Chelsea: Predictions for a Michy Batshuayi-powered win at Norwich

Chelsea face a newly-promoted team in the next two games, starting today against Norwich City. If they can’t get three points off the Canaries, well, let’s not think about that.

Chelsea have struggled to score goals in their first three competitive fixtures. At the same time, Michy Batshuayi has struggled to move ahead of Tammy Abraham and Olivier Giroud. If, as many of our writers predict (expect? demand?), Frank Lampard gives Batshuayi the start at Carrow Road, the Blues should cruise to a comfortable victory.

Scott Brant: Norwich City 1 – 3 Chelsea. Chelsea are going to beat Norwich – it shouldn’t be a problem. But if it is, it will be because of the issues in past matches. The goals have to start coming from the striker. And if Michy Batshuayi doesn’t start, I may lose it and go off the deep end.

Chelsea need to be able to handle teams like these with ease, win the ones they’re supposed to, and steel themselves for the bigger sides in the top six.

Batshuayi to score a hat trick and not smile or dance, just to prove a point that this season is all business. Teemu Pukki to score for Norwich.

Gabe Henderson: 1 – 4. The goals will come and they will come fast. Chelsea’s attacking midfield is the most impressive Norwich has seen thus far. Super Frank is familiar with Norwich and, after a series of disappointing results, the Blues will get a much needed three points.

Hugo Amaya: 1 – 2. A relatively simple game for the Blues until the last 15 minutes. Frank Lampard knows the team needs a win and losing against the likes of Norwich will be disastrous. Therefore, Chelsea will be more proactive with their passing and pressing.

As expected, the Blues will dominate the tempo of the game and score two goals in the first half. But when clock starts to run down, Norwich will play more aggressively and get one back.
Luckily, Lampard learned from previous games and he will make sure his team protects the lead as the Blues see out the game and take home the three points.

Olly Smith: 1 – 3. Now this is it. This is the game. Michy Batshuayi plays and scores on his return, supplied by the one and only Ross Barkley. Barkley shines in that tip of the diamond role, instead of being relegated to the wing and rendered ineffective. Christian Pulisic will chip in with a goal before Barkley knocks in a long-range curler. Done and dusted, three points in the bag.

Karan Saini: 1 – 3. Chelsea have displayed great attacking intent under Frank Lampard and have been unlucky not to win until now. Against Norwich the goals should be scored comfortably, but defensive lapses continue to happen and Chelsea will miss out on another clean sheet. But at least Lampard secures his first three points.

Brendan McDonnell: 0 – 3. One of the struggles of the Sarriball era was waking up on the West Coast at 4:30 am to watch that wretched brand of football. It was simply awful and I almost always regretted my choice of setting the alarm. I don’t expect the Lampard era to cause the same level of frustration. It will, instead, reward me with a terrific match worthy of my sleep deprivation.

Pedro will define this match as he nets at least a brace and wipes out any hope of a Norwich upset. Kepa Arrizabalaga has yet to keep a clean sheet this season and he will be spectacular in keeping the Canaries off the scoreline.

Barrett Rouen: 0 – 3. This will be a very difficult year for the Blues. Though I’m not saying it about this match, which ought to go well, I’m going to refrain from many predictions this season because I still and always will refuse to bet against Chelsea.

Abhishek Pancholi: 0 – 4. Frank Lampard will hand Michy Batshuayi his first start and the SpongeBob SuperFan will not disappoint. His brace in the first half will have the Canaries running for cover. Chelsea will survive the second-half fight back from Norwich and go on to add a third via Ross Barkley.

Lampard will let the crowd show some love to his newfound first-choice striker when he brings off the excellent Batshuayi for Tammy Abraham. The England youngster will round off a fantastic day at the office for Lampard by scoring a towering header right at the death.

Olaoluwa Nwobodo: 1 – 4. Nobody would expect this result. Norwich would come out with a lot of confidence, and rightly so, but they will not be ready for what they see. Chelsea have finally learned.

Michy Batshuayi to score a brace. Kurt Zouma to score from a corner. Christian Pulisic to top it off with a goal. Of course, Teemu Pukki will score a consolation goal.

Chelsea need to start getting results. If they cannot do that against Norwich, then there’ll be real reason to worry.

Celestine Ejoh: 1 – 2. N’Golo Kante’s potential absence could be a big problem for the Blues. But even if he starts, the defense will still have its work cut out with Jorginho as the deepest midfielder. Having had a week without a fixture, the Blues will be much more refreshed, so expect them to maintain the early high tempo style for longer, which may result in more chances and a few goals.

Kevin Peacock: 0 – 3. Chelsea may be yet to win a game in the Premier League, but at times they’ve looked outstanding going forward. You can’t help but feel that at some point, some poor helpless team are going to get hammered.

Norwich are one of the few teams Frank Lampard and Jody Morris have first-hand experience managing against. Derby won a thriller at Carrow Road last season winning 4-3 in injury time. With Michy Batshuayi as the focal point of attack and (possibly not) N’golo Kante as the fulcrum of midfield, Chelsea will ease to a comfortable 3-0 victory. Batshuayi grabs a brace and, of course, Tambraham comes off the bench to grab a late third.

Nate Hofmann: 2 – 3. If Frank Lampard manages to secure his first Premier League victory on Saturday, it will be the result of his side playing a full 90 minutes with the same intensity they showed in the first half hour against Leicester City. The lack of a two-hour track meet against Liverpool at the midweek should help.

An absurdly in-form Teemu Pukki will be the last thing Chelsea’s backline wants to see, and the likely absence of N’Golo Kante will only add to that anxiety.

It’s hard to imagine Chelsea keeping a clean sheet, especially with the Finnisher on the prowl, but goals by Mason Mount, Ross Barkley, and Willian should get the Blues over the line in the end.