Chelsea host West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League following the international break. While the hosts aim to solidify their place in the top-four, the visitors are in a dire need of points to prevent relegation.
Chelsea are on a fantastic run under Thomas Tuchel and they head into the game on the back of a 14-game unbeaten run across all competitions. The Blues come into the fixture with a comfortable 2-0 win over Sheffield United before the international break. The win over the Blades meant that they have won four of their last five matches. They have also kept clean sheets in seven consecutive competitive fixture, emerging as one of the top defensive sides in Europe under the former Paris Saint Germain coach.
Tuchel’s men find themselves at fourth place in the Premier League table. They will hope to continue their winning run to solidify their position in the top tier of the standings and seal a Champions League qualification. West Ham United, Tottenham and Liverpool are within touching distance of the Blues – a gap of just five points separating the sides. As such, the Stamford Bridge outfit has to continue winning games.
Chelsea are unbeaten in their last five consecutive fixtures at Stamford Bridge, including three wins and two draws. A win for the Blues will take them to 54 points, thereby inching closer to third place Leicester City in the Premier League standings.
On the other hand, West Bromwich Albion are ten points away from safety and are most likely looking at a relegation finish back to the Championship after just one season in the Premier League. Sam Allardyce’s men have managed to win just once in their last 11 games in the top-flight. The Baggies are also winless in their last three league fixtures.
West Brom come into the fixture on the back of a 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace. They have struggled to score regular goals in the current season and – just the one goal in their last five league matches providing evidence for the same.
To make matters worse, they have missed a plethora of good goal-scoring chances upfront, and are only slightly better than bottom-ranked Sheffield United in the same column. Brazilian Matheus Pereira is the leading goal-scorer for West Bromwich Albion but has just managed to net 5 goals in the league so far.
Playing away has also been an issue for the visitors. They have managed to win just one out of their last thirteen away fixtures, and have lost four games in their previous five away fixtures. Due to a lack of scoring abilities and a drought of wins away from home, the visitors will go into the fixture as firm underdogs against Chelsea on Saturday.
Key Players
Timo Werner: The German striker will hope to make amends to his goal-scoring form in the international break as he returns to his club at Chelsea. Werner missed an open-net goal-scoring opportunity against North Macedonia, which handed the Germans their first-ever loss in the World Cup qualification during Joachim Low’s reign.
Despite his troubles in front of goal, Werner has been in good form for Chelsea in the 2020/21 season. He has scored 8 goals, and 5 assists to his name in 36 matches across the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League.
Kai Havertz: One of the many new arrivals at the London side, Havertz is a versatile winger and attacking midfielder. His runs down the wings allow players like Werner, Mason Mount, and Olivier Giroud to find space for themselves and eke out goal-scoring opportunities.
He already has created two goals for his side from 21 games in the Premier League and is an exciting prospect for Chelsea in the next few seasons. Havertz has some fantastic bit of understanding with Werner which has been useful so far.
Mason Mount: The English attacking midfielder has been a revelation for Chelsea. Mount was impressive under Frank Lampard and has been so under Tuchel as well. The Englishman has been used in more of a free role by the German. He has scored five goals and created three thanks to his exceptional vision on the ball, and will play a key part to play in the midfield and the wings to create openings for his side.
Matheus Pereira: The Brazilian is the leading goal-scorer for his side in what has been an under-par football season for West Bromwich Albion. Pereira has scored 5 goals so far and will have the responsibility to find his scoring boots again and find some goals to save his side from imminent relegation to the Championship.
Prediction
Chelsea have the form and a strong defensive resilience under Tuchel to their advantage. However, the Baggies faithful can be hopeful to get a point from a game that has rendered them as clear underdogs, especially as teams have often known to shift gears in games after a long international break.
