The Blues beat visiting and otherwise in-form Manchester United 1-0 last weekend, thereby making a serious statement of intent that should have left everyone convinced that Jose Mourinho will once again lead them past the league drought that has dragged on for close to five years.
Next up for them are second-placed Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. The two are separated by 10 points after an equal number of games and that means Arsenal would be hard-pressed for a win, as Chelsea can lose the game and still have a chance to go back, dust themselves and continue their stroll to the podium when the curtain comes down on the league.
With such luxury, there seems to be no way for Chelsea to lose grip.
While the other teams need a miracle to emerge the champions, The Blues need one to be not.
Manchester United – ranked third, take their fight to remain in the top four away to 12-placed Everton on Sunday, hoping to rake-in the points and further widen the gap between themselves and city rivals Manchester City beyond the single point advantage they have now. Eight points below the Red Devils are Liverpool, who are also looking up the log in awe, as they also fight for a European Champions League spot.
The Reds, dumped out of the FA Cup by Aston Villa, will be away at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, to try and salvage the only chance at honour they have – a Top Four position before the league race winds-up.
In another precarious hang-on are defending champions Manchester City, whose next fixture is at home to Aston Villa – 15th on the log but by far not a walk-over proposition for Manuel Pallegrini’s lacklustre side on Saturday.
Other Fixtures
Saturday: Southampton vs Tottenham Hotspur; Stoke City vs Sunderland; Crystal Palace vs Hull City; Newcastle United vs Swansea City; Queens Park Rangers vs West Ham United; Burnley vs Leicester City
Post published in: Football