Top-six chasing Chelsea face relegation-battling Nottingham Forest in a Premier League showdown.
Victory would lift Chelsea up to seventh in the table, whilst Forest will stay 16th irrespective of the result.
Team News
Levi Colwill could make his first appearance for Chelsea this season after recovering from an ACL injury suffered in pre-season.
Reece James (hamstring) and Filip Jorgensen (groin) face late fitness tests.
Estevao, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens (both hamstring) and Mykhailo Mudryk (suspension) are still sidelined.
Forest could be without Ola Aina after he suffered a knock in their Europa League semi-final first-leg victory at home against Aston Villa on Thursday evening.
Dan Ndoye, Ibrahim Sangare (both knock), Murillo (muscle) and Jair Cunha (shoulder) could return but Callum Hudson-Odoi (quad), Willy Boly, Nicolo Savona and John Victor (all knee) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Chelsea host Forest at Stamford Bridge on Bank Holiday Monday 3 May at 3pm BST, live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Chelsea have lost one of their last nine league meetings against Forest (W5, D3, L1).
- Forest are unbeaten in four of their last six league visits to Chelsea (W1, D3, L2)
- Chelsea have scored four goals without conceding in their last two meetings against Forest (W2).
- Chelsea failed to win any of their two previous league matches this season under interim manager – Calum McFarlane (D1, L1).
- Morgan Gibbs-White has produced four goals and one assist in Forest’s last two league matches.
Prediction
Following Liam Rosenior’s sacking after their dismal last league outing in a 3-0 loss at Brighton, it wasn’t surprising to see Chelsea turn up and actually play like a top team in a resiliently clinical display to knock Leeds out of the FA Cup, but they now need to bring that quality here if want another win.
Forest though might have one eye on the second leg of their Europa League semi-final at Villa on Thursday but with relegation still a plausible possibility, I expect Vitor Pereira to go strong and they do have momentum plus confidence in their favour.
I therefore expect Chelsea to face another tricky test and despite their strong top-flight record against Forest in their last nine clashes, this is a tough test of their consistency whereas Forest will be up for this given their extra rest than usual after European action on a preceding Thursday.
As much as my instinct is saying a home win for Chelsea, I just think that Forest will nick something here.
Prediction: Chelsea 1-1 Forest
Result: Chelsea 1-3 Forest
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