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Premier League Preview: Burnley - Chelsea
Blues look to extend lead at Premier League's summit...
| Bet: | Returns: | Napoli £25.50 | Draw £31.50 | Chelsea £25.50 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Napoli £25.00 | Draw £32.00 | Chelsea £26.20 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Napoli £25.00 | Draw £32.50 | Chelsea £27.50 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Napoli £25.00 | Draw £32.00 | Chelsea £28.80 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Napoli £24.50 | Draw £32.00 | Chelsea £26.50 |
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29 Jan 2010 09:30:00
By Stephen Darwin
Kick-off Saturday, January 30, 2010 – 17:30 GMT
Turf Moor, Burnley
Chelsea visit Turf Moor to tackle Burnley on Saturday with the chance of extending their lead at the top of the Premier League on a weekend when their two nearest rivals for the title go head-to-head.
With Manchester United and Arsenal set to clash at the Emirates on Sunday, victory over a Burnley side who are going through something of a transitional phase as they attempt to adapt to life after Owen Coyle would move Chelsea four points clear of second-placed United before a ball is even kicked in north London.
With a home tie in the fifth round of the FA Cup secured and Didier Drogba back from the African Cup of Nations, not to mention a mouth-watering clash against Jose Mourinho’s Inter in the Champions League to come, it’s a pretty good time to be a Chelsea fan at present.
Burnley have failed to win in the league since October but their home form does remain their saving grace - at Turf Moor they have only lost once and leaked just nine goals, a defensive record that is only marginally worse than Chelsea’s (lost none and conceded eight) at Stamford Bridge.
Moreover, the Clarets will be delighted to be back on their own ground - their last five games have all been away, their last home fixture having been on Boxing Day, well over a month ago.
It’s been over two decades since Chelsea last made a league trip to Turf Moor; back in the old Second Division in 1983, they came away with a 2-1 win. The Clarets will be hoping they can pull off something of a shock against the in-form Blues this time around as they attempt to stave off the looming threat of relegation under new boss Brian Laws.
FORM GUIDE
Burnley
26 Jan: Bolton Wanderers 1-0 Burnley (Premier League)
23 Jan: Reading 1-0 Burnley (FA Cup)
16 Jan: Manchester United 3-0 Burnley (Premier League)
2 Jan: MK Dons 1-2 Burnley (FA Cup)
28 Dec: Everton 2-0 Burnley (Premier League)
Chelsea
27 Jan: Chelsea 3-0 Birmingham City (Premier League)
23 Jan: Preston North End 0-2 Chelsea (FA Cup)
16 Jan: Chelsea 7-2 Sunderland (Premier League)
3 Jan: Chelsea 5-0 Watford (FA Cup)
28 Dec: Chelsea 2-1 Fulham (Premier League)
TEAM NEWS
Burnley
Andre Bikey is available for selection again having returned from African Cup of Nations duty with Cameroon.
January signings Leon Cort and Frederic Nimani could both feature for the Clarets, although Steven Caldwell (groin) is rated doubtful.
Possible starting XI: Jensen; Kalvenes, Duff, Carlisle, Mears; Eagles, Bikey, Alexander, Elliott; Fletcher, Nugent.
Chelsea
Chelsea welcome back Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou following their participation at the African Cup of Nations although Michael Essien will continue to miss out with a knee injury.
Ashley Cole should shake off an ankle injury in time to play while Jose Bosingwa (ankle) and Juliano Belletti (calf) are likely still to be missing.
Possible starting XI: Cech; Cole, Terry, Carvalho, Ivanovic; Malouda, Lampard, Deco, Joe Cole; Drogba, Anelka.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Burnley – David Nugent
After being something of a bit-part player under former manager Owen Coyle, David Nugent has seemingly been given a new lease of life with the arrival of Brian Laws. The striker, currently on loan from Portsmouth, has started the last four league games for the Clarets and will be desperate to prove his goalscoring prowess against Chelsea.
Chelsea – Frank Lampard
All eyes may be fixated on the return of top marksman Didier Drogba, although Lampard is the man pulling all the strings for Chelsea at the moment. The England star has netted five goals in his last three league outings and has seemingly hit top form at the perfect time for the Stamford Bridge outfit with Inter, Arsenal and Manchester City all to come in February.
PREDICTION
While Burnley’s home form is impressive to say the least, Chelsea are on a high at the moment and should come away from Turf Moor with the points in the bag.
Burnley 1–2 Chelsea
Turf Moor, Burnley
Chelsea visit Turf Moor to tackle Burnley on Saturday with the chance of extending their lead at the top of the Premier League on a weekend when their two nearest rivals for the title go head-to-head.
With Manchester United and Arsenal set to clash at the Emirates on Sunday, victory over a Burnley side who are going through something of a transitional phase as they attempt to adapt to life after Owen Coyle would move Chelsea four points clear of second-placed United before a ball is even kicked in north London.
With a home tie in the fifth round of the FA Cup secured and Didier Drogba back from the African Cup of Nations, not to mention a mouth-watering clash against Jose Mourinho’s Inter in the Champions League to come, it’s a pretty good time to be a Chelsea fan at present.
Burnley have failed to win in the league since October but their home form does remain their saving grace - at Turf Moor they have only lost once and leaked just nine goals, a defensive record that is only marginally worse than Chelsea’s (lost none and conceded eight) at Stamford Bridge.
Moreover, the Clarets will be delighted to be back on their own ground - their last five games have all been away, their last home fixture having been on Boxing Day, well over a month ago.
It’s been over two decades since Chelsea last made a league trip to Turf Moor; back in the old Second Division in 1983, they came away with a 2-1 win. The Clarets will be hoping they can pull off something of a shock against the in-form Blues this time around as they attempt to stave off the looming threat of relegation under new boss Brian Laws.
FORM GUIDE
Burnley
26 Jan: Bolton Wanderers 1-0 Burnley (Premier League)
23 Jan: Reading 1-0 Burnley (FA Cup)
16 Jan: Manchester United 3-0 Burnley (Premier League)
2 Jan: MK Dons 1-2 Burnley (FA Cup)
28 Dec: Everton 2-0 Burnley (Premier League)
Chelsea
27 Jan: Chelsea 3-0 Birmingham City (Premier League)
23 Jan: Preston North End 0-2 Chelsea (FA Cup)
16 Jan: Chelsea 7-2 Sunderland (Premier League)
3 Jan: Chelsea 5-0 Watford (FA Cup)
28 Dec: Chelsea 2-1 Fulham (Premier League)
TEAM NEWS
Burnley
Andre Bikey is available for selection again having returned from African Cup of Nations duty with Cameroon.
January signings Leon Cort and Frederic Nimani could both feature for the Clarets, although Steven Caldwell (groin) is rated doubtful.
Possible starting XI: Jensen; Kalvenes, Duff, Carlisle, Mears; Eagles, Bikey, Alexander, Elliott; Fletcher, Nugent.
Chelsea
Chelsea welcome back Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou following their participation at the African Cup of Nations although Michael Essien will continue to miss out with a knee injury.
Ashley Cole should shake off an ankle injury in time to play while Jose Bosingwa (ankle) and Juliano Belletti (calf) are likely still to be missing.
Possible starting XI: Cech; Cole, Terry, Carvalho, Ivanovic; Malouda, Lampard, Deco, Joe Cole; Drogba, Anelka.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Burnley – David Nugent
After being something of a bit-part player under former manager Owen Coyle, David Nugent has seemingly been given a new lease of life with the arrival of Brian Laws. The striker, currently on loan from Portsmouth, has started the last four league games for the Clarets and will be desperate to prove his goalscoring prowess against Chelsea.
Chelsea – Frank Lampard
All eyes may be fixated on the return of top marksman Didier Drogba, although Lampard is the man pulling all the strings for Chelsea at the moment. The England star has netted five goals in his last three league outings and has seemingly hit top form at the perfect time for the Stamford Bridge outfit with Inter, Arsenal and Manchester City all to come in February.
PREDICTION
While Burnley’s home form is impressive to say the least, Chelsea are on a high at the moment and should come away from Turf Moor with the points in the bag.
Burnley 1–2 Chelsea
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