Chelsea will be aiming to shake offany rustiness following the international break to continue their storming start to the season when they host West Brom on Saturday afternoon.
Date: Saturday, November 22nd Kick-off: 15:00 GMT Venue: Stamford Bridge
Mourinho’s men welcome a West Brom side who have made a mixed start to the season to Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon as they look to maintain or extend their lead at the summit of the table.
The Blues currently sit four points ahead of Southampton is second and a remarkable eight points above Manchester City, who many consider to be Chelsea’s only challengers to the title this season.
Chelsea rescued a point at home to the Baggies last season thanks to a controversial last-gasp penalty, won by Ramires and scored by Eden Hazard.
They had similar troubles in the away fixture, which is a game that will stick in the memory of Chelsea fans as one which begun the downfall of their title hopes, with the Blues leading until the 87th minute but ultimate blowing the chance of going four points clear at the top.
No such trouble is expected this time around, with the Blues flying so far this season as the league’s only unbeaten side and, in Arsene Wenger’s eyes, the only team who can win the league from this point.
It must be remembered that only 11 games have been played, so picking up points in a seemingly one-sided Saturday afternoon clash is just as important as walking away from Anfield with a win, which Chelsea managed last time out.
Chelsea will be expected to walk this one, having fixed the problems they had against the so-called smaller sides last season but West Brom will believe they can snatch at least a point at the home of the league’s leaders.
Having almost done so last season only to be denied by Andre Marriner’s penalty call, Alan Irvine’s side will be out for revenge come three o’clock on Saturday.
The Special One is under no illusions going into this one, as he revealed during his pre-match presser on Friday:
I expect a tight match, against a team that know they can get a result against us because they have done it in the past.
“We go to every match thinking we can win, but the reality is that they have a good team, they can give us a very difficult match,” Mourinho stressed.
Team News
Mourinho also revealed that Diego Costa had “fully recovered” from his injury that has had him touch-and-go for each game recently, and Andre Schurrle is available again after illness.
Cesc Fabregas is a doubt but Chelsea are hopeful that he can start against the Baggies, but Nathan Ake will miss the game through injury.
Finally for Chelsea, Ramires is not fully fit but can play on Saturday if Mourinho decides that the Brazilian will be required.
Jonas Olsson and Sebastien Pocognoli will miss the game for the visitors through injury while Craig Gardener can return following suspension.
Pre Match Facts
- Chelsea have never lost to West Brom in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge, winning seven and drawing one
- Chelsea, Bayern Munich and PSG are the only three teams yet to lose a game across Europes top five leagues this season
- No player has a better shot accuracy record than Diego Costa across Europes top 5 leagues this season (minimum 20 shots)
- Jose Mourinhos side have recovered the most points from losing positions of any team in the Premier League
- Chelsea all-time record vs West Brom: played 119, won 52, lost 37, drawn 30
- West Brom have won just three of their last 14 Premier League games
Source: Opta & ChelseaMad
Predictions
Chelsea: Courtois; Ivanovic, Terry, Cahill, Azpilicueta; Matic, Fabregas; Hazard, Oscar, Willian; Costa
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