Game Week 27 Predictions: Chelsea to beat Burnley

Premier League preview: Chelsea vs Burnley at Stamford Bridge – Blues chase top-4, Palmer/Pedro FPL stars, Burnley survival fight; verdict Chelsea win

Chelsea beat Burnley 2-0 at Turf Moor. The Blues could get closer to the third spot with a win here, will they let it slip off again? (Photo credit: BBC)

Chelsea vs Burnley

Samford Bridge Stadium

4:00pm

If you want to know how much people expect from Chelsea in this fixture, look out for the most signed players on the Fantasy Premier League. The Blues don’t have any excuse in this fixture.

Chelsea has just one job: to beat Burnley and climb above Manchester United, who doesn’t play until Monday. Chelsea missed a huge chance to climb into third last time around with a shocking 2-2 draw against Leeds United; now they have another newly promoted side to deal with.

Turning things around cannot be completely chalked off the plates of Burnley. The Clarets have been pencilled in for relegation by most pundits, but if Wolves can earn a point against Arsenal, then Burnley can dream too.

The Clarets have already got some big results this season. They earned a point against Liverpool and Manchester United this year already. It’s about taking it one step at a time, but while at it, they must pick points along the way if they want to feature in the Premier League next season.

Seven points separate the Clarets from the Hammers, and, quite frankly, we’ve seen miracles like this in the past. Wolves might be resigned to fate, but Burnley should be able to show some fight. One question though: does this Burnley side have the quality to win up to seven in their remaining eleven?

If Burnley wants to do it. They must start from this one against Chelsea. It doesn’t make it better that it’s being played at the home of the Blues. Both sides have different ambitions, but it will in the end go down as a game of the team with more quality and a stronger fight.

Cole Palmer and Joao Pedro are the leading lights in the Chelsea squad right now; no surprises that they’re the two most signed players on FPL this weekend. Both players are expected to prove their worth once again; Burnley must be very afraid.

You look at the visitors, and all you see are mid- to below-average players. Potential? Absolutely yes, but they’re not there yet. It’s great to see that the club has left Scott Parker at the helm; he might well be doing the coaching from the Championship next season. However, he’ll be odds-on to return at the first try.

Give this one to Chelsea. They need it for a top- four push. Expect some defensive solidity from the Blues and some interesting runs on the flank, depending on who Liam Rosenior trusts with the wings. This has a comfortable Chelsea win written all over it.

Verdict: Chelsea to win.