Date: Tuesday 14th July 2020
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Kick-off: 20:15 BST
The weekend’s game
against Sheffield United was embarrassing. Not the loss necessarily because
they’ve held their own this season, it was more the manner of the defeat I have
a problem with. We’d got ourselves into third place, a top four finish was in
our hands and our players completely failed to turn up against the Blades. Maybe
they didn’t see City’s let off from a Champions League ban coming and thought
they’d get away with limping over the finish line in fifth place, but now they’ll
know differently.
Leicester and
United have both dropped points but if our players think they can afford any
more below par performances in the remaining games, then we could be in for a
rough end to the season.
Tonight’s opponents
have already been relegated, so the pressure is well and truly off them. Teemu
Pukki has not seen sight of goal in the league since January, so unless Frank
dishes out masks to our defence, Pukki is guaranteed to score tonight against a
defence who continue to adhere to social distancing guidance.
MANAGER’S VIEWS
Going into today’s game, Chelsea manager Frank Lampard, says “We are at a critical stage of the season. We know what is in
front of us. We have to try to finish the job. We are sitting third, it
is in our hands. This morning (City appeal) has just made it clear now and we
have to fight for it.”
Norwich Manager Daniel Farke, meanwhile, says “Once relegation is confirmed you feel the pain, but I’m in a
leading role and have to be a role model. It’s important to show character and
personality in these moments, not just because its our job, but to show class
even in difficult times. I want us to go out on the pitch to represent the
yellow shirt. Once relegation is confirmed, it isn’t possible to enjoy
the game, but it is an honour to play in the best league in the world. It’s our
chance to create momentum. We want to look back in ten years and say it was a
shame we couldn’t stay in the league but we gave ourselves the best finish.”
SQUAD NEWS
For Chelsea, N’Golo Kante (hamstring)
and Fikayo Tomori remain out. Andreas Christensen has recovered from
a knock and Mateo Kovacic is also available.
For
Norwich, Sam Byram, Christoph Zimmermann, Grant Hanley and Moritz Leitner remain
sidelined with long-term injuries.
TEAMS
CHELSEA (Possible
line-up): Kepa; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Zouma, Alonso; Barkley, Kovacic, Mount;
Willian, Giroud, Pulisic
NORWICH (Possible line-up): Krul; Aarons,
Godfrey, Klose, Lewis; McLean, Tettey; Hernandez, Cantwell, Buendia; Pukki
LAST SEASON
N/A
CURRENT FORM (PL)
CHELSEA: WWLWWL
NORWICH: LLLLLL
OTHER STUFF
- Chelsea are unbeaten in
their last 11 league matches against Norwich
- Chelsea have won 9 of the
last 11 against Norwich.
- Norwich have not beaten
Chelsea in 26 years.
- Norwich could lose an eighth
consecutive league game for the first time in their history
- Norwich have taken just six
points out of a possible 51 away from home this season
- Norwich have lost all 21 of
their Premier League games when conceding first this season
PREDICTION
BBC Sport: Chelsea 3-0 Norwich
90min: Chelsea 3-1 Norwich
Sportsmole: Chelsea 3-0 Norwich
