Date: Saturday
31st October 2020
Venue: Turf
Moor
Kick-off: 15:00 GMT
After getting in a lot of air miles
for our Champions League game midweek, this afternoon’s game takes us to Turf
Moor as we take on Burnley in the Premier League.
The Clarets are possibly not one of
the best sides for us to be facing after a trip to Russia because they’re
generally just hard work. We have a
decent enough record against them but these games are tough, they can take
their toll physically and they require patience, which isn’t something there’s
a whole lot of around Chelsea these days. In fact, a house full of four-year
olds would produce less snivelling and whingeing.
Burnley are also without a win so far
this season, and they only need a bit of luck to get that, so we’re almost ripe
for the picking this afternoon. It’s not just because of our Champions League
trip, we had a tough game against United last weekend as well – and that was
just to keep them out. We did show against Krasnodar we have goals in us as
well, but the Premier League is a different beast on a Saturday afternoon at
Turf Moor. Some of our players just won’t be used to this type of game, so we’ll
just have to wait and see how they stand up to it.
MANAGER’S
VIEWS
Going into today’s game, Burnley
manager Sean Dyche, says of the possible advantage given our recent trip to
Russia, “They can make changes, a number, and it is more shifting
styles and different types of quality. It might be helpful but you don’t know
until the whistle blows. If they are feeling some of the effects then that might
be helpful but if not we know the top sides are very strong.”
Chelsea
manager, Frank Lampard, meanwhile, says “I would
always respect a Burnley team managed by Sean Dyche with the qualities that
they have. I watched the game against Tottenham and they were very
unfortunate to not take anything from the game against a very good Tottenham
team. It was everything you would expect from Burnley in terms of their
organisation, effort, desire and qualities. I think you can pigeon hole Burnley, but I
don’t.
I think it’s a
great achievement by Sean and what he has done at Burnley; it’s an absolutely
fantastic achievement actually when you think of the balance of the Premier
League, spend and outgoings relative to the results he has produced year after
year. I know they have quality players,
a very effective way of playing and a quality manager so I expect a tough
match.”
SQUAD
NEWS
For Burnley, Ben Mee and Jack
Cork are injured and Phil Bardsley remains unavailable following a positive coronavirus
test. Erik Pieters and Johann Berg Gudmundsson are doubtful (both calf).
For Chelsea, Kepa Arrizabalaga’s
(shoulder) is unavailable and Billy Gilmour (knee) is not ready for a return
yet. Thiago Silva should return.
.
TEAMS
BURNLEY (Possible line-up): Pope; Lowton, Long, Tarkowski, Taylor; Gudmundsson, Westwood, Brownhill,
McNeil; Wood, Barnes
CHELSEA (Possible line-up): Mendy; James,
Zouma, Silva, Chilwell; Kante, Kovacic; Ziyech, Havertz, Mount; Werner
CURRENT
FORM (PL)
BURNLEY:
LLLDL
CHELSEA: WLDWDD
OTHER
STUFF
- Burnley have beat
Chelsea once in 12 Premier League matches.
- Burnley’s last
top-flight home win against Chelsea came in August 1973
- Burnley could lose
four consecutive Premier League home games for the first time since 2010.
- Chelsea are
unbeaten in all six of their Premier League fixtures away to Burnley.
- Burnley could suffer
five defeats in their opening six top-flight matches for the first time since
1927-28.
- Chelsea have
conceded 42 Premier League away goals since the start of last season.
- Burnley have won
just one of their past 24 home league games against established top-six six
sides
PREDICTION
BBC Sports: Burnley 1-1 Chelsea
Sportsmole: Burnley 1-3 Chelsea
90min: Burnley 1-2 Chelsea
