Expect a nerve-racking penultimate game of the season for both sides, as Champions League-chasing Chelsea welcome a Huddersfield side still fighting against relegation despite putting on a brave, defiant display in their last outing.
A point here should be enough for Huddersfield to cement another season in the PL. They earned a surprising point (0-0) at champions Manchester City at the weekend to take their tally to a respectable five points in four matches. Unlike City, however, Chelsea have to win to stay in contention for a top-four finish.
Four wins on the bounce for Chelsea, combined with Tottenham’s defeat to West Brom on Saturday (1-0), has changed the complexion of the race for a top four finish. Importantly, on a fundamental level, the defensive problems that saw the Blues recently concede 23 goals in 16 matches seem to be fixed, with just a single goal conceded from their last four (in all competitions).
Four wins on the bounce for Chelsea, combined with Tottenham’s defeat to West Brom on Saturday (1-0), has changed the complexion of the race for a top four finish. Importantly, on a fundamental level, the defensive problems that saw the Blues recently concede 23 goals in 16 matches seem to be fixed, with just a single goal conceded from their last four (in all competitions).
Players to watch: Olivier Giroud (CHE) is in fine form, and has netted four in his last five appearances (in all competitions).
Steve Mounie (HUD) has failed to score in his last three matches, but is still Huddersfield’s top goalscorer with seven goals this season.
Stat attack: Chelsea’s form of four wins and a draw from their last five is best in the league over a five-game period.
All of Huddersfield’s last eight PL matches have ended with under 2.5 goals scored. By extension, 22 of Huddersfield’s 36 league matches this season (61%) have gone the same way.
CHELSEA
Predicted line-up: Courtois; Azpilicueta, Cahill, Rudiger; Moses, Fabregas, Kante, Bakayoko, Alonso; Giroud, Hazard
Unavailable: David Luiz (Injured), Ampadu (Injured), Drinkwater (Injured)
Doubtful: Morata (Injured)
HUDDERSFIELD
Predicted line-up: Lossl; Smith, Schindler, Jorgensen, Kongolo, Lowe; Hadergjonaj, Hogg, Mooy; Pritchard, Mounie
Unavailable: Williams (Injured), Kachunga (Injured), Stankovic (Injured), Hefele (Injured)
Doubtful: Ince (Injured), Lowe (Injured)
predictions, Huddersfield +2
