Chelsea's run-in is very straightforward. Last thing we want is for our May 5th game vs them to be the 4th-place decider.
It is pretty straightforward on paper. They have a tough away at Burnley that is yet to be rescheduled. They also go to Southampton who will be needing points, so with a new manager, that could be tricky. FA cup semi-finals as well. Its key we keep scoreboard pressure on them. Win at Palace and they are 10 points behind going into the spurs game. Even with games in hand, that is a lot to make up and they need us to slip up in multiple games for them to have a chance. With Conte on his way out, a WC cup coming up, its hard to see them running through walls to get 4th, especially when some of the players may be ready to move on. They have form downing tools. A loss to Spurs and I think they pack it in for the season.
generally I agree DC, but right now I'm paranoid about injuries. if we were to lose 1 (or god forbid 2) key players during the internationals, or in the final Prem games -- eg due to the Bitters pulling their regular trick of trying to impress their idiot fans by going OTT in tackles -- we could start struggling. also, almost all our fixtures are against teams who could be fighting for their Prem lives. no gimme's anywhere ....
Have some faith. Any of those things can happen to Spurs or Chelsea. Kane is already out a bit. We dogged the end of last season without Mane and Hendo. We’ll see it out.
I have plenty of faith thanks, but I also recognize that many points can be (and too often have been) lost to inferior teams due to defensive brain farts, deflected shots that go in, dumbass ref decisions, flat-out pisspoor play ... and so on. we were 3 goals up against CP. who would have predicted the outcome. same with the 3-goal lead vs Sevilla. anything can happen, especially when facing a team who are fighting for Prem survival, so I never count chickens before they hatch. one game at a time until we are mathematically locked in for next year's CL.
Mane didn't play today - excellent. Firmino played 25 mins. Can didn't play due to precaution on injured back.... VVD, Wij, Henderson, Ox, Lallana, and Gomez likely to see some action upcoming. Salah, Lovren and Robertson likely to play as well.
huge 3pts for us today in this mini-race. We are 66pts with 6 games to play. We have a 10pt lead on Chelski and 5 on Spurs - but of course those two have 2 games in hand - but also play each other tomorrow so that means dropped points for both. I think I'd like to see a draw - but I'm ok with a Spurs win too.
Chelsea has an easier run-in than Spurs, save the Liverpool fixture, because Spurs plays ManCity. If Spurs wins all their remaining matches, then they finish with 85, one point ahead of Liverpool in 3rd place, assuming Liverpool wins out. If Chelsea wins all their remaining matches, they finish with 80 points, and Liverpool finishes with 81 if the Chelsea loss is the only defeat. If Spurs loses to ManCity, then they finish with 82 points, it that's the only defeat. If Liverpool wins out, then it's 84 points and 3rd place guaranteed, assuming the Spurs loss. I think the best scenario for Liverpool is for Chelsea and Spurs to draw, but a Chelsea win is OK if Spurs lose to Citeh. It's a hot mess, any way you cut it...
Points won are much more valuable than points to win -- you can look at it as Chelsea are 4 points behind, but that doesn't really tell the tale, especially when they are away to Burnley, have Spurs tomorrow, an FA cup semi, and then Liverpool. They aren't catching up, and if they do it will be at Spurs' expense.
if their players give up completely, maybe. but ..... they play WHam, Soton, Swans, Newcy and Hudd, we are the only tough game really (Burnley might give them a run).
They have lost something like 5 of their last 8. Conte is on his way. Most of the squad is off to the WC. They have nothing to dig deep for. They need 4 wins and 2 draws from their last 7 to get to 70. They haven’t done that since December. They have make up games midweek for a few weeks. Small squad. Nothing to play for. All the teams they play need the points. We’ve been in their position too many times over last decade and we know how that always turns out. it’s simply too much ground to make up.
This caught up them for sure. I still will wait to celebrate until a few more games go by. I'm just a nervous nelly like that.
3 wins in 10. They are basically done. Only way for them is multiple banana-peel performances by LFC, and I just don't see it.
we should be good.... But let's clear the hurdles first. We might even finish 2nd, given that United have City and Spurs to play....
west ham is a traditionally tough game for chelsea..... Rafa will also give them a game..... as will southampton