Chelsea travel to Turf Moor on Thursday, five days after coming from 2-0 down to beat Southampton at St. Mary’s. The Blues left it late and have January signing Olivier Giroud to thank, as the French striker came off the bench to score twice.
It was a gruelling game for the Blues, who looked out of it after Jan Bednarek’s 60th minute volley saw Southampton go 2-0 up. However, the game turned on its head in eight minutes, as Antonio Conte’s side took advantage of their opponent’s psychological weakness and scored three times to win the game. It was fortunate as they kept up their hopes of qualifying for next year’s Champions League.
Meanwhile, Burnley kept their hopes of qualifying for European football next season alive with a 2-1 victory over Leicester on Saturday. The Clarets have now won five games in a row and could be in with a chance of qualifying for the Europa League if they finish seventh.
Burnley vs. Chelsea Predictions
Burnley have every chance of getting something out of this game, especially as Chelsea play again on Sunday in the FA Cup semi-final. Antonio Conte can’t afford to rest players at the moment, such is their current run, but this will be a very tough test for his team. Burnley are full of momentum and they should give the Blues a real challenge.
Burnley vs. Chelsea Betting Tips
Head to Head
- Burnley won the reverse of this fixture on the opening weekend. Their first top-flight victory over Chelsea since August 1973.
- Chelsea haven’t lost both league meetings in a season against Burnley since the 1968/69 campaign.
- The Clarets haven’t done the league double against the reigning top-flight champions since 1953/54, when they beat Arsenal home and away.
- The Blues have scored in all seven of their Premier League meetings with Burnley. Only against Wigan (16), Derby and Portsmouth (14 each) do they have a better 100% scoring record in the competition.
- Burnley’s only previous Premier League game played on a Thursday was on New Year’s Day 2016, in a 3-3 draw away at Newcastle.
- The Lancashire side are unbeaten in their seven previous Premier League home midweek games (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday), winning four and drawing three.
- Chelsea have only lost one of their last six Premier League games on a Thursday (W3 D2), with that defeat coming in their last such match (3-5 vs. Tottenham, January 2015).
- Sam Vokes scored a brace at Stamford Bridge in the reverse fixture. No player has ever scored at least twice in two Premier League meetings against the Blues within the same season.
- Cesc Fabregas has had a hand in three goals in his three Premier League appearances at Turf Moor, scoring once for Arsenal and providing two assists with Chelsea.
- Alvaro Morata scored just 10 minutes into his Premier League debut against Burnley in the reverse fixture. He’s yet to score home and away against the same side in the competition.
Burnley Team News
Ben Mee, Jonathan Walters, Scott Arfield, Steven Defour and Robbie Brady are all unavailable for Thursday’s game, with Sean Dyche likely to name an unchanged side from the one which beat Leicester at the weekend.
Chelsea Team News
Davide Zappacosta returned from a muscle injury at Southampton at the weekend, but David Luiz, Danny Drinkwater and Ethan Ampadu are all unavailable. There’s no update as to Ross Barkley’s expected return.
