last Premier League game saw them taken apart at home to Manchester City. A 3-0 defeat to the Citizens came after back to back wins, and that highlights just how inconsistent they’ve been this term. They’ve lost 50% of their away Premier League games, so it’s hard to see the visitors proving to be much of a threat on Tuesday night.

Chelsea v Southampton Head to Head

While the Blues have won the last two meetings with the Saints, both of those have been at St Mary’s. Southampton have avoided defeat at Stamford Bridge in their last two visits. That includes a 3-1 win in their last trip, one of the darkest days in Jose Mourinho’s final few months at the club. There’s a stark contrast between that performance, and the ease at which Conte’s side won on the south coast this season.

• Southampton 0-2 Chelsea, Oct 2016
• Southampton 1-2 Chelsea, Feb 2016
• Chelsea 1-3 Southampton, Oct 2015
• Chelsea 1-1 Southampton, Mar 2015
• Southampton 1-1 Chelsea, Dec 2014

Betting Tips

• Both teams to score – 11/10 with Betfred
• Willian to score any time – 23/10 with Ladbrokes

Chelsea come into this game priced at 4/9 with Bet365 to take the points on Saturday night. The draw is 7/2 with Coral, while Saints are 15/2 with BetVictor to cause a shock. Clearly the bookies aren’t expecting Southampton to pull off a shock this week. Despite the Blues’ recent troubles in the league, losing two of their last four outings, they’re expected to easily take a victory at the Bridge. However, defensive concerns could make that a little harder to accomplish, especially judging by their displays in the last week or so against Manchester United and Spurs. Both fixtures have continued to highlight the Blues’ issues at the back.

Chelsea have conceded in their last 10 Premier League matches, a run which stretches back to January’s win over Hull. Following that run up by shipping two against Tottenham wasn’t great, and it gives the Saints a chance to cause trouble this week. The visitors come have having scored in their last five visits to the Bridge, while four of the last five encounters between these two have seen both teams score. That makes BTTS look like excellent value at 11/10 with Betfred.

Our second tip is backing Willian to continue his brilliant form. We think he’ll keep his place, possibly at the expense of Pedro, and we’re backing the Brazilian to follow up his two goal haul in the semi final with an impressive display. After scoring in such an important game, he’s bound to be full of confidence. We can see the free-kick maestro making another impression this week, and he’s great value to score any time at 23/10 with Ladbrokes.