Although it’s been a very roller coaster first season in charge for Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri, he still has the club in a pretty good position for the run-in, all things considered. The Blues have two routes to get back into the UEFA Champions League next season, and now it’s on Sarri to balance the two competitions, domestic and European, all the while keeping the legs of his players fresh.
Up next is a visit from Burnley on Monday night. Let’s take a look at the fitness situation for both sides, starting with the headliner, PFA Player of the Year nominee Eden Hazard.
The Belgian Chelsea forward is the headliner here, and he’s basically 50/50 to be available to play at this point.
Hazard suffered an ankle knock in Europa League midweek action, but it is not a serious setback. Central defender Antonio Rudiger however, could be out until the Manchester United game on the 28th. The German international suffered a knee injury last weekend in the loss to Liverpool.
Marcos Alonso, who’s been in and out of the lineup, is doubtful for this one due to a thigh/gluteal issue. Also, Ethan Ampadu is a doubt due to back issues. Don’t expect to see the massively out of favor Danny Drinkwater in action either.
In fact, one should feel very confident that you won’t see him play in a Chelsea shirt ever again.
As for the visitors, they will be without the services of three players: midfielder Aaron Lennon (knee, May), forward Peter Crouch (appendicitis, estimated return date unknown), Steven Defour (calf, estimated return date unknown).
Defender Phil Bardsley is a doubt due to a leg injury. Neither side has anybody suspended for this one.
Chelsea FC vs Burnley FC FYIs
Kickoff- Monday Apr 22, Stamford Bridge 8pm
Chelsea Starting XI Prediction: go to this link
Match official- Kevin Friend
Form Guide: Burnley- WWWLL Chelsea- LWWWL
Google Result Probability- Burnley win 8%, Draw 16%, Chelsea win 76%
Odds: Chelsea 2/7, Burnley 14/1, Draw 5/1
Prediction: Chelsea 2, Burnley 1
As always, feel free to post your own starting XI predictions for both sides as well as your best guest as to what the final score will be.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.