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Chelsea vs. West Brom opposition analysis: What awaits the Blues?

By Dan Clark

ROME, ITALY - OCTOBER 31: Chelsea FC head coach Antonio Conte reacts during the UEFA Champions League group C match between AS Roma and Chelsea FC at Stadio Olimpico on October 31, 2017 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images )
ROME, ITALY - OCTOBER 31: Chelsea FC head coach Antonio Conte reacts during the UEFA Champions League group C match between AS Roma and Chelsea FC at Stadio Olimpico on October 31, 2017 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images ) /
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Chelsea travel to the Hawthorns to take on West Brom and open up a run of real, post-international break football. What can the Blues expect from their opposition?

Chelsea and West Bromwich Albion each have solid stakes in today’s fixture. The Blues seek to stay alive in the title race and kick off this upcoming run of games with a win. The Baggies are fighting to keep Tony Pulis employed as Pulis wonders what life is like with more than 40 points in a season.

Here is what Chelsea will encounter at the Hawthorns.

Form

Rotten. West Brom have been pretty awful so far this season. The lost their last three games and sit just a point outside the relegation places. As expected with a Tony Pulis side, they have not scored many. In fact, only three teams have scored fewer. However, unexpectedly for a Pulis side, they have been quite porous at the back and have only kept three clean sheets this season.

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Recent head-to-head meetings

Not many Chelsea fans will have forgotten the last time the sides met at the Hawthorns as it was the game that clinched the title, with Michy Batshuayi scoring a late winner. The reverse fixture in December was similarly 1-0 in the heart of Chelsea’s 13-game winning streak. The last time these teams met at West Brom, the Blues took home an early-season 3-2 win.

Strengths

Again, the Baggies are normally incredibly solid at the back, but not so far in this campaign. Chelsea will have to be wary from set pieces, in particular, considering they will probably be playing three centre-backs (at least). Antonio Conte may go with Cesar Azpilicueta at right wing-back to allow for another, taller centre-back. Hopefully, that particular experiment ended after the Roma game.

Weaknesses

Entertaining their fans? West Brom are usually suspect to pace and trickery, so if Chelsea can pinn them back with Eden Hazard on the ball, Chelsea should create plenty of chances. Cesc Fabregas could be the key in this game to unlock a packed Baggies defence.

Likely XI

West Brom have been playing five at the back recently, and they will likely do the same against the Blues. They will keep Salomon Rondon and Jay Rodriguez up top again, then sit back and try to hit Chelsea on the counter and from set pieces.

West Bromwich (5-3-2):

Foster; Nyom, McAuley, Hegazi, Evans, Gibbs; Livermore, Krychowiak, Barry; Rondon, Rodriguez

Next: Chelsea's predicted XI: Antonio Rudiger in to rest Gary Cahill for midweek

Chelsea vs. West Brom: Final prediction

Hopefully a nice, comfortable victory in a very winnable game after the international break. Then again, that was said that before Crystal Palace… Still, Chelsea should have too much here. 0-2 (Alvaro Morata 32, Cesc Fabregas 81).

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