Premier League Preview: Chelsea vs. West Bromwich Albion

Jose Mourinho’s squad rotation has been having the desired effect, as they won six straight games in October across all competitions.

  • Baggies have won just one of their last 15 league games in London
  • Only Chelsea and Man City have 100 percent home league records so far this season
  • Mourinho is unbeaten in 65 Premier League home games with Chelsea

Up until last weekends hiccup at St. James Park, things have been ticking over smoothly for Chelsea.

Jose Mourinho’s squad rotation has been having the desired effect, as they won six straight games in October across all competitions.

But that 2-0 defeat to Newcastle last weekend saw Mourinho lash out at his team as he claimed that he made “11 mistakes” when selecting his starting lineup.

When West Bromwich Albion visit Chelsea on Saturday (10am ET, watch live on NBCSN and online via NBC Sports Live Extra) the Blues will be hoping to record a comfortable home win to try and close the gap on league leaders Arsenal to two-points before the Gunners visit Manchester United on Sunday.

Obviously Mourinho’s men are built to challenge in all competitions, with the PL, UEFA Champions League and Domestic Cups all in sight. But the lack of continuity constant chopping and changing (watch PST Extra above for more on that) brings has seen his side fail to light up the league so far… even though they’re sat in second place.

(WATCH – PST Extra: Talking Manchester United vs. Arsenal, Chelsea’s struggles and the South Wales derby)

In the lead up to the game, much of the talk has been about Eden Hazard and the fact that Mourinho left him out of Chelsea’s squad for the 3-0 UCL win over Schalke in midweek. The Belgian international apparently traveled to a foreign country when he wasn’t supposed to and then lost his passport while he was there. That infuriated Mourinho, who says Hazard has apologized and he’s now in contention to face West Brom.

As for the Baggies, West Brom are comfortably sliding back into mid-table after a tricky start and Mourinho’s former assistant manager Steve Clarke has put the Midlands club back on course. A win at Manchester United and a draw at home with Arsenal in the past few weeks has shown that WBA can hang in with the big boys, and the emergence of youngster Saido Berahino has given Clarke’s team a massive boost.

(MORE: Preview – Norwich City vs. West Ham United)

Injury wise, Chelsea will be without Fernando Torres who has a thigh injury, which means Demba Ba or Samuel Eto’o could start. West Brom winger, and former Chelsea youngster, Scott Sinclair will miss out on a return to his former club after suffering a hamstring strain. Another former Chelsea man, Nicolas Anelka, is also doubtful but Victor Anichebe is fit again.

What they’re saying

Mourinho on meeting his former assistant Steve Clarke: “I am very happy to meet Steve Clarke again. It will be a difficult game because he organizes his teams well. He was more than an assistant coach… in charge of training methodology, sessions, match preparation. We stay in touch but not speaking about our jobs directly. Every game Steve Clarke plays I wish he will win, but tomorrow that is not the case which is strange.”

Steve Clarke on how his side can beat Chelsea: “A win wouldn’t mean anything to me other than the fact it’s another three points for the Albion. It would be a good scalp to take, winning at Stamford Bridge and beating Chelsea, but that’s it. I think if we’re 100 per cent focused, and concentrated and play at our maximum, then we have an opportunity to compete with any team in the Premier League and that’s what we have to focus on.”

Prediction

On paper this looks like being a big win for Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. But after that slip up against Newcastle last week and a few disturbing signs in the last few weeks, there will be nothing routine about this. West Brom have gone to Manchester United and won, and have several attacking talents who can wreck havoc, with the likes of Anichebe, Sessegnon, Brunt and others who can deliver a shock. I think Mourinho’s men will grind out a win but it may not be pretty.

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