Chelsea welcome ex-gaffer Avram Grant's side, Portsmouth, to Stamford Bridge in a bid to grab 3 vital points and ensure they remain at the top of the league table. Chelsea's suicidal defending from set-pieces threatens to wreck their title ambitions as they drew 3-3 with Everton and failed to win for the fourth game in a row.
With Manchester United and Arsenal very close behind now, Chelsea cannot safely afford another slip.

The Drogba-Anelka partnership is still very effective. The duo keep scoring, with the larger share of goals coming from Didier Drogba.
In the middle, Mikel Obi has seen increased pitch action since the exit of Michael Essien due to injury. Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack remain regular starters, and will definitely be vital to coach Ancellotti's welcome plan for Portsmouth.
Goalie Petr Cech has got a huge question mark hanging over his head. Since his infamous clash with Reading's Stephen Hunt back in 2006 when he fractured his skull, Cech seems to have lost his edge.
Of recent, his seeming lack of confidence has left him uncertain in goal, leaving his defenders equally unsure of him and themselves as a result. Against Everton on Saturday, John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho kept making avoidable mistakes.  .  .communication with Cech was quite poor.
Chelsea need to recover the strength in back they've possessed for the most part of the season to remain strong contenders for the title.

Avram Grant returns to his former club, this time in the role of the opposition.
Portsmouth are currently sitting comfortably at the bottom of the table, a position that has been theirs uncontested for a while now. Remains to be seen what miracles Avram Grant can work to change the team's fortunes.
Aruna Dindane and  Frederic Piquionne should be Grant's first choice strikers to lead the charge against Chelsea. Nwankwo Kanu will be available on the bench, as usual.
Aaron Mokoena and Kevin-Prince Boateng are two attacking midfielders to look out for. They don't score all the time, but once in a while they get the occasional goal.
Defender Younes Kaboul is another one to look out for. He has managed to put himself firmly on Portsmouth's goal-scorers' list.
Goalie David James will be in goal.

Criz,
So cos Cech is having a torrid few games, you have traced his inconsistency back down to his clash with hunt? You should have read history. . .
Anyway to the game,
Carlotti planned to axe some players if they 'messed up' against everton. Remains to be seen what action he'll take.
We'll beat portsmouth for sure, and thats cos manscum will surely beat wolves and then the onus will be on us to regain our lead

Even when I wish Chelski loses, this seems decided already, unless there is a miracle. Pompey seems to enjoy the top seat of the relegation zone.
If only you know how well I desire that miracle . . .

---

^{I don't like them - Chelski}

Can't stick out me neck for this game jare.

A draw is written over this

Chelsea 5 - 0 Portsmouth.


BTW Crizzle, the wording of your poll is incorrect.



Can Portsmouth get 3 points:


(1.) Yes - Correct

(2.) No - That means they can still get a draw

(3.) They'll draw - is a subset of (2.)


(2.) and (3.) are not mutually exclusive.

Yes boss.
Waz darn sleepy when I did dem little previews last night. Will edit.

@Borat
That's the fact of the matter, dearie. . .since the helmet found his head, he lost his edge.
Dude now puts his head before Chelsea when going for balls.

Drog is likely to be unavailable for this.
Report says he got injured in training.

CFC 3 - Port 0

BlueDiva:

Drog is likely to be unavailable for this.
Report says he got injured in training.

CFC 3 - Port 0

i totaly disagree with dat yor poll. it is nt going to be easy at SB

chelsea!!

nothing will happen

adebayo201:


i totaly disagree with dat yor poll. it is nt going to be easy at SB

You have a right to disagree.

Carllotti on Drogba's situation. .

"We have to control his condition and will take a decision. I think that he can play."

If we have to kill to win this game . . we do.
We cannot afford not to take all 3 pts.


Ballack and Carvalho I believe will be dropped for Malouda and Alex. . .If Alex is fit.
Which means Lampard will play on the right of the diamond and Malouda on the left. . Joe at the top.


If we are comfortable at 60mins. . Kakuta or Borini may feature. .

Yep Alex is coming in for carvalho.We should win this

This is a MUST WIN match!

I pray 4 a miracle.

I have already watched this match in the night.It ended one goal to both sides.kpele chesea fans.moreover,there are still many matches to play this season.Take it easy with the diamond(die down) formation.

chelsea go for gold, lets go there

OJEZ02:

I have already watched this match in the night.It ended one goal to both sides.kpele chesea fans.moreover,there are still many matches to play this season.Take it easy with the diamond(die down) formation.

iro lo pa.
Back to sender.

Please chidi1, babypalm and co spare us this your leekweed bulls*it!
Go advertise your site some place else

Chelsea will return to their rampaging best tonight. Watchout for a one-sided six-goal thriller

frgy_:

I pray 4 a miracle.

Miracle to beat portsmouth?
nah, this is a sure 3 points for Chelsea!
back to winning @ SB, it is our culture, it's in blood

we need these 3points. This xmas aint gonna be as jolly as it sounds.
Hope DD is fit . . .fantasy wise

No Drogba in today's lineup. Alex starts ahead of carvalho and Deco is at the tip of the diamond.

Lineup:
Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Alex, Terry, Ashley Cole, Mikel, Ballack, Lampard, Deco, Anelka, Kalou.
Subs: Hilario, Carvalho, Joe Cole, Malouda, Zhirkov, Paulo Ferreira, Borini.

Kakuta a.k.a The Prince should be playing in matches like this, yes?

FBS:

Lineup:
Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Alex, Terry, Ashley Cole, Mikel, Ballack, Lampard, Deco, Anelka, Kalou.
Subs: Hilario, Carvalho, Joe Cole, Malouda, Zhirkov, Paulo Ferreira, Borini.

Kakuta a.k.a The Prince should be playing in games like this, yes?

Only if he was in ARSENAL

These are the sort of games Deco should be playing.

And I expect him to take the match to Portsmouth. Nothing short of that.

Kalouuuuuuu? hmmmmmmm

Another corner