Chelsea's Diego Costa returns after completing a three-game domestic ban.

Oscar, Petr Cech, Juan Cuadrado and Kurt Zouma could earn recalls but John Obi Mikel remains sidelined by a knee problem.

Burnley full-back Stephen Ward is back in contention after recovering from a fractured ankle suffered in December.

Dean Marney and Kevin Long are sidelined by long-term knee injuries, while Matt Taylor is not yet ready to return from an Achilles problem.

The reverse fixture, on 18 August, set the tone for these sides' campaigns. Burnley were neat and tidy in possession but Chelsea, who weren't at their best, were still too strong.

Since then the league leaders have rarely shone at their brightest but they've been top for all but a week and remain my title favourites - as they were before a ball was kicked.

Burnley have won admirers but too few points. They've been in the bottom three for five of the six months since that opener.

They were competitive again at Manchester United last week. They were beaten once more.

This is the second game of a horrible eight-match sequence against teams currently in the top nine, and the forecast looks worrying.

To be fair some of their best results have come against sides riding high. But they've self-destructed by taking just 11 points from a possible 33 against bottom-eight clubs.

When they've needed to be mean and nasty, they've discovered the cynical necessities for top-flight survival aren't in their nature.

Chelsea can summon the dark forces when necessary, and of course they balance that with superb skill.

On his return from domestic suspension, Diego Costa needs to concentrate more on his ability to score than on his ability to wreak physical havoc. Defenders are drawing him into petty vendettas. He must be strong but clever in his movement too.

I'm sure he'll play but Jose Mourinho will rotate. Willian needs a break after two months non-stop. Oscar can come back. Likewise Petr Cech - who hasn't conceded a league goal this season nor a home league goal in 13 months!

The omens aren't good for Burnley, who have not won a league game away to Chelsea since 26 April 1971. The Blues, meanwhile, have won 34 of a possible 36 points at home this season.

They are the masters at remaining focused on both domestic and European fronts. They're also strong enough at set-pieces to increase Burnley's tally of headed goals conceded - a league-high 16.

The Bridge has seen attritional football of late. It'll be tight once more but just like August, Chelsea will be too strong.

Burnley have not won a league game away to Chelsea since 26 April 1971, when Steve Kindon got the only goal.

Since then they have lost five and drawn one of their subsequent six league trips to Chelsea.

However, the Clarets did knock the Blues out of the League Cup in 2008 after winning a penalty shoot-out at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea have kept 16 clean sheets in their last 20 top-flight home games, conceding just six goals in that run.

All six of Willian's Premier League goals have arrived in the final 20 minutes of matches.

Diego Costa has scored six goals in his last seven Premier League appearances.

Branislav Ivanovic has scored 27 goals for Chelsea since August 2010, including three in his last six league and cup games.

Danny Ings has scored in five of his last six league appearances for Burnley.

Burnley have conceded a league-high 16 headed goals in the Premier League this season - six more than any other team.

The Clarets have won just two of their 31 Premier League away games (D5, L24) keeping just one clean sheet.

chimerase2:
Crushing home to victory
Donphilopus nice team update

ichidodo:
as usual...shock defeat for Chelsae..

ichidodo:
as usual...shock defeat for Chelsae..

ichidodo:
as usual...shock defeat for Chelsae..

makzeze:
I pray chelsea draw this match. Amen.

realGURU:
0=0

Azazi:
we are gonna trash them today like jona go do buhari

Bros you sabi am

GEJ till 2019

chelseabmw:


Bros you sabi am

GEJ till 2019