Norwich - Chelsea
I previewed Chelsea's trip to in form Southampton on Saturday and spoke about their top six ambitions.........
"Two in form teams, the Blues are unbeaten in ten in the EPL, Saints are 5-1-0 in their last six and have not conceded a single goal in that sequence, but they have ridden their luck at times, there are only so many times that Fraser Forster can save them and they will have to manage today without the protection of holding player Victor Wanyama against what is a firing visiting midfield.
Top 4 looks beyond Chelsea after their terrible start, but they want to keep their EPL campaign alive and their stated target is a top six Premier League finish for what would be the 20th consecutive season. Saints are currently in that position, seven points ahead of the West London club, so a win today would be hugely valuable in terms of that particular ambition. Saints have not kept a clean sheet in 11 games against the Blues and have really struggled until recently whenever Wanyama has been absent, the defensive midfield pairing of Jordy Clasie and Oriol Romeu have done well this season when called upon, but the latter moved from Chelsea in August and will be well known by the visitors. I expect the visitors to be very focused on their next two EPL games, here and at Norwich in midweek, ahead of the home game with Stoke next Saturday they might start to think about the return with PSG, but it will be all about the Premier League in the interim and a fully motivated visitor can ask the Saints more questions than they have faced for some time."
The Blues had to battle very hard to come from behind and earn the three points and having done so, it is hard to see them being any less committed to the match at Carrow Road, where City have conceded ten in their last three starts and, as we have discussed several times this season, often urged forward too often by the passionate home crowd and probably therefore, not playing to their strengths, such as they are at EPL level. The Canaries have not won in eight starts, conceding three goals in five of those and failing to register themselves in five, even in the last two matches that they have taken something from at home to West Ham and Southampton, they have needed an awful lot to go their way, red cards, missed chances for the opposition and they will need to ride their luck to stop the Chelsea juggernaut now that it is up and running.
Chelsea -1 ball 2.25 asian line/Sportmarket
I previewed Chelsea's trip to in form Southampton on Saturday and spoke about their top six ambitions.........
"Two in form teams, the Blues are unbeaten in ten in the EPL, Saints are 5-1-0 in their last six and have not conceded a single goal in that sequence, but they have ridden their luck at times, there are only so many times that Fraser Forster can save them and they will have to manage today without the protection of holding player Victor Wanyama against what is a firing visiting midfield.
Top 4 looks beyond Chelsea after their terrible start, but they want to keep their EPL campaign alive and their stated target is a top six Premier League finish for what would be the 20th consecutive season. Saints are currently in that position, seven points ahead of the West London club, so a win today would be hugely valuable in terms of that particular ambition. Saints have not kept a clean sheet in 11 games against the Blues and have really struggled until recently whenever Wanyama has been absent, the defensive midfield pairing of Jordy Clasie and Oriol Romeu have done well this season when called upon, but the latter moved from Chelsea in August and will be well known by the visitors. I expect the visitors to be very focused on their next two EPL games, here and at Norwich in midweek, ahead of the home game with Stoke next Saturday they might start to think about the return with PSG, but it will be all about the Premier League in the interim and a fully motivated visitor can ask the Saints more questions than they have faced for some time."
The Blues had to battle very hard to come from behind and earn the three points and having done so, it is hard to see them being any less committed to the match at Carrow Road, where City have conceded ten in their last three starts and, as we have discussed several times this season, often urged forward too often by the passionate home crowd and probably therefore, not playing to their strengths, such as they are at EPL level. The Canaries have not won in eight starts, conceding three goals in five of those and failing to register themselves in five, even in the last two matches that they have taken something from at home to West Ham and Southampton, they have needed an awful lot to go their way, red cards, missed chances for the opposition and they will need to ride their luck to stop the Chelsea juggernaut now that it is up and running.
Chelsea -1 ball 2.25 asian line/Sportmarket
