Chelsea vs Huddersfield Town

Chelsea welcome Huddersfield Town to Stamford Bridge for a critical showdown at both ends of Premier League table. 

For Chelsea, a win will put them level with Liverpool in race for top four but outside on goal difference. Tottenham also play at same time so a draw there would set up a meaty final day decider as all would be on 72 points entering the final day. 

Huddersfield meanwhile can guarantee safety with a shock victory although a draw would put them in a strong position entering their last game on Sunday. 

Defeat and relegation goes to the last day. 

 

Team news

Morata.png

Chelsea could have Alvaro Morata available but will be without David Luiz, as the Brazilian continues to recover from a knee injury. 

Danny Drinkwater (calf) and Ethan Ampadu (ankle) are both ruled out.

Huddersfield could welcome back three players for this clash as they look to secure safety.

Tom Ince (hamstring), Chris Lowe (thigh) are expected to be in the squad, whilst Michael Hefele is a doubt as he recovers from a knee injury. 

Elias Kachunga and Danny Williams are both absent for rest of season with ankle injuries.

 

Form

Chelsea come into this, having won their last four league games and are unbeaten in five. 

Their last two wins have been by a single goal after failing to keep a clean sheet in their previous five. 

Huddersfield clinched a draw at Man City on Sunday to make it three games out of last five (W1, D2, L2). 

During that time, the Terriers scored twice and conceded four. 

 

Stat Attack

  • Chelsea have won four of their last five against Huddersfield in all competitions.
  • In last five top flight meetings, Chelsea have taken three wins and two draws with both draws coming at Stamford Bridge. 
  • Alvaro Morata has scored seven headed goals this season, more than any other player in Premier League. 
  • Huddersfield’s Christopher Schindler has made the joint seventh highest blocks this season, managing 27. 
  • Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante (79) and Huddersfield’s Zanka (72) have made 151 interceptions between them. 
  • Chelsea have scored 16 headed goals this season, more than any other team. 
  • Huddersfield have made 702 tackles this season, the highest of any team and 45 more than second-placed Stoke City. 

 

Where can game be won or lost?

Per Game Average Chelsea (home) Huddersfield Town (away)
Corners 7.72 3.5
Fouls 9.78 11.44
Shots 18.56 8.33
Shots on Target 7.06 3
Goals 1.61 0.61
Yellow Cards 1.06 1.89
Red Cards 3 1
Goals per First Half % 51.7 45.5
Goals per Second Half % 48.3 54.5

Chelsea definitely will be favourites here but don’t rule out Huddersfield of getting a result.

The Blues are much more superior all over the pitch but Huddersfield have averaged just a full goal less.

That could very well be a factor, the longer things stay level and Huddersfield aren’t afraid to dig deep as shown at Man City on Sunday.

Discipline could be a tale of two halves because Chelsea are more vulnerable to the red card rather than yellow compared to the Terriers.

 

Prediction

Sunday’s draw is bound to have given Huddersfield fresh confidence but I can see Chelsea having too much for them here, given their form.

Prediction: Chelsea 2-0 Huddersfield Town

Jake predicts: Chelsea 0-0 Huddersfield Town

Result: Chelsea 1-1 Huddersfield Town

 

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