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Analysing Chelsea's Premier League run-in

Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at the fixtures Chelsea will have to play if the 2019-20 Premier League season resumes.

The 2019-20 season has been a mixed one for Chelsea in many ways, though ultimately a top-four finish in the Premier League would mark a successful campaign for Frank Lampard.

The Blues found themselves in a Champions League qualification berth at the time of the coronavirus-enforced shutdown last month, three points better off than fifth-placed Manchester United.

Chelsea had failed to win back-to-back games since November, but they had momentum on their side after beating Everton 4-0 in their most recent outing - arguably the finest display of Lampard's tenure to date.

There is still work for the West London outfit to do if the Premier League season is given the go ahead to resume, and here Sports Mole has taken an in-depth look at their remaining nine fixtures.


Chelsea manager Frank Lampard celebrates after the match on January 1, 2020© Reuters

It remains to be seen what order games will be played if the season does restart in June or July, but Chelsea were scheduled to travel to Aston Villa in their next match on March 14.

That is a fixture the Blues tend to do well in, having won nine of their last 10 league meetings with Villa, including each of the last five.

Chelsea have three other away games to play - trips to West Ham United, Crystal Palace, Sheffield United and Liverpool.

Each of those are difficult in their own right, particularly with the first two being London derbies, but the visits to Bramall Lane and Anfield could be particularly daunting.

N'Golo Kante in Premier League action for Chelsea in September 2019© Reuters

Liverpool boast the best home record in the Premier League, collecting 45 points from a possible 45, while Sheffield United had taken 10 points from the last 12 on offer before the shutdown.

The showdown with United would have plenty riding on it, too, given the Blades' current standing of seventh, just five points worse off than Chelsea.

Lampard's men still had some tough games to come at Stamford Bridge, meanwhile, especially the visit of reigning champions Manchester City, followed by meetings with Watford, Norwich City and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Chelsea have lost six of their last seven games against City in all competitions, most recently going down 2-1 to the Citizens in November.

Chelsea's Willian celebrates scoring their third goal with teammates on March 8, 2020© Reuters

The average overall position of the Blues' nine remaining opponents is 11th, highlighting that Lampard's men are by no means over the line for a Champions League qualification spot.

Indeed, taking all nine of the reverse fixtures into account, Chelsea collected 16 points out of 27 - an indication that, while they are looking down at the chasing pack for now, some consistent results are still required if the season does conclude.

Chelsea's remaining Premier League fixtures

Aston Villa (a)
Manchester City (h)
West Ham United (a)
Watford (h)
Crystal Palace (a)
Sheffield United (a)
Norwich City (h)
Liverpool (a)
Wolverhampton Wanderers (h)

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Virgil van Dijk celebrates scoring for Liverpool on November 30, 2019
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool65011221015
2Manchester CityMan City6420146814
3Arsenal6420125714
4Chelsea6411157813
5Aston Villa6411129313
6Fulham632185311
7Newcastle UnitedNewcastle632187111
8Tottenham HotspurSpurs6312125710
9Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton623110829
10Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest62316519
11Bournemouth622289-18
12Brentford6213810-27
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd621358-37
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham6123610-45
15Ipswich TownIpswich6042510-54
16Everton6114715-84
17Leicester CityLeicester6033812-43
18Crystal Palace603359-43
19Southampton6015312-91
20Wolverhampton WanderersWolves6015616-101


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