Chelsea vs Middlesbrough

30/3- Chelsea have climbed their way to the second spot on the premiership table and now they are just 5 points behind the league leaders, Manchester United. Chelsea have not lost a single match at home this season and they would be looking to maintain the good record when they take on Middlesbrough at home this weekend. Chelsea would be happy to take on Middlesbrough at this stage of the premiership as they hold a good head to head record as Chelsea have managed to win 12 of the 23 matches played while Middlesbrough have been able to win only 5 matches. Also the last time both these played each other was earlier this season and Chelsea had won the match 0-2 while playing away from home. Chelsea would definitely have the home advantage as the home crowd would want their team to close in on the top spot.

Chelsea have maintained a good record in the last 10 matches and they have managed to win 6 of the last 10 matches they have played and the remaining 4 matches have been draws. Chelsea would also be quite confident as they are coming fresh from a 2-1 victory over Arsenal and a win this week. Lampard and Drogba had been instrumental last week and their role will be very important this week as well.

Middlesbrough on the other hand would like to make an impression when they take on Chelsea in an away tie this weekend. Middlesbrough have also had a decent run coming into this match as they have managed to win 3 matches, draw 5 matches and have lost just a couple of matches. They would be going in with a positive frame of mind as they managed to beat Derby, 1-0 last week.

Prediction: 2-1, Chelsea win

Chelsea vs Arsenal

23/3- After leading the premier league for the major period Arsenal have experienced a slump in the recent matches which has seen them drop to the second spot, three points behind the league leaders Manchester United. This weekend they travel to take on Chelsea, the third placed team, in a very crucial tie. Chelsea are currently just a couple of points behind Arsenal and a win this weekend would see them overtake Arsenal as the second placed team in the competition. If we go by current form the teams are pretty similar as of the last 10 matches played Chelsea has been able to win 6 while 4 have been draws while Arsenal on the other hand have 5 wins and 5 draws, which leaves for us to wonder which team would end on the losing side in this all important tie.

The last time both these teams clashed was earlier this season when Arsenal managed to get a 1-0 win in a home tie, also the head to head record between the teams for the past 15 years shows that Arsenal has dominated in matches against Chelsea as of the 29 matches played Arsenal has won 14 while Chelsea has managed only 4 victories. But the important thing here is that Chelsea have not lost a single match playing at home this season and with the form they are in they do not look like losing one either.

Chelsea come into this match after a 4-4 draw in an away tie against Tottenham and like the likes of Lampard and Cole to come good in this tie while Arsenal on the other hand also come into this match after they tied 1-1 against Middlesbrough last week in a home tie, Adebayor has been their best striker and he would have to deliver to help his team retain the spot.

Prediction: 1-0, Chelsea win

Sunderland vs Chelsea

15/3- Chelsea have been the silent fighters this season and while Arsenal and Manchester United have been fighting for the top spot they have slowly caught up and now are just three points behind Manchester United. This week they travel to take on the 16^th placed Sunderland and would be hoping to return home with a positive result as they have been winning continuously in the last three matches played. Sunderland on the other hand have done good by moving out of the relegation zone and are two points clear as well. In the last match played between the sides Chelsea defeated Sunderland 2-0 while playing at home. Also looking at the overall record between the two sides Chelsea are the better side as they have won 8 of the 13 matches played while Sunderland have won 4 and the remaining one match was drawn. Sunderland are playing at home and have definitive advantage but against a team with the class of Chelsea the advantage might be negated.

Chelsea come into the match after they managed a 6-1 victory over Derby in the last match while playing at home. Lampard has been highly influential in the performance of the team and has already scored 10 goals this season. A win here can take them level with Manchester United in case the later lose their match. The last away match Chelsea played was against West Ham and they managed to net 4 goals and came victorious with a score sheet of 0-4.

Sunderland on the other hand have been hanging in and around the relegation zone almost throughout this season. With a high number of players on the injury list the club would be hoping for a better performance from the team. Jones with 5 goals is the top scorer and he would be expected to deliver in this crucial home tie.

Prediction: 1-2, Chelsea win

West Ham United vs Chelsea

1/3- Chelsea have been the silent runners this season, nor have they actively been a part of the rat race at the top of the table and neither they have been fighting for the fourth spot. Chelsea have slowly but steadily ensured that their 3^rd spot is confirmed and now are 6 points behind the second placed Manchester United having played a match less. This suggests that they still do have an outside chance to upset the top two and take away the crown. They travel this week to take on West ham United after they have managed only two draws in the last two EPL matches they have played. Chelsea would hold an upper hand over the home side as the last meeting between the two sides ended 1-0 in favour of Chelsea and the head to head record also favours Chelsea heavily. Looking at the recent form while Chelsea have won 6 and drawn 4 of their last 10 matches, West Ham have won 5 while lost 2 and drawn the remaining three.

A point that would also work in favour of Chelsea is that they have performed amazingly well away from home this season while their opponents have not performed that impressively at home and can be vulnerable. Chelsea get into the match after they drew their Champions League tie against Olympiakos and would want to put up a strong performance here. Chelsea have not been a team dominated by a striker and hence it would be important that their entire team can play as a unit and get the desired result.

West Ham United come a fresh from their victory last week against Fulham, away from home and would like to replicate the performance in front of the home crowd but with opponents as strong as Chelsea it would be quite difficult.

Prediction: 0-1, Chelsea win

Chelsea vs Liverpool

10/2- In a cracker of a match two highly potential teams take on each other as Chelsea get ready to take on the visiting Liverpool side. Though both sides are not in their best of form but a clash between them is always a terrific site. Chelsea have won 6 of their last 10 matches played while there have been three draws and just a single loss. Liverpool on the other hand have won 4 of their last 10 while there have 4 draws and the remaining two have been draws. The last match played between the two sides, earlier this season, ended in a draw with both sides scoring a goal each. Chelsea enjoy an edge when we look at the head to head record for the last 15 years as of the 35 matches played Chelsea have won 15 while Liverpool have 12 to their credit with the remaining 8 matches ending as draws.

The home side, Chelsea, get into this match after a draw last week against Portsmouth in an away tie. The biggest problem for the home side however is the increasing list of injuries in their squad, in fact their top four goal scorers would be not available for selection due to injuries and in such a situation Michael Ballack would have to take over the responsibility of scoring the goals. Also the defense looks a bit fragile in the absence of Terry and Carvalho.

Liverpool would like to capitalise on the situation of their rivals and would want to get a victory under their belt. Torres and Gerrard are in sublime goal scoring form and they would like to get on the score sheet as early as possible when they kick off against Chelsea. Both teams would be pressing for a win but it would be the team that wants it more to take it away.

Prediction: 1-2, Liverpool win

Chelsea vs Reading

30/1- The fight is on for the top spot between Arsenal and Man U but the third placed team is doing its job keeping a low profile. Chelsea is just 4 points behind the league leaders and are playing wonderfully well, they have won their last 4 matches and would be looking to continue their trend when they take on Reading at home. Reading on the other hand have lost their last 4 matches and can expect a not so friendly welcome as they visit the Blues. The past record between the two sides suggests that Chelsea have been dominant as they have won two of the three matches played while one ended in a draw. Though the side is missing on a few players the team is playing as a unit under the instructions of Jose Mourinho (Freudian slip!) Avram Grant.

Chelsea won their last tie against Birmingham city in a away match and were at the top of their game in the 0-1 victory. Drogba, Lampard and Shevchenkov all are carrying injuries and that would be the only thing that would worry the team. Chelsea has a solid defense and that is something they use to their advantage as each goal scored is defended and hence the team has managed to win even if a single goal is scored. Kalou looks to be their only fit striker and he has scored 5 goals this season and the fans would be hoping to see more of him.

Reading on the other hand have a weak defense and have never been able to keep out the opposition from scoring. Their moral is down after 4 consecutive losses and they look set for a 5th with formidable opponent like Chelsea. They would be hoping to score early and defend for the rest of the match and even if they give away a goal and earn a point they would be overjoyed but Chelsea would not accept anything but 3 points.

Prediction: 4-0, Chelsea win

Birmingham vs Chelsea

19/1- Birmingham have done a world of good to themselves by holding the league leaders Arsenal for a 1-1 draw. Their confidence would be on a all time high when they play hosts to the visiting Chelsea. The side has grown in confidence after some recent performances though they have just managed a single win in the last 5 matches. Chelsea on the other hand enter this tie after a confidence boosting home performance against Tottenham in their last match which they won 2-0. Chelsea also look to be in majestic form over the past few weeks as they have a record of 4 wins and a draw in the last 5 matches and a match against the team placed at 16^th place on the table should not worry them. The only concern for the Blues would be that they would not like to lose the chance of scoring all the 3 points and end up with a draw like Arsenal did.

Birmingham have a couple of strikers and a strong home crowd they can rely upon and this is their best chance to move away from the danger zone at the bottom and try and gain some momentum in this second half of the season. Kapo and Jerome would be their best bet when it comes to the scorers for the side. Another aspect of the game that Birmingham would have to better upon is their defence at home, though it worked in unison against Arsenal the effort needs to be reproduced to get out at least a point against the Blues.

Chelsea on the other hand have their task cut out, it should not bother them that the side they would be facing held off the league leaders in their previous encounter, Jose Murinho would be asking his boys to get all the three points and stay in the hunt for the top honours in the league.

Prediction: 1-3, Chelsea win

Fulham vs Chelsea

1/1- This one is a great example of the top team against the bottom team tie, with the third placed Chelsea visiting the 19^th spot Fulham. Both the teams have exactly opposite positions and records this season, while Chelsea have lost just one of their last 10 matches. Fulham have only managed to win one. But a common problem for both the teams is the injury list they currently bear. Chelsea have been good away from home this season as well and hence Fulham should not pose a huge challenge for Murinho’s side but they would hate to relax or take it for granted. Chelsea get into this match following a 2-1 win over Newcastle at home on the 29^th of December while Fulham traveled across to Birmingham and returned with a point following a 1-1 score line. Out of the last 13 matches played between the sides the blues have been able to manage 7 wins while 5 have been draws, leaving Fulham with just a solitary victory.

 

Chelsea would be banking on Shevchenkov to deliver the goods in this match as Drogba and Lampard would be missing out from the tie. However the return of Cole and Carvalho would have a good impact on the defense of the side. Kalou would be another name that could appear on the score sheet as he has already registered 4 goals this season. Chelsea are just 4 point behind Man U and would be hoping to close that gap as well as move away from the 4^th placed Liverpool who seem to be catching up all the time.

 

Fulham on the other hand would be in search of some inspiration to help them revive their struggling campaign this year. The new year and home crowd might just help them to try and achieve it but against a team of the caliber of Chelsea, it could be quite difficult.

 

Prediction: 0-2, Chelsea win

Chelsea vs Newcastle

29/12- While the third placed Chelsea are trying to keep up the pace with Arsenal and Manchester United at the top of the table, the 10^th placed Newcastle United are struggling to maintain their spot in the top half of the table, hence a good match can be expected this Saturday when Chelsea play hosts to the visiting Newcastle team. Both the clubs have been old rivals and there have been 28 encounters between them in the last 15 years, out of which 8 have drawn where as the Blues have won as many as 13 times. This suggests that if we go by history, Chelsea is the stronger side. Coming to the current form of the clubs, Chelsea are coming from a 4-4 draw against Aston Villa at home while Newcastle were beaten 0-1 in an away tie against Wigan.

 

While the home crowd would want them to create an impact with a win it seems to be quite difficult as the Blues would be playing without three of their first choice defenders as Carvalho, who has been injured from some time now was joined by Terry a couple of weeks ago and finally Ashley Cole has been suspended for this match. This will be a huge setback for Murinho’s side but the strikers would have to take up the challenge to score as many goals.

 

Newcastle on the other hand would like to revive their campaign as they have slipped to the 10^th position and are ahead just on the goal difference, they would at least want a point of this game in case they win it would be a great gift for the fans before new year though both like quite difficult in current form except for the case we can see Martins and Viduka breaking apart Chelsea’s depleted defense.

 

Prediction: 3-1, Chelsea win

Chelsea vs Aston Villa

26/12- Just a day post Christmas the Blues would be hosting the team from Aston Villa, this is a tough draw for both the teams as most of their Christmas would be spent practicing. The draw is also very important for both the teams as the 3^rd placed Chelsea would like to cut down on the 4 point gap between them and the 2^nd placed team Manchester United. On the other hand Villa would like to at least maintain its 7^th spot if not improve it on the points table. While Chelsea would have the home advantage they also enter the match on a positive note as they were able to manage a 1-0 away victory at Blackburn this past Sunday. Aston Villa would also be encouraged by the way they held a tough team like Manchester City to a 1-1 draw at home.

 

Chelsea for some weeks now have been playing without Drogba, Ballack and now even John Terry is missing hence they would again rely on Lampard, Kalou and Cole to provide the spark to the game and try to win it for them. Chelsea have been decent in their performance at home this season and scoring against them at home has been very difficult as well but the Blues would also like to score some more goals while playing at home.

 

Aston Villa on the other side have a fairly non depleted side with decent away performances this season, Carew has been one of their in form players and has more often than not broken the deadlock in a match and along with the team’s top scorer this season, Agbonlahor, can be a potential threat to Murinho’s defense. Though the match might be an evenly fought one, beating Chelsea in their den would be kind of difficult and Villa would settle with just a point as well.

 

Prediction: 2-0, Chelsea win

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