This will be the first encounter between the two teams since October last year, when Chelsea secured a comfortable 4-1 victory over Burnley at Turf Moor. Before the recent international break, Chelsea boosted their hopes of claiming their first trophy under manager Mauricio Pochettino by defeating Leicester City 4-2 in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
Despite initially squandering a two-goal lead against Leicester, Chelsea managed to secure a dramatic victory with late goals from substitutes Carney Chukwuemeka and Noni Madueke.
Now, their focus shifts back to the Premier League, where they are determined to finish the season strongly and secure a place in European competition. With 11 games remaining, Chelsea currently sits 11th in the table, aiming to close the gap on teams above them.
Apart from their EFL Cup final defeat to Liverpool, Chelsea has been in good form recently, winning five games and drawing two across all competitions since early February. In the Premier League, they have scored in each of their last 11 matches, showcasing their attacking prowess.
Facing Burnley, Chelsea will be confident, having scored in all 17 of their previous top-flight meetings with the Clarets. However, Burnley managed a crucial win against Brentford before the break, signaling their determination to avoid relegation. Despite their position in the relegation zone, Burnley has a history of putting up a fight against Chelsea, especially at Stamford Bridge.
As Burnley seeks to continue their fight for survival, Chelsea remains focused on securing a European spot, making Saturday's clash an intriguing encounter for both teams.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
Chelsea will be missing several key players due to injury, including Romeo Lavia, Wesley Fofana, Christopher Nkunku, Reece James, and Lesley Ugochukwu, who are all sidelined with various issues. Levi Colwill, Chukwuemeka, Robert Sanchez, and Trevoh Chalobah are also unavailable for unspecified reasons, with the former three undergoing rehabilitation.There are concerns about Ben Chilwell's fitness after sustaining a knock to his knee while on international duty with England, and Enzo Fernandez has yet to return from his time with the Argentina squad. Malo Gusto, who withdrew from the France Under-21s squad due to illness, is expected to be fit to start at right-back.
Mykhaylo Mudryk, fresh from scoring the winner for Ukraine in Euro 2024 qualifiers, may get the nod over Raheem Sterling and Noni Madueke on the left flank. Thiago Silva and Djordje Petrovic are likely to be brought back into the starting lineup after being substitutes in the previous match against Leicester.
Nicolas Jackson is anticipated to lead Chelsea's attack, with the Senegalese striker having scored nine goals and received nine yellow cards in the Premier League this season, potentially joining a select group of players to achieve double figures in both categories in their debut campaign.
On the Burnley side, Aaron Ramsey, Luca Koleosho, and Nathan Redmond are sidelined with long-term injuries, while Jordan Beyer and Ameen Al-Dakhil are doubtful. David Datro Fofana, who has been in good form since joining Burnley on loan from Chelsea, is ineligible to play against his parent club, leaving Lyle Foster or Zeki Amdouni as potential replacements in attack alongside Wilson Odobert.
Goalkeeper James Trafford will be hoping to regain his place in the starting lineup after being dropped for the first time this season in the previous game, while Josh Brownhill and Johann Berg Gudmundsson are vying for starting spots in midfield.
POSSIBLE LINE-UP
Chelsea possible starting lineup:Petrovic; Gusto, Disasi, Silva, Chilwell; Caicedo, Fernandez; Palmer, Gallagher, Mudryk; Jackson
Burnley possible starting lineup:
Trafford; Assignon, O'Shea, Esteve, Taylor; Vitinho, Cullen, Berge, Larsen; Odobert, Foster
EXPERT PREDICTION
Chelsea 3-1 Burnley
Even though Chelsea has been inconsistent at times and has had defensive issues, they're still seen as the strong favorites for Saturday's match. A win against Burnley could provide the momentum they need as they chase European qualification, especially with a crucial game against Manchester United coming up next week.
