It has taken just three days in 2018 for the famous rivalry between Arsenal and Chelsea to return and there isn’t expected to be any love lost for both sides.
Chelsea 5-0 Stoke: Big Blues Win Leaves Hughes Staring Down the Barrel
On the back of a comfortable 2-0 win over Brighton, Chelsea flexed their muscles again at Stamford Bridge with a 5-0 demolition of Stoke City, who are reportedly considering the position of their manager, Mark Hughes.
Chelsea’s Festive Match Reports: Blues Pick up Four Points in Four Days
The Premier League festive period is notorious for being extremely busy and for throwing up some very unexpected results. Chelsea faced two matches in four days: the first away at Everton on the 23rd before facing Brighton at home on Boxing Day.
Chelsea 1 – 0 Southampton: Alonso Free-Kick Enough to See Off Plucky Saints
Chelsea secured a hard-fought 1-0 win over Southampton on Saturday as they kept pace in the race for Champions League football next season. Manchester City kept their incredible run going with a 4-1 thumping of Tottenham, which strengthened the Blues’ grip on third place – but Antonio Conte’s men remain 14 points behind the high-flying Citizens.
Chelsea vs Southampton Preview: Blues Looking to Keep Strong Home Form Going
Chelsea will be looking to bounce back from defeat to rivals West Ham as they welcome an inconsistent Southampton side to Stamford Bridge. The Blues are 14 points behind Manchester City at the top of the league in what looks to be a mountain to climb to retain their Premier League title but their midweek win over Huddersfield will give Antonio Conte cause for optimism.
Huddersfield Town vs Chelsea: Blues Looking to Bounce Back in Yorkshire
Chelsea travel to Huddersfield for the inaugural Premier League meeting between the sides in what promises to be a stern test for Antonio Conte’s men. The Italian has bemoaned his team’s hectic schedule in recent weeks but with European progress now assured and the small matter of two matches against Barcelona to look forward to in the New Year, Chelsea need to focus on their domestic form if they are to maintain any sort of late charge towards regaining their Premier League title.
West Ham 1-0 Chelsea: Blues Lose Vital Ground in Title Race
Chelsea missed their chance to put pressure on the Manchester clubs above them in the Premier League as they succumbed to their fourth defeat of the season at a resurgent West Ham.
West Ham vs Chelsea Preview: Blues Looking to Build Pressure Ahead of Manchester Derby
Chelsea travel across London to the Olympic Stadium to face bitter rivals West Ham in what promises to be a mouth-watering London derby. The Blues will be looking to continue their excellent form of late – 19 points picked up from a possible 21 in the Premier League – and Antonio Conte’s men will be hoping to cash in on any slip-ups from the Manchester sides above them, who meet on Sunday.
Chelsea 1 – 1 Atletico Madrid: Frustrating Night as Blues Fail to Clinch Top Spot
Chelsea missed their chance to clinch top spot in Champions League group C as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Atletico Madrid at Stamford Bridge. Roma’s 1-0 win over FK Qarabag was enough for them to clinch first place in the group, meaning the Blues will potentially face a tricky last-16 tie in the New Year.
Chelsea vs Atletico Madrid Preview: Blues Looking to Secure Top Spot in Champions League Group
Chelsea welcome Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid to Stamford Bridge on Tuesday evening as they look to secure top spot in Champions’ League Group C. A win for the Blues would guarantee top spot in the group, whilst a draw would encourage Roma in second place to go for it against FK Qarabag. A defeat for Chelsea would then bring Atletico into contention, especially if Roma slip up against the plucky Azerbaijanis.
Chelsea 3 – 1 Newcastle: Hazard Inspires Blues as Unbeaten Run Continues
Chelsea stretched their unbeaten Premier League run to seven games with a solid home victory over Rafa Benitez’s beleaguered Newcastle United side. With the Manchester clubs both winning, the title landscape hasn’t changed for Antonio Conte’s men but Arsenal and Tottenham both dropped points which will assist the Blues in their Champions League qualification endeavours.
Chelsea vs Newcastle Preview: Blues Looking to Keep Pressure on Top Two
Chelsea will be looking to keep their superb run of domestic form going as they welcome former boss Rafa Benitez and his Newcastle United side to Stamford Bridge. The Blues have won five and drawn one of their last six Premier League fixtures and need to keep the run going to have any chance of catching Manchester City, who remain 11 points clear at the top of the tree.
Chelsea 1 – 0 Swansea City: Conte Sent to the Stands in Attritional Win
Chelsea kept pace in the title race with an ill-tempered 1-0 home win over a resolute Swansea City side. Paul Clement’s side failed to register a shot on target in the whole game and they were camped in their half for lengthy periods of the game, but the Blues finally found a way through to extend their Premier League unbeaten run to six games.
Chelsea vs Swansea City: Blues Looking to Keep Pace in the Title Race
Antonio Conte’s Chelsea will be looking to keep their excellent domestic form going as they welcome a struggling Swansea side to Stamford Bridge on Wednesday evening. The Blues have picked up 13 points from a possible 15 in their last five league matches and are currently looking up the table towards the Manchester clubs – rather than down to the Champions League chasing bunch below them.
Chelsea 1 – 0 Manchester United: Morata Winner Eases Pressure
Chelsea returned to the top four in the Premier League with a hard-fought victory over former manager Jose Mourinho’s side. The pressure was very much on the Blues following a poor result in the Champions League but Antonio Conte’s men delivered when it mattered.
Bournemouth 0 – Chelsea 1: Hazard Secures Three Points in Dominant Display
Eden Hazard scored the only goal as Chelsea beat Bournemouth at the Dean Court stadium on Saturday.
Bournemouth vs Chelsea Preview – Conte Desperate for Victory
Antonio Conte will be looking for his Chelsea side to perform well against a Bournemouth side that sits 19th in the Premier League table.
Chelsea 4 – 2 Watford: Batshuayi Silences Critics as Blues Seal Comeback Win
Chelsea survived a real scare at the hands of Watford this weekend to secure their first league win in three games in a topsy-turvy encounter. Antonio Conte will be hoping his charges can take confidence from their spirited fightback and use the result as a catalyst in the hunt to catch Manchester City.
Crystal Palace 2 – 1 Chelsea: Eagles Open Account Against Lacklustre Blues
Chelsea succumbed to their third defeat of the season as Roy Hodgson’s Crystal Palace picked up a deserved home win and their first Premier League points of the campaign.
Chelsea 0 – Manchester City 1: De Bruyne Comes Back to Haunt the Blues
Former Chelsea man Kevin de Bruyne’s 67th-minute thunderbolt proved decisive as Antonio Conte’s men dropped points at Stamford Bridge for the third time already this season.
Chelsea vs Manchester City Preview: Aguero Missing After Car Crash
Chelsea host top-of-the-league Manchester City on Saturday in the first Premier League heavyweight encounter of the season. The Blues sit three points behind both Manchester clubs in third place but come into the game following an impressive display against Atletico Madrid in midweek.
Sergio Aguero has been ruled out of the evening kickoff after suffering a broken rib as a result of a car crash in Amsterdam. Eden Hazard is expected to make his first league start of the season after his man-of-the-match performance on Wednesday.
Formation
Antonio Conte is likely to stick with a similar formation to that which served him so well against Atletico. Pep Guardiola’s free-flowing football may leave Chelsea packing their midfield, with Hazard and Alvaro Morata together up front. Chelsea deviated from their usual formation, opting for a 3-5-2 during their trip to Spain, with wide men Pedro and Willian dropped to the bench.
Team Selection
David Luiz is still suspended following a red card against Arsenal so capable deputy Andreas Christensen should line up alongside Ceasar Azpilicueta and Gary Cahill as a back three. Marcos Alonso should start once again but there could be question marks over the right wing-back position; we could see an impressive Davide Zappacosta come in to give Victor Moses a rest.
Tiemoue Bakayoko showed real steel in the Champions League by protecting his defence and allowing N’Golo Kante to roam – the most crucial combination for Chelsea to nullify City over 90 minutes. Further forward could see some changes to inject fresh energy; Cesc Fabregas added an extra body to the midfield, but we could well see a change here with the addition of Willian.
The Diego Costa hangover was well and truly shaken off thanks to Morata and Hazard combining fluidly last time out, so they have to start.
Predicted Starting XI
Courtois (GK)
Moses
Christensen
Cahill (c)
Azpilicueta
Alonso
Kante
Bakayoko
Hazard
Willian
Morata
Where the Game Will Be Won or Lost
Man City will want to dominate possession as they visit the champions and Conte might well allow them to have the ball and soak up the pressure. Manchester City have struggled in past years as soon as Aguero is not on the pitch, so he will be a huge loss. Kante and Bakayoko will be looking to set their steely base in midfield. If Chelsea can stifle City – and that’s a big if – Hazard and Morata could be deadly on the counter. Chelsea might look to pack the midfield once again and it will be interesting to see if Pep has a plan B to outwit the wily Chelsea manager.
Match Prediction
With all the talk of the Manchester clubs for the title, Chelsea will want to show that they are still champions – expect a robust display. Both teams have goals from all over the pitch so defensive nouse could be the order of the day, which the Blues have in spades. Could we see one of those brave 1-0 wins for the home team?
Alvaro Morata, the Premier League’s Deadliest Striker
Alvaro Morata is not simply keeping up with the Premier League’s leading goal scorers, he is actually the deadliest of them all so far this season, according to the stats book.
Stoke 0 – Chelsea 4: Morata Decisive in Clinical Win
Chelsea cruised to a 4-0 victory against Stoke City at the bet365 Stadium yesterday thanks to an Alvaro Morata hat-trick.
Chelsea’s Greatest Ever Goalkeeper: Petr Cech
There are certainly signs that Thibaut Courtois could go on to become Chelsea’s all-time greatest goalkeeper. For now, at least, that title has to belong to Petr Cech. Although the former Czech Republic international is now first choice at Arsenal, his name will always bring back fond memories in the hearts of Chelsea fans.
Hazard Set to Provide Needed Spark on Premier League Return
Eden Hazard is set to return to the Chelsea starting XI in the Premier League this weekend, and after last week’s dour 0-0 draw with Arsenal, this comes at a perfect time for Blues fans. Chelsea have endured a mixed start to the season, with the 2-1 victory at Wembley over Spurs the early highlight.