Chelsea’s next seven EPL games that could see them drop points in race to play in Europe next season

The Blues have drastically turned around their performance this season, and the win against Everton at Stanford Bridge will be their best performance since the arrival of the American owners.
It’s not what many would have expected with Mauricio Pochettino and his young team a few weeks back, hopes of European qualification are still alive, thanks to Cole Palmar’s brilliance in front of goal and Manchester United and West Ham’s recent flaws. The 20-year-old England International put four past Jordan Pickford to give the Blues a much-needed victory at the Bridge. Nickolas Jackson got his 13th goal of the season, while academy-promoted defender Alfie Gilchrist scored his first goal for the senior team.
The former Manchester City youngster transferred to the West London club for more game time and won’t regret his decision. Cole Palmar might miss out on City’s fourth straight League title but his brilliance for Chelsea has put him level on goals (20) with Erling Haaland for the Golden Boot race, while also being the forerunner to win the Premier League youngest Player of the season. Feet he wouldn’t have attained if he stayed back on the sidelines at Manchester City. With 23 goals and 12 Assists in 38 appearances for the Blues, it’s safe to say Cole Palmer was not just Chelsea’s best signing of the season, but the best signing in the the 2023/24 Premier League season.
The result on Monday night leaves the Blues in ninth place in the EPL Table, a point away from West Ham United in eighth and three points off Newcastle United and Manchester United in sixth and seventh respectively. Chelsea’s win was slightly overshadowed by an on-field disagreement between Palmar, Madueke, and Jackson over the penalty won in the 64th minute. Pochettino expressed his disappointment over the act and will firmly dictate the club’s set-piece-takers head-on to avoid similar issues. It will be no surprise to see Cole Palmar continuing in this role after scoring 9/9 of Chelsea’s last Penalties since taking on the role.
The big win against the Toffees has also poured criticism on Pochettino’s choice of starting XI in previous games. The likes of Raheem Sterling, Enzo Fernandez, and Axel Disasi who are regular starters for the Argentine coach are unavailable due to different injury problems. In their absence, Conor Gallagher was paired with Moises Caicedo in central midfield, allowing Cole Palmar to assume the No.10 position. With this formation in place, Sean Dyche’s team couldn’t keep up with the rhythm of the Blue’s game. Caicedo and Gallagher made an amazing pair, showcasing a synonymous display that has lacked in the Blue’s midfield all season. Caicedo won six tackles, four interceptions, eleven ground duels, and completed two dribbles in the game, a feat he last achieved at Brighton. T. Chalobah on the other hand, was paired alongside Thiago Silver, sealing up the defense line and winning Chelsea their first clean sheet in over thirteen games.
With England in the race to secure a fifth Champions League entry spot, teams are all playing a guessing game over what the final league positions will be and who will be entitled to play at the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference Cup next season. Should Germany beat England to the spot, the team in fifth goes to the Europa Cup, and sixth will be on the same route if the FA Cup winners have already qualified for European competition automatically. Chelsea play Manchester City in the FA Cup Semi-finals on Saturday, 20th April.
Chelsea’s last league games will be an even more challenging task. Below is a list of Chelsea’s upcoming Premier League fixtures that could see the Blues losing vital points towards the end of the season.
Chelsea vs Tottenham Hotspur (Thursday, 2nd May 2024, 19:30)
Chelsea will host Tottenham Hotspur in the Stamford Bridge London derby. Both teams aim to secure valuable points in the race for European qualification. Chelsea beat Spurs away from home and the North London club will look towards returning the favor, as they keep their top-four battle alive. Spurs will be eager to get a much-needed win to finish their campaign on a high note. A win against Chelsea will give them an edge to make it to the Champions League next season depending on results at Villa. Mauricio Pochettino’s team, however, are also in a tight race with Man U, Newcastle, and West Ham and can’t afford to drop crucial points in these matches.
Chelsea vs West Ham United (Sunday, 5th May 2024, 14:00)
West Ham United face Chelsea in another decisive Premier League encounter. Both teams eye a strong finish to the season with their respective pursuit for European qualification.
West Ham United has always been a stern test for Chelsea, with a squad capable of competing and upsetting the best teams in the league. The Hammers previously beat the Blues 3-1 at the London Stadium in August. They will capitalize on breaking Chelsea’s massive defensive loops to secure all three points against the Blues.
Nottingham Forest vs Chelsea (Saturday, 11th May 2024, 17:30)
Chelsea are widely known to struggle against teams at the lower half of the table this season. Nottingham Forest is currently fighting to avoid relegation and will see the game as a must-win as they seek to climb off the bottom of the table. They beat Mauricio Pochettino’s team 1-0 at the Bridge in the first half of the season. Nottingham Forest will seek similar results at home to improve their chances of staying out of the relegation zone.
Brighton and Hove Albion vs Chelsea (Wednesday, 15th May 2024, 19:45)
Chelsea will face Brighton and Hove Albion at the American Express Stadium as the season draws closer to an end. With both teams having similar aspirations to qualify for European football next season, It would be both a difficult and interesting game.
Brighton has had their share of challenges this season and would look towards capitalizing on home advantage to frustrate the Blues with their organized defense, while also aiming to exploit any counter-attacking opportunities against a loose and defensively challenged Chelsea team.
Chelsea vs Bournemouth (Sunday, 19th May 2024, 16:00)
In the final fixture of the Premier League season, Chelsea will host Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge. While Chelsea may have solidified their European qualification hopes by this stage, Bournemouth might still be fighting for survival or aiming to secure a higher league position. This match is an opportunity to conclude the season on a high note for both teams, depending on their position in the table.
Bournemouth may find themselves in a troubling position, needing points to avoid relegation or improve their standing in the league table at the very end. They will approach the game with determination, knowing every point is crucial in their bid for survival or improvement.
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