Chelsea v Norwich City Preview
Chelsea are in dire straits, and this is an acclaimed and well-known fact these days. They’re falling apart as there’s nothing that is going right for Jose Mourinho and his men, who proudly took home the title last season. And the Blues may well look to get back on track on Saturday, as they host 15th placed Norwich City during an afternoon that is expected to be sunny. Chelsea succumbed to a 1-0 loss to Stoke the last time they took to the pitch, when Marko Arnautovic’s volleyed goal had handed the Potters all three points.
As far as Norwich City are concerned, the Canaries’ comeback into the Premier League hasn’t been too exciting. But they did manage to pick up all three points from a game against Swansea at Carrow Road, thanks to a Jonny Howson goal.
Team News
Chelsea’s Eden Hazard is a doubt for the game as Belgium coach Marc Wilmots confirmed during the international break that last season’s Player of the Year was suffering from fever and sore throat. Kurt Zouma too was left out of the French squad due to a problem that is unspecified and is deemed to be uncertain to start. While striker Radamel Falcao continues his recovery from a muscular injury.
As far as Norwich City are concerned, Nathan Redmond will undergo a late fitness test following a thigh injury. But Alex Neil will be without winger Matt Jarvis, who is still nursing the knee injury he had fallen to during Norwich’s clash at the Etihad. Russell Martin will be back in the frame of selection, after serving his one match ban.
Probable Chelsea starting XI: Begovic, Ivanovic, Terry, Cahill, Azpilicueta, Matic, Ramires, Pedro, Oscar, Willian, Costa.
Probable Norwich starting XI: Ruddy, Wisdom, Bennett, Bassong, Olsson, Howson, Tettey, O’Neil, Brady, Hoolahan, Jerome.
Past Meetings
The last time Norwich earned a Premier League win over Chelsea, it was in 1994 and the Canaries haven’t won against them since.
The last time both of these sides faced each other, the game ended in a drab 0-0 draw back in the 2013-14 season but the reverse fixture saw Chelsea emerge 3-1 winners. The win in 2013 was Chelsea’s first away win that season as late goals from Willian and Eden Hazard had sealed the deal for Mourinho’s side
During the 2012-13 season, again it was Chelsea all the way. The Blues completed a double over the Canaries after winning the Stamford Bridge clash 4-1 and ousting Norwich 1-0 in the clash at Carrow Road.
Predictions
The stat that tells you the most about how the fixture will pan out is that Norwich haven’t won a single away game since the 15th of August. More so, they’ve conceded a total of 15 away goals, more than only Sunderland and Bournemouth.
But other stats that swing it in Norwich’s favor is that Chelsea have lost 8 points from winning positions this season and have kept only two clean sheets this season. Moreover, Chelsea have Diego Costa hasn’t scored in his past 8 matches, his second worst barren run since joining Chelsea in 2014, with the first one comprising of 7 games.
The game would be almost a must win for Chelsea, or otherwise the top four would seem impossible for them and Jose Mourinho’s time could well be up. Nobody would’ve thought that something like this could’ve happened when the season began. With this game being at Stamford Bridge and Norwich undergoing a barren away run, I would predict a scrappy 2-1 win for Chelsea.