CHELSEA v Burnley: Preview

Date: Sunday 31^st January 2021

Venue: Stamford Bridge

Kick-off: 12:00 GMT

After passing our way to a 0-0 draw against Wolves midweek, today’s early kick-off sees another arduous game ahead, this time at home to Burnley.

It was an odd one against Wolves in many ways, the game itself probably went the way we’d expect it to. Maybe not the passing so much but the waning of energy and intent as the game went on, and certainly the result came as no surprise at all, but the team selection and set-up was less expected, and we definitely suffered from the absence of Mason Mount until very late in the game.

Burnley come into today’s game in fine form, with recent wins against Villa and Liverpool, so they’ll be the more confident of a result. They’ll also be more than happy to see us play the way we did against Wolves, they’re more than capable of shutting up shop and it’s going to take something a bit more clinical than sideways passing in front of goal to trouble their keeper.

As for us, we’ve won just two of our last nine in the league and will need a grappling hook if we slip any further down the table. Still, if our players can try even half as hard to please the new manager as those in charge of Chelsea’s social media in the last week, you never know, we could have a bit more than ‘passing’ highlights to show for the game.

MANAGER’S VIEWS

Going into today’s game, Burnley manager Sean Dyche, says “We’ve only got one game to go on in the Premier League, but obviously he’s [Tuchel] been well thought of for many seasons around the different clubs he’s been at. We saw (against Wolves) they were passing more than they had done, with incredibly high stats on keeping the ball. They didn’t score but they certainly knocked on the door.  We’ll wait and see but I think with our wealth of experience in the Premier League, you can always use that knowledge.  We’ll focus on ourselves and how we can be effective.”

SQUAD NEWS

For Chelsea, there are no new reported injuries. N’Golo Kante (hamstring) has returned to training and should be available.

For Burnley, Charlie Taylor and Ashley Barnes have returned to training but are given as doubts. Josh Brownhill is also a doubt after coming off following a knock against Aston Villa.

TEAMS

CHELSEA (Possible line-up): Kepa; Azpilicueta, Silva, Rudiger, Chilwell, Hudson-Odoi, Jorginho, Kante, Mount, Pulisic, Werner

BURNLEY (Possible line-up): Pope; Lowton, Tarkowski, Mee, Pieters; Brady, Westwood, Cork, McNeil; Wood, Rodriguez

LAST SEASON

Chelsea 3-0 Burnley (11^th January 2020)

CURRENT FORM (ALL)

CHELSEA: LDLWLD

BURNLEY: LWLLWW

OTHER STUFF

• Burnley’s only win in 13 Premier League meetings was at Stamford Bridge in 2017
• Chelsea have scored 16 goals in the past six encounters.
• Chelsea have won just two of their past nine league matches.
• Burnley have won five of their past nine league fixtures
• Chelsea have only had three league wins in eight games at Stamford Bridge.
• Chelsea haven’t scored in their last 2 league games.
• Burnley have only scored twice in their past eight league away fixtures
• Chelsea have kept 14 clean sheets in 30 games in all competitions.
• Burnley have kept five away league clean sheets

PREDICTION

BBC Sport: Chelsea 2-1 Burnley

Sky Sports: Chelsea 2-0 Burnley

Sportsmole: Chelsea 2-1 Burnley