Prediction: Burnley vs Chelsea

Verdict: Draw

Best odds: 3/1

Bookmaker: bet365

Burnley are set to welcome Chelsea to Turf Moor on Saturday evening in a game that will be a part of the 10th round of the 2019/20 Premier League season.

Burnley

The Clarets have established themselves as a regular feature of the Premier League by now since they were last promoted in 2016. They are known as a tough, physically strong and well prepared team under the leadership of manager Sean Dyche, and though their approach to the game is usually more defensive than anything else, it usually produces results.

They’re entering the round sitting in eighth place, belonging to a group of teams that have gathered 12 points from the previous nine games, also consisting of Tottenham Hotspur, Sheffield United, Bournemouth and West Ham. It’s very tight in the middle of the table at the moment.

Team News

Dyche will be without the services of midfielder Johann Berg Gudmundsson, who remains a long-term absentee due to a thigh problem. Chris Wood is a major with the same problem, but fellow striker Ashley Barnes and midfielder Jack Corke are both likely to be in contention, having recovered from groin and shoulder injuries, respectively.

Midfielder Danny Drinkwater is suffering from an ankle issue, but even if he were 100% fit he wouldn’t be able to play, being ineligible to face his parent club.

Chelsea

Chelsea are doing much better than many would have expected prior to the start of the season. They’ve been hit with a two-window transfer ban, and Frank Lampard, whose managerial credential many doubted as well despite his success as a player, has been forced to work with the players already on the clubs’s books. And that group had also been severely hampered by the departures of Eden Hazard, Gary Cahill and David Luiz.

Nonetheless, he’s made it work. He gave a shot to 20-year-old Mason Mount in the absence of Hazard, ahead of Pedro Rodriguez, while his main striker, 22-year-old Tammy Abraham, currently leads the way as the Premier League’s top scorer along with Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero with eight goals. At the back, captain Cezar Azpilicueta is still there, but he’s now leading a defence consisting of Kurt Zouma, Andreas Christensen, Fikayo Tomori and often Emerson Palmieri ahead of Marcos Alonso.

Team News

Christensen is out of this game with a thigh injury, as is Antonio Rudiger with a groin issue. It means that we’re most likely to see the young duo of Zouma and Tomori in the heart of defence. Lampard will be hoping to have midfielder Ross Barkley back from an ankle problem, as well as N’Golo Kante who’s been having the same problem as Rudiger but to a lesser extent. Midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who hasn’t played since May, should be back soon, but not for this clash.

Conclusion

Even though Burnley are a difficult opponent, especially at their own ground, Chelsea will have to try and win this game, simply because it’s a must for any team planning to finish in top four and qualify for next season’s Champions League. It won’t be easy for their youngsters at both ends of the pitch against the experience and physicality of this Burnley team, and Dyche will certainly have a plan.

So will Lampard, of course, but it feels they might fall just short of their target and leave Turf Moor with no more than a point.

Verdict: Draw

Best odds: 3/1

Bookmaker: bet365