CHELSEA
Chelsea will be top at
Christmas after victory at Sunderland on Wednesday made it a perfect 10 Premier
League wins in a row.
In the spirit of the
festive season, Sportsmail enlisted
the help of our very own Three Wise Men — Jamie Redknapp, Martin Keown and
Chris Sutton — to assess the title credentials of Antonio Conte's side...
SO WILL CHELSEA WIN IT?
Martin Keown: From
what we have seen so far, yes. When you compare them with Arsenal,
Manchester City and Liverpool, Chelsea have the best balance.
They are rinsing out
results — giving nothing away and doing enough to win.
January will be a
vital month for Chelsea as their rivals will be hoping they slip up in
head-to-heads at Tottenham and Liverpool.
Chris Sutton: It's
looking that way. They have ground out 1-0 wins in their last couple of games
and that is a really good sign.
They have conceded
just 11 goals — the joint-fewest with Tottenham — and that has to bode
well.
Jamie Redknapp: I
still think there is a lot of work to be done. I say this because in their last
four games they could have easily picked up four points rather than 12.
Chelsea are in a
fantastic position and everything has gone in their favour with them not
playing European football but they only have to lose one of Eden Hazard, N'Golo
Kante or Diego Costa and things can change.
But there is no
denying they are in great form and playing out of their skins.
EXPLAIN THE TRANSFORMATION...
JR: Chelsea have
Costa and Hazard fit and firing, signed Kante — the key ingredient in
Leicester's title success — and a manager, Antonio Conte, who the players will
run through walls for.
CS: It has been a
remarkable turnaround. You have to credit the manager as the players this
season are completely transformed.
Tactically, Conte had
the ability to change things after the Arsenal defeat and has found a system
that suits.
Chelsea are giving their
opponents all sorts of problems and are the only team who can play three at the
back so well.
MK: Jose Mourinho's tough love went a
little too far last season and the players lost respect. After the Arsenal
defeat this season, Branislav Ivanovic said Chelsea started the game not
believing in what they were doing.
As soon as Conte
smelled division in the group he reverted to type and played three at the back.
They have played off that platform ever since.
Conte understands the
role and responsibility of every player. He is getting the best out of his
players.
FIVE MORE WINS FOR THE RECORD...
Another five Premier
League victories on the trot and Chelsea will break Arsenal's record. Arsene
Wenger's side won 14 in a row across the end of the 2001-02 season and start of
2002-03.
Here's who Antonio
Conte's team must see off to beat it...
SATURDAY: Crystal
Palace (A)
BOXING DAY:
Bournemouth (H)
NEW YEAR'S EVE: Stoke
(H)
January 4, 2017:
Tottenham (A)
January 14: Leicester
(A)
WILL THEY BREAK ARSENAL'S RECORD?
MK: Arsenal won
14 on the bounce and I think Chelsea will beat that.
I played in that
record-breaking Arsenal side and remember our last defeat before that run was
against Newcastle in December 2001. After the game, Bobby Robson said that we
needed to learn to lose.
It gave us a real
determination that we weren't going to be defeated and we remained unbeaten
until the following October.
I see a similar
determination in this Chelsea team — particularly in the way their manager
celebrates and the enthusiasm he is bringing.
CS: It would be a
nice record to break and a feat nobody could have seen them achieving at the
start of the season, but it will not be going through the players' or manager's
minds.
They have a good run
of games up next against Crystal Palace, Bournemouth and Stoke and they will be
looking to extend their six-point cushion.
JR: They have a fantastic chance and given
their current form you would say yes.
Their next three
matches are winnable but equally it wouldn't surprise me if Crystal Palace
picked up an unusual result when Chelsea go to Selhurst Park on Saturday.
WHO'S THEIR MOST IMPORTANT PLAYER?
JR: Eden Hazard.
He is the best player in the Premier League. He decides football matches and is
back to the form of two years ago. He is fit again, hungry again and is making
and scoring goals. If you could sign any Premier League player, Hazard is who
you would want.
CS: Diego Costa
without a doubt. He is in his best spell at Chelsea. Costa is strong, sharp,
quick, powerful and looking unplayable. His goal against West Brom summed him
up. It was a brilliant, confident finish. Keeping him fit will be key.
MK: N'Golo Kante is a
very special player. He does the job of two players and his work-rate affords
Conte the luxury of being able to play Hazard and Pedro.
If Kante got injured,
Conte may have to make two changes to bring in more defensive-minded
players.
WHAT DO THEY NEED IN JANUARY?
JR: I'm sure Chelsea
would love to find the next Ashley Cole to play in their system as a left wing
back, although they are difficult to find. Marcos Alonso has done ever so
well but it is an area where Chelsea can improve.
I would also look for
cover up front. Unlike Costa, Michy Batshuayi doesn't look the most intelligent
of forwards. When Costa is on form he is unplayable — he holds the ball up,
scores goals and is a nasty piece of work.
If Costa gets injured
for the rest of the season, you would struggle to see how they would win the
League given their back-up options.
MK: There are not too many changes you
need to make. There is a lot resting on Diego Costa and I don't see another
Costa in this group.
Conte played two
strikers at Juventus and with Italy so he might be on the lookout for another
forward. He may also need to look at another left wing back.
CS: Their first XI is incredibly strong
so I don't think they need to add much in January. I think it is more a case of
keeping the current team fit — and not playing in Europe will be a big help.
SUPER STAT
4 -
Times teams have won 40 or more points after 16 Premier League games
before Chelsea this season — Manchester United in 93-94 and 00-01, Chelsea in
05-06 and Manchester City in 11-12.
They all went on to win the title.
WHAT ABOUT THEIR RIVALS?
MK: The winner of Manchester City vs
Arsenal on Sunday will have a huge say in who challenges Chelsea — although
Conte's side will be happy to sit back and watch their rivals knock lumps out
of each other!
If Pep Guardiola can
find the right formula I feel City can go on an equally impressive run as
Chelsea.
Arsenal have got a
chance but when they get a bad result it seems to affect the group a great
deal.
Liverpool need to work
on their game management. It seems like they only know one way of
playing.
CS: I still believe Manchester City will
provide the biggest test because there is so much more to come from them. On
their day they are as good as anyone with the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Sergio
Aguero and David Silva. The Leicester defeat may have done Pep Guardiola a
favour in forcing him to sort out City's back line.
As for Arsenal, how
will they respond after the Everton defeat? It looks like they are less likely
to capitulate this year but, like Costa for Chelsea, keeping Alexis Sanchez fit
is the key.
Liverpool have been a
revelation. I like their brand of football but I'm not sure if they are strong
enough to win the title.
JR: This season is still so difficult to
predict with Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham all in
the running — while Manchester United should be doing so much better with the
players at their disposal.
What we are seeing
from Chelsea is the sort of run you want in March or April. I'm not sure if it
can continue — it might be the best run they have all season.
Chelsea are only six
points clear. Even though they are not in Europe, we don't know what toll Conte's
intense training will take on the players in terms of fatigue later in the
season.
DECEMBER 2015: WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR (AND A NEW BOSS)
MAKES....
This time last year
Chelsea were just one point clear of the relegation zone after an horrendous
start to their title defence.
Jose Mourinho paid for
the slump with his job — he was sacked a year ago on Saturday.
After Guus Hiddink
steadied the ship for the rest of the season, Antonio Conte came in and has
transformed Chelsea into a winning machine.
After 10 wins in a row
they are six points clear at the top — with 25 points more than at this stage
in 2015.
WHO IS THE HOTTEST PLAYER IN THE
PREMIER LEAGUE RIGHT NOW?
CHRIS SUTTON: DIEGO COSTA
Alexis Sanchez may run
him close but I have been so impressed with how Diego Costa has led the line
for Chelsea.
He has his head
screwed on the right way this season — he even played the peacemaker during the
fracas at Manchester City.
He is scoring goals,
bringing others into play and if he carries on this form he will romp to the
Player of the Year award.
MARTIN KEOWN: N'GOLO KANTE
Diego Costa may be the
obvious choice but when it comes to Chelsea's success, N'Golo Kante is the most
important player.
Antonio Conte's 3-4-3
system only works if Kante is on the teamsheet. He is Chelsea's guardian angel
— on every team-mate's shoulder making sure they are protected.
His work-rate allows
Conte to play two attack-minded wingers in Eden Hazard and Pedro. The fact
Leicester are a shadow of their title-winning side without him shows just how
good Kante has been.
JAMIE CARRAGHER: ADAM LALLANA
The biggest compliment
I can give Adam Lallana at the moment is when he is not in Liverpool's team,
you can see the hole he leaves.
He's been outstanding
this season and his performance at Middlesbrough was his best yet, which is why
I tweeted he is the hottest English player in the league.
He has always been
very skilful and silky on the ball but he is the perfect player for Jurgen
Klopp with the way he runs and presses. Lallana has made giant strides in 2016
and long may that continue.
JAMIE REDKNAPP: EDEN HAZARD
I love watching him at
the moment. He wants to take games by the scruff of the neck. He didn't
look fit last season but now we are seeing the Hazard of 18 months ago. When he
picks the ball up, it's a different game.
No one can run with
the ball at pace like he does and still have the end product. Hazard is an
incredibly gifted player.
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