Each game bigger than the last is usually a cliche, but not this time for Chelsea. Will the Blues extend their win streak to eight to kick off the most wonderful time of the year?
Andre Carlisle: Manchester City 2 – 1. You know the routine: witchcraft, bubbling cauldrons, and all that. No way to really understate this match. It isn’t for the title, but it is a chance for Chelsea to show what they could not do against legitimate top teams at the beginning of the season. Unfortunately Spurs gave Pep a 42-minute long cheat sheet last weekend. Antonio Conte will have to be ready for that, in addition to anything else Pep cooks up.
Still, this ain’t your 4-month old infant’s Chelsea. They should be prepared and doubly motivated. Speaking of double, welcome back to the scoresheet Eden Hazard, 2-1 Chels.
Ayushman Basu: 1 – 2 Chelsea. Both teams play with the three in the back, but with the Blues’ recent results they just seem to be more secure at the back than City. Eden Hazard is a potential MOTM tomorrow. He has been in terrific form and these are the matches where he should be making a difference.
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Elkebir Lamrani: 1 – 0. Mastermind Manager vs. Mastermind Manager. The ghosts of last season will come back to haunt Chelsea. Sergio Aguero will come back to haunt Chelsea. Kevin De Bruyne will come back to haunt Chelsea.
Hey, at least Frank Lampard isn’t playing for them. Points dropped at the Etihad are hardly a horrible thing. What would be horrible is the negative momentum carrying onto subsequent games.
Travis Tyler: 0 – 1. Having a tale of two halves is becoming something of a norm this season, with Chelsea generally performing better the longer the game goes on. The first half will be spent with the two sides feeling each other out, before a frantic second half that ends with a Costa goal in added time.
Daniel Mcclue: 2 – 1. The Blues have won one of the last seven games away to Manchester City. The club have a nasty habit of rolling over to City recently. Antonio Conte won’t let that happen. But there’s only so much he can do before the lack of quality shows.
Ben Croft: 1 – 1. I think it’ll be a close game with not much between the two sides. I think Manchester City will dominate possession but Chelsea will be more of a threat on the counter. It’s tough to call which is why I’m sitting on the fence! Costa to score for the Blues, and KDB to come back and haunt us.
Barrett Rouen: 1 – 2. Must admit I’m being rather hopeful here. City are a better squad but Chelsea are in better form at the moment. Will be close, but with a moment of magic to decide it. Although, it could honestly be the same scoreline the other way around.
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