Date: Saturday 7th
October 2023
Venue: Turf Moor
Kick-off: 15:00 BST
Today’s game sees us travel to Turf Moor to face newly promoted Burnley.
The Clarets come into today’s game off the back of their first win of the season, against Luton on Tuesday. We also come into the game with a win behind us in the Premier League, following on from our win against Brighton in the Carabao Cup. We got off to a good start against Fulham Monday night and whilst the second half lacked the same level of energy, its fair to say we were never threatened with a response. Those wins have been a while coming though and we still have a long way to go and many more injuries to recover before we’ll see our true selves this season. Burnley are shipping goals, so we might have a chink of light there but we’ve only taken maximum points in three of our last 14 away in the Premier League.
We finally got ourselves going in the last couple games, let’s hope it isn’t a false start because we’ve got tougher fixtures to come after the break.
MANAGER’S VIEWS
Going into
today’s game, Burnley manager, Vincent Kompany, says “They [Chelsea] are a
talented side, the first question is how unlucky they have been. It is always
the case with big clubs, having results all the time. When you look at their
games, there is a very good side with very good players. It will happen at some
time hopefully not at Turf Moor.
I have been
part of an environment when – as a player – money could be spent. Now I am part
of an environment where we are far from being the biggest spending. I don’t
have a single complaint about it. They have fantastic players. The exciting
part for us is we can get so much better from our own resources.”
Chelsea
manager Mauricio Pochettino, meanwhile, says “Every
single game is important for us, for us it’s two different things. One is to get the
result we need, another is to settle and help the players to arrive at their
best to get their best form that they can. Every single game in the Premier
League is important and of course tomorrow is going to be a tough game because
it’s a team who run a lot and try to play. Of course it’s going to be tough but
we go there to try to win the three points.
Now after two victories it’s important to keep thinking the same way –
that we need to improve. We were losing games and not getting what
we deserved, I think. Keeping the balance and keeping the belief was important
too. I think the most important is the journey, we know the way we need to keep
improving, we’ve won two games but it’s still nothing so far with the way we
wanted to play and to perform.
To go into the
international break with a different feeling than the last international break
is really important for us to win the game, but we need to stay calm. We have
been preparing really well for the game and of course we are going to arrive in
a condition to compete against a team who is doing well also and trying to be
better than them.”
SQUAD NEWS
For Burnley,
Michael Obafemi (hamstring), Nathan Redmond (knock), Darko Churlinov (blood poisoning),
Johann Berg Gudmundsson (calf), Manuel Benson (knock), and Hjalmar Ekdal (knee)
all miss out.
For Chelsea,
Wesley Fofana (knee), Christopher Nkunku (knee), Romeo Lavia (ankle),
Marcus Bettinelli (knee), and Ben Chilwell (Hamstring), are all injured. The
game also comes too soon for Reece James (hamstring), whilst Trevoh Chalobah
(hamstring), Benoit Badiashile (hamstring) and Carney Chukwuemeka will be
assessed. Jackson is available again after suspension, but Malo Gusto serves
the last game of his 3-match ban.
TEAMS
BURNLEY (Possible line-up): Trafford; Roberts, Al-Dakhil, Beyer, Taylor; Berge, Cullen, Brownhill;
Koleosho, Foster, Amdouni
CHELSEA (Possible line-up): Sanchez; Cucurella, Disasi, Silva, Colwill; Caicedo, Fernandez,
Gallagher; Palmer, Jackson, Sterling
LAST SEASON
N/A
CURRENT FORM (PL)
BURNLEY: LLDLLW
CHELSEA: LWLDLW
OTHER STUFF
- Burnley have 1 win in 16 Premier League games
against Chelsea (2017 – away).
- Chelsea have won on seven of their eight Premier
League visits to Turf Moor.
- Burnley have lost five consecutive league games
against Chelsea at Turf Moor.
- Burnley have failed to keep a clean sheet in all 16
Premier League meetings with Chelsea.
- Burnley’s win at Luton Town on Tuesday was their
first in 11 Premier League games.
- Burnley have lost their opening four home league games
in a season for the first time.
- Chelsea could win consecutive Premier League games
for the first time since March.
- Chelsea have kept clean sheets in three of their
past five league games.
PREDICTION
Sportsmole: Burnley 0-1 Chelsea
