Chelsea went into the weekend as one of three Premier League teams to have won each of their four opening games. They managed to extend that run to five with a convincing 4-1 win against Cardiff after going a goal behind early on. Eden Hazard stole the show yet again with a hat-trick before Willian added the fourth following Sol Bamba’s opener for Cardiff.
Maurizio Sarri has claimed he does not see Chelsea challenging for the Premier League title in his debut season in charge, adding that Manchester City and Liverpool are currently the main title contenders.
Following three wins from their opening three Premier League matches this season, Chelsea made it four from four with a 2-0 home win over Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon. The goals came from Pedro and Eden Hazard in the second half as it looked like the game might end goalless.
Saturday’s late kick-off saw one of the biggest games in English football return to the Premier League as Chelsea welcomed the visit of Arsenal. The first half finished 2-2 after the hosts had gone two ahead but despite the Gunners’ best efforts, a one-goal lead was restored in the second half to ensure the points stayed in West London.
The Premier League kicked off last weekend and in one of the most convincing performances of the week, Chelsea beat Huddersfield Town 3-0 at the John Smith’s Stadium. They face Arsenal on Saturday, who were beaten 2-0 in Unai Emery’s first league game against Manchester City. Ahead of Saturday’s late kick-off, we look at the last three meetings between the sides.
Maurizio Sarri’s first Premier League game saw Chelsea travel up north to face David Wagner’s Huddersfield Town and the Blues came away with three goals, three points and a clean sheet in a brilliant 3-0 win.
Former Chelsea club captain John Terry has paid a fitting tribute to Antonio Conte, who was sacked as manager of the club on Thursday in a decision that was highly expected from ardent fans of the club.
With Maurizio Sarri set to take the managerial reins at Chelsea, the long-awaited departure of Antonio Conte has finally happened. The 48-year-old leaves in acrimonious circumstances, but how exactly will he be remembered at the club?
Former England and Everton manager Sam Allardyce has encouraged Chelsea youngster Ruben Loftus-Cheek to leave the club this summer if he wants to continue his rapid ascent as one of the country’s most exciting prospects.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup kicked off on Thursday, with the tournament hosts Russia hammering Saudi Arabia 5-0 – but there some big news regarding the Premier League. The fixtures for the 2018/19 season have been announced, and Chelsea have been handed with a trip to Huddersfield on the opening day.
Chelsea legend Frank Lampard has offered his backing to Mikel Arteta, as the Spaniard looks poised to be announced as the new manager of Arsenal.
Chelsea captain Gary Cahill has accused his side of losing focus after they fell to a 3-0 defeat against Newcastle United on the final day of the Premier League season.
On-loan Chelsea youngster Kenedy has issued an emotional farewell to Newcastle United and promised that he will “never forget” his time with the Magpies.
Chelsea’s dreadful campaign came to an end at St. James’ Park on Sunday afternoon when they were beaten 3-0 by Newcastle United and former boss Rafa Benitez. The Blues will have been hoping the Spaniard could have done them a favour, although the defeat did not ultimately matter, as Liverpool coasted to a 4-0 home win against Brighton and Hove Albion.
The race for the top four has been close this season, with Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham all in the hunt for the final two qualifying spots. Liverpool’s goal difference could prove to be crucial come the end of the season, with its superiority over Chelsea’s goal difference demonstrating a gulf in attacking talent.
Wednesday night saw Chelsea dealt a huge blow in their race for the top four as they could only muster a 1-1 draw with a Huddersfield side that secured their top-flight status for next term.
On a night where Chelsea could keep their pursuit of a top-four finish on the right track with a win, they faltered and had to accept a 1-1 draw with Huddersfield, who confirmed their Premier League safety with a point. Laurent Depoitre put the unlikely visitors in front before Marcos Alonso pulled the scores level.
Starting the game with Eden Hazard and Olivier Giroud on the bench got the alarm bells ringing amongst the fans at Stamford Bridge as an underperforming Alvaro Morata led the line for the Blues. Regardless of the attacking changes, it looked as though it would be one of those nights for the Terriers’ goalkeeper, Jonas Lossl as he kept out early strikes from Willian and Alonso with relative ease.
Antonio Rudiger than came close with the hosts firmly on top, volleying wide after Cesar Azplicueta had flicked on Cesc Fabregas’ corner. Huddersfield stood extremely firm and looked incredibly organised until N’Golo Kante sparked an opening with an inch-perfect ball through to Morata. The former Real Madrid striker rounded Lossl but the angle was too tight and his cross trickled across the six-yard box.
The first-half came to a close with tensions high as Chelsea were denied the opportunity to take a corner earned in stoppage time, unbelievable really considering the amount of time-wasting done by David Wagner’s side.
Despite the visitors rarely even making their way out of their own half in the opening 45 minutes, they got themselves in front just five minutes into the second-half. It was a calamitous goal as Aaron Mooy’s lofted ball caused problems in the Chelsea backline, allowing Depoitre to get the better of Willy Caballero in the first exchange and to calmly lift the ball into the gaping net.
This left last year’s champions with plenty to do. Giroud and Hazard were brought onto the field and it wasn’t long before it was 1-1. The ball was worked out wide to Azpilicueta courtesy of Fabregas’ fabulous switch where it was fizzed into the penalty area. Mathias Jørgensen attempted to clear the ball but could only hit the side of Alonso’s head and the ball found its way inside the corner of the net.
It was time for the kitchen sink to be thrown at the Terriers and that’s exactly what happened as waves and waves of Chelsea attacks flooded into the 18-yard box. With less than 10 minutes to go, it looked as though Andreas Christensen had done enough to turn the game on its head but his well-placed header was stupendously saved by Lossl in what must be one of the saves of the season.
The pressure increased as the Champions League hopefuls desperately searched for a winning goal but it was to no avail and the match finished 1-1, much to the delight of the Huddersfield supporters. The Blues must now beat Newcastle at St James’ Park on Sunday and hope that Brighton come away from Anfield with all three points to make the top four.
Chelsea’s Antonio Rudiger has sent a warning to former Roma teammate Mohamed Salah as the Blues prepare to face off against an in-form Liverpool side in the Premier League on Sunday.
In their late-season push for the top four, Chelsea took advantage of Liverpool’s goalless draw with Stoke by beating Swansea 1-0 courtesy of an early goal from Cesc Fabregas at the Liberty Stadium.
Chelsea captain Gary Cahill has admitted that it would be “very surprising” if his team manages to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
Just three days before their FA Cup semi-final with Southampton, Chelsea travelled to Turf Moor to face an in-form Burnley side. The Blues made sure they didn’t slip up with a 2-1 victory thanks to Victor Moses’ winner after Ashley Barnes had cancelled out Kevin Long’s first-half own goal.
In Saturday’s early kick-off in the Premier League, Chelsea survived a scare against relegation-threatened Southampton as they had to come back from 2-0 down to win 3-2. Olivier Giroud’s brace off the bench led the revival, with Eden Hazard getting the other one. These goals came after Dusan Tadic and Jan Bednarek had given the Saints a strong lead.
If Antonio Conte’s latest comments are to be taken to heart, then Chelsea were never really meant to have a great season in 2017/18.
Chelsea captain Gary Cahill has conceded defeat in the race to finish in the Premier League top four, admitting that the FA Cup is the Blues’ last chance of ‘rescuing’ their season.
After a thrilling Manchester derby on Saturday evening, there was a chance of an exciting London derby on Sunday afternoon. However, as Chelsea surrendered yet another one-goal lead, they had to settle for a rather stale 1-1 draw with West Ham. Javier Hernandez’s ninth goal against the Blues cancelled out Cesar Azpilicueta’s scruffy opener.