MATCH DETAILS:
Saturday, 3rd April,
5PM IST
TEAM PREVIEW:
N’Golo Kante is the only player sidelined for Chelsea ahead of Saturday’s game. The midfielder picked up a hamstring injury on international duty with France, missing their final two World Cup Qualifiers.
Chelsea head coach Thomas Tuchel also confirmed that Timo Werner would start against the relegation-threatened Baggies with Callum Hudson-Odoi, Thiago Silva and Tammy Abraham all fit to feature.
West Brom will be without young midfielder Conor Gallagher. The 21-year-old is on loan from Chelsea and is ineligible for the game against his parent club.
Hal Robson-Kanu was sent home from Wales duty after breaching protocol but has tested negative for coronavirus. All the Baggies’ international contingent are available for the match.
Across all competitions, it’s been 687 minutes since Chelsea conceded – facing teams like Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester United and Atletico Madrid twice in that run – and Tuchel has seen his side ship just two goals in the Premier League. A title challenge could be on the agenda next season.
It doesn’t take a genius to know that a Chelsea win to nil at 5/6 looks the most likely outcome here.
Prediction
Chelsea 3-0 West Bromwich Albion
West Brom may have managed to get a point in their last meeting against Chelsea but things are much more different now. Under Thomas Tuchel, the Blues have become near-impregnable at the back, with only one team scoring past them in the German’s ten leagues game in charge.
There is still some work to be done at the other end, though, with the attack yet to fire on all cylinders. Nonetheless, Chelsea should have more than enough on the day to pick up another important win and strengthen their position in the top four race…
The Blues entered the international break off the back of a 2-0 win over Sheffield United in the FA Cup, while West Brom, who remain rooted inside the relegation zone, suffered a 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace in the league last time out.
Chelsea vs West Brom head-to-head
Chelsea have won 62 and lost 42 games against the Baggies. A total of 36 matches between the two have ended as draws.
West Brom are winless in their last 15 away Premier League fixtures at Chelsea, with their last triumph coming in 1978.
Chelsea form guide (Premier League): D-W-W-D-D
West Brom form guide (Premier League): L-D-L-W-D
Chelsea vs West Brom: EPL starting XI prediction
Probable Chelsea Starting XI:
Edouard Mendy, Cesar Azpilicueta, Andreas Christensen, Antonio Rudiger, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic, Marcos Alonso, Mason Mount, Hakim Ziyech, Kai Havertz.
Probable West Brom Starting XI:
Sam Johnstone, Darnell Furlong, Semi Ajayi, Kyle Bartley, Conor Townsend, Robert Snodgrass, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Okay Yokuslu, Matheus Pereira, Matt Phillips, Mbaye Diagne.
