Blues to miss month of PL!

CHELSEA are facing a fixture pile-up which could see them go almost a month without a Premier League match after the dates for this season’s Club World Cup were confirmed. The competition, which they qualified for after winning the Champions League, will take place in the UAE between February 3-12. It was due to take place in December but was delayed after Japan withdrew from hosting the tournament. Chelsea will have to rearrange the Premier League trip to Brighton and the visit of Arsenal which coincide with the tournament dates. It means almost a month — from hosting Tottenham on January 23 to the game at Crystal Palace on February 19 — without playing in the league. Chelsea will enter the Club World Cup at the semi-final stage but may also have to move any FA Cup fourth round tie — scheduled for the weekend of February 5-6 — should they progress. Exact dates for the four stages of the competition have yet to be confirmed. Thomas Tuchel’s side will face either Al Hilal, Al Jazira or Auckland City in their semi-final.