According to Chelsea Manager Antonio Conte, his side has no new injury or fitness concerns heading into their home league clash against West Bromwich Albion. That’s good news for a side which needs a win Monday night in order to keep from falling out of the top four. The Blues are two points behind Tottenham, with a game in hand.
More good news, for a side that has just one league victory, three across all competitions in 2018 thus far- they get the easiest match, on paper at least, coming up next. West Brom are the absolute bottom team in the entire table right now.
On the injury and fitness situation Defender Andreas Christensen (hamstring problem) faces a late fitness test for this one, and could still make a return. Striker Alvaro Morata is still nursing a back issue and remains out. Midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko is unavailable after he got sent off last week versus Watford, and if you ask most Chelsea supporters, they are just fine with the summer transfer window addition, widely considered a flop, not being in the mix.
Turning over to West Brom now, striker Jay Rogriguez is set to start despite his racism charge by the Football Association stemming from his altercation with Brighton & Hove Albion’s Gaetan Bong.
Jonny Evans, Kieran Gibbs and Grzegorz Krychowiak will all likely be available for West Brom. Meanwhile Nacer Chadli, Jake Livermore and James Morrison likely won’t be available.
Odds via Sky Bet: Chelsea – 2/5 Draw – 19/5 West Brom – 15/2
Antonio Conte press conference video: go to this link
Chelsea starting XI prediction: go to this link
Prediction: Chelsea 2, West Brom 1
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.
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