Game Week 9 Predictions: Chelsea to skin Norwich alive

Norwich City will have to do more than just defend to earn anything at all at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea on Saturday. (Photo credit: Sky Sports)

Chelsea vs Norwich
Stamford Bridge Stadium
12:30pm

The early kickoff on Saturday will see European champions take on Norwich City at the Stamford Bridge stadium, a case of David and Goliath in full glare, Norwich are without a win so far this season but they have kept back to back clean sheets.

Chelsea are top of the league albeit with just one point but they understand the game at Old Trafford between Manchester United and Liverpool will offer them some grounds against direct rivals, a win here is not negotiable.

Norwich City will not be too hopeful in this fixture, they have only scored twice this season, both goals coming from Finnish striker Teemu Pukki, they sit pretty at the base of the log and they have to start picking maximum points.

Chelsea are slightly thin upfront, Romelu Lukaku got injured in midweek as well as the resurgent Timo Werner, leaving Chelsea having to decide who goes upfront, you expect Kai Havertz to fill the false 9 role or an improvisation of note from Thomas Tuchel.

If there’s anything the visitors can bank on, it would be lady luck as they’re obviously no match on paper to the log leaders, it’s an opportunity for the Blues to extend their lead at the top before rivals play, they won’t pass on this.

Norwich will defend deep, try to keep a compact shape and stay disciplined, they won’t see much of the ball and they will have to take their chances whenever they come but they won’t have many of those on Saturday at Stamford Bridge.

The last five fixtures between these two however doesn’t tell much, of course the Blues have won the last three league games but there were two cup games within the last five and they both ended in draws, Norwich can bank on that.

Where will the battle be won and lost? The midfield where Chelsea have it all above their opponents, Matteo Kovacic and Jorginho are expected to start, Kante is fit but he might be rested, who will stop Chelsea in that Norwich team?