Chelsea cannot whiff on another opportunity to close gaps among top four
By George Perry
The top of the Premier League table is shaping up to be a one-man-out race for the 2018/19 Champions League. Chelsea need to pounce on every opportunity make up ground on the clubs between them and Manchester City.
Rafael Benitez did his former club two favours on Sunday. First, he gave Kenedy his third consecutive Premier League start. The young loanee now has 213 Premier League minutes in 12 days: one-quarter of his lifetime total. Then, Benitez led Newcastle to a 1-0 victory over Manchester United, handing Jose Mourinho his second loss in three games.
But in true Rafa style, this gift has a bit of poison attached to it. The last two times Manchester United lost, Chelsea lost in the same weekend. Driving home Chelsea’s difficulties in making up ground with the clubs ahead of them, three of the Blues’ last four losses have come the same weekend United dropped points.
Chelsea started entered 2018 in second place. They were only one point ahead of United but Liverpool and the north London clubs were strung out over eight points. Since then, Tottenham have earned more points (15) than any other club, including Manchester City. Liverpool and United have won 13 and 12 points, respectively.
The Blues, meanwhile, sit with Watford and Stoke in the “five points in 2018” club. Arsenal have won only seven points in this span (one point courtesy of Chelsea), and are en route to another Europa League berth.
After Monday’s game against West Bromwich Albion, Chelsea’s next six Premier League fixtures fall into two categories: “six point games” or perilous. The games against Manchester United and Tottenham will be significant battles for the three remaining Champions League spots. Winning both of those will move Chelsea closer to locking down their Champions League qualification, in addition to a host of bragging rights against their rivals.
The other four games are against the teams who defeated Chelsea in the first half of the season. The Blues face Manchester City, Crystal Palace and Burnley in succession. They then play Spurs, followed by West Ham.
Next: Chelsea missing the through-balls to put forwards into the box and on goal
To whatever extent there are easy points in the Premier League, West Bromwich Albion are Chelsea’s last chance for easy points until April. Mixed in with this fixture list are Hull City and future FA Cup opponents and the Champions League against Barcelona. Chelsea need to take advantage of the 20th-place Baggies to gain a valuable win and a resurgence of confidence. They will need the psychological fuel – and the three points – for the long haul ahead.