Test of Chelsea’s mettle
CRUNCH CLASH: TWO IN-FORM SIDES COLLIDE AT BRIDGE
Champions Chelsea have not enjoyed the best of starts at home this season and face their biggest test yet tomorrow with the visit of free-scoring leaders Manchester City.
Antonio Conte’s side suffered a shock defeat by Burnley on the opening day of the season at Stamford Bridge, and despite a 2-0 win over Everton two weeks later, home fans were left frustrated when Arsenal ground out a 0-0 draw earlier this month.
On the road it has been plain sailing for the Blues, who lie third in the table after picking up three away wins out of three and scoring eight goals in the process.
But when it comes to goals, it is City that lead the way with Pep Guardiola’s side finding the back of the net 21 times already this season and conceding only twice to top the table with 16 points.
There might even be extra motivation for City’s Argentine striker Sergio Aguero to find the net tomorrow, as he is one goal away from equalling Eric Brook’s all-time club record of 177 goals – which has stood for 78 years.
Aguero is the joint-top scorer in the division on six goals, but is closely followed by team-mates Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus, on five and four respectively.
Chelsea new-boy Alvaro Morata has also been among the goals, having struck six times in the Premier League since his big-money transfer from Real Madrid in the summer.
The Spanish 24-year-old scored in Chelsea’s last-gasp 2-1 Champions League win over Atletico on Wednesday, while City were hardly troubled in their 2-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk the previous day.
The weekend’s action kicks off with fourth-placed Tottenham travelling to newcomers Huddersfield Town, with Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs looking to win their fourth successive away match.
Tomorrow also features Crystal Palace against Manchester United at Old Trafford. Roy Hodgson’s side are still searching for their first goals and points of the season.
A day later, Arsenal can keep up their resurgence when they welcome Brighton and Hove Albion in the early kick-off.
Should Arsenal triumph against the Seagulls, Arsene Wenger will surpass Alex Ferguson’s record of defeating 44 different Premier League opponents.
Burnley travel to Goodison Park to take on Ronald Koeman’s struggling Everton side, before Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez faces old club Liverpool in the final match of the weekend on Sunday. –