Enzo Maresca will be eager to make a big push in the top-five race when Chelsea host relegation-threatened Ipswich Town at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea did enough earlier this week against Legia Warszawa in their UEFA Europa Conference League quarter-final to have one foot into the semi-finals already ahead of the Premier League game against Ipswich Town this weekend. Enzo Maresca will have been pleased with the overall display, but there were some big question marks about a few individuals.
Maresca must switch his attention back to matters in the league as they take on Ipswich Town at Stamford Bridge. Objectively, Chelsea must challenge to overtake Nottingham Forest in third, although they are under tremendous pressure to keep hold of their current spot, as Newcastle United, Manchester City and Aston Villa are breathing down their neck from behind.
Newcastle United are the biggest threat to Chelsea at the moment, as the Magpies have a game in hand. Maresca’s side could not break down a resilient Brentford side away from home last weekend, and goals will be a source of concern for the manager. Arsenal’s win over Real Madrid now guarantees a fifth Champions League spot next season. Chelsea must overcome a tough run of fixtures to at least finish in the top five.
Kieran McKenna on the opposite bench will be hoping his team can repeat their performance against Chelsea the last time the teams played. Back at Portman Road, the Tractor Boys outsmarted the Blues to secure a 2-0 win, something Ipswich Town fans will be dreaming of at Stamford Bridge.
Since that victory over Chelsea, the season began unravelling for Ipswich Town as they went on a dreadful winless run stretching to ten games that included defeats to the likes of Southampton. They did break that run with a well-earned victory over Bournemouth, but last weekend’s late defeat to Wolves handed McKenna’s side a bitter blow in their slim hopes of surviving relegation.
A late Jorgen Strand Larsen strike sank Ipswich Town while allowing Wolves to open up a 12-point gap over McKenna’s side. Hence, there is a dire need to get a win away at Stamford Bridge while hoping Wolves falter at the weekend, as another set of dropped points will more or less make relegation inevitable for McKenna’s men.
Team News & Tactics
Chelsea
Enzo Maresca will certainly prioritise the Premier League run over the UEFA Europa Conference League ahead of the weekend, as he will go back to usual settings when it comes to his team selection. There are no fresh injury concerns apart from the ones that are set to remain absent such as Wesley Fofana and Romeo Lavia.
Maresca will bring on those players rested for midweek, with the midfield pair Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez certain to start. Cole Palmer was subbed off at half-time after another abject display, but he will retain his place in the No.10 role for Chelsea.
Trevoh Chalobah and Levi Colwill are expected to return in the defensive third, with Reece James likely to start at right-back with Marc Cucurella on the other flank. Robert Sanchez will replace Filip Jorgensen in goal, thus asserting his status as Maresca’s No.1 choice.
Noni Madueke will start on the right wing after his brace in midweek, while Jadon Sancho should keep his place on the left. Nicolas Jackson should replace Christopher Nkunku in the No.9 role after another disappointing outing from the Frenchman, who also missed from the spot in midweek.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; James, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; Fernandez, Caicedo; Madueke, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson
Ipswich Town
Conor Townsend was an injury casualty in the defeat to Wolves, with the defender unlikely to make the trip to Stamford Bridge. Leif Davis will be expected to replace the injured defender at left-back. There are further concerns with injuries as keeper Arijanet Muric, Chiedozie Obgene, Wes Burns and Sammie Szmodics are absent from proceedings.
There are doubts over Omari Hutchinson’s availability, as he closes in on a return from a thigh injury. If fit, he might make the bench at best. Kieran McKenna will have to rely on the available options at his disposal, as Dara O’Shea and Cameron Burgess will feature at the heart of the defence, while Axel Tuanzebe takes up the right-back role.
Samy Morsy and Jens Cajuste are the likely choices in central defence, with Nathan Broadhead set to play the advanced role. Ben Johnson and Julio Enciso are set to support striker Liam Delap in the front three for Ipswich Town.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Palmer; Tuanzebe, O’Shea, Burgess, Davis; Morsy, Cajuste; Johnson, Broadhead, Enciso; Delap
Key Stats
- Chelsea have won their last four home matches against Ipswich Town in all competitions.
- Chelsea have kept four clean sheets in a row at home across all competitions.
- Ipswich Town have one win in their last 12 Premier League games.
- Chelsea were the Premier League’s top scorers across their first 16 games, netting 37 times but have only 17 goals in 15 top-flight fixtures since December 21, only five sides have fewer (prior to the latest round of matches).
- Cole Palmer has failed to score in 13 consecutive league and cup appearances since netting in a 2-2 draw with Bournemouth on 14 January.
Player to Watch
Cole Palmer
Palmer has struggled for relevance of late, as the England international has gone without scoring in his last nine appearances in the Premier League. His most recent goal contribution came against Tottenham when he set up the goal for Fernandez, and Palmer will be eager to break this deadlock against Ipswich Town.
Despite that barren run, Palmer still has 14 goals in the Premier League, more than any other Chelsea player while also providing eight assists. Hence, all the talk about him being a one-season wonder is out of the window, as it may seem like a matter of time before he kicks back into gear, as Maresca and the fans will hope that is against Ipswich Town.
Prediction
Chelsea 3-1 Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town appear destined for relegation and while they are still mathematically into the equation for safety, the pressure-induced situation could go against Kieran McKenna’s side. They would need goals and will have to play expansive football against a side so threatening in transitions and on the counter. However, with Liam Delap’s presence, Kieran McKenna’s side will always have the chance of scoring.
Meanwhile, Chelsea will look to take full advantage of Ipswich Town’s situation and get a healthy scoreline in their favour. Maresca will want three points at all costs, as there are some tough games ahead in their quest to finish in the top five. Chelsea will be the overwhelming favourites for three points, and they are expected to score plenty of goals too.
