Reigning Premier League champions Chelsea will have their eyes on the ultimate prize this season as they look to land the sole trophy to elude them in the Roman Abramovich era – the UEFA Champions League as well as retaining their status as English champions.
Last season
This evening’s game against Inter is the type of game that all football fans relish, a match up between two heavyweights of European football and no matter who you support you cannot help but watch in anticipation of a classic.
Bookies also relish these sort of games, simply because they are cash cows for them, the higher profile an event the more money they take and generally the more they make.
Luckily for Ancelotti he was handed the easiest of opponents in the FA Cup compared to most other EPL top sides. He even got it his way playing at home, so there’s absolutely no argument to be made in his favour if he fails to produce the win today, even if he has to do without his African players.
Tell me something: Who makes these odds? Really! Fulham maybe winless vs Chelsea for the last 7 H2H confrontations, but there were 3 draws in them, and two were at the Bridge. In other words, Fulham are 0-2-1 from their last 3 visits to Stamford Bridge, so how come Chelsea are as short as 1.45 (Expekt)?
Quite unrealistic odds considering Birmingham have won 5 of their last 6, and are unbeaten in 9 consecutive games, while Chelsea won only one of their last 6 games in all competitions, and precisely 1 of their last 4 EPL fixtures.
Even more, Birmingham sit 7th on the table and could very much end 2009 with a bang; breaking into the top 6, so they do have a very strong motive along with high spirits.
Everton have a daunting trip to Stamford Bridge this weekend to face League leaders Chelsea, and they are missing lots of key personnel as they try to halt a run of 23 games against Chelsea without a win.
The latest bad news is that Joseph Yobo will be out until the New Year, after coming off after just 15 minutes against Tottenham with a hamstring problem.
Alex is ready to impress Ancelotti
With Bosingwa also injured, Banislav Ivanovic and the resurgent Ricardo Carvalho have been impressive in a Chelsea back four that has only conceded one goal at home in the last ten matches.
Ferreira's first start this year.
Joe Cole gets another game to help build up his fitness levels, and the rest of the diamond will consist of Malouda on the left, Deco on the right, and Michael Ballack in the holding position.
A rare smile from Big Sam!
After losing, unluckily, at Aston Villa last weekend, they bounced back with a 4-0 win over Atletico Madrid in midweek. Salomon Kalou contributed two goals that night, but with Didier Drogba certain to be picked after his suspension on Wednesday, it is 50/50 as to whether Kalou will be Drogba’s partner ahead of Nicolas Anelka.
