Chelsea have acquired the top spot in the Premier League, dispatching Newcastle United in style via an Eden Hazard hattrick. This midweek, the Blues travel to Hawthorns to face the Baggies, who have been struggling to get out of relegation zone at the moment.
In the recent years, the game away to West Brom hasn’t been a particularly enjoyable one for the London club as both Andre Villas Boas and Roberto di Matteo got the sack after losing this fixture. This year, it promises to be different, with Chelsea comfortably perched atop the league table.
DATE & TIME: February 11, 2014 at 15:00 EST; February 11, 2014 at 20:00 GMT; February 11, 2014 at 21:00 WAT; February 11, 2014 at 22:00 CAT; February 11, 2014 at 23:00 EAT; February 12, 2014 at 01:30 IST.
VENUE: The Hawthorns, West Bromwich, England.
TV/STREAMING NEWS: The match will be telecast live on Fox Sports 1 on Australia, Sportsnet East/West/Ontario/Pacific in Canada, ESPN+ Andina/Sur/Latin America in Colombia, beIN Sports Arabia 1 HD in Egypt, Canal+ Sport in France, Sky Sport 2/HD in Germany, Star Sports 4 & Star Sports HD2 in India, Fox Sports HD in Italy, J Sports 4 in Japan, Astro Supersport HD in Malaysia, Fox Sports 2 in Netherlands, Canal+ Fútbol/HD, Gol Stadium & Gol T in Spain, beIN Sports Arabia 1 HD in UAE, BBC One in UK and NBCSN in USA.
The match is available online on Sky Go in Germany & UK and NBC Sports Live Extra in USA.
Chelsea TV will have live audio of the game.
You can also catch the game on BBC Radio 5 Live in UK and TalkSport Radio if you’re in Australia, Canada, Malaysia or US.
WEST BROMWICH ALBION FC SQUAD NEWS: Stephane Sessegnon, Nicolas Anelka and Jonas Olsson are not in contention for selection because of injuries. There are no suspensions.
Predicted Starting XI: Foster, Jones, McAuley, Dawson, Ridgewell, Mulumbu, Brunt, Thievy, Morrison, Berahino, Anchiebe.
CHELSEA FC SQUAD NEWS: Jose Mourinho has confirmed John Terry is still out, but Fernando Torres is back.
Predicted Starting XI: Cech, Ivanovic, Cahill, Luiz, Azpilicueta, Matic, Ramires, Willian, Oscar, Hazard, Eto’o.
REFEREE: Anthony Taylor.
FORM INDEX: West Brom – WLDLDL; Chelsea – WWWDWW.
THOUGHTS FROM THE ENEMY: West Brom goalie Ben Foster is confident ahead of the tie against the Blues and hopes they will escape relegation.
“We know we can play well and we did that in the second half on Saturday and against Liverpool last week so we need to take that forward into the next 13 games. It will be a boost if we can get that win.”
FUN TRIVIA:
- Chelsea have won 7 of of the last 10 matches played against West Bromwich Albion.
- Chelsea have won 7 of their last 8 matches in Premier League.
- Chelsea have kept a clean sheet in their last 4 away matches in Premier League.
- West Brom have failed to win 14 of their last 15 matches in the Premier League.
“If we don’t win tomorrow it’s not just about the title contenders (going above us), it’s about Spurs & Everton closing the gap.”
what about mikel
pls play obi for us jooor
Hes still in the squad. Is like u like seen obi play. We cant play wit 2 defensive mid. Am enjoying matic right now. And i think u should also as a normal human being. Cant u see matic complement every one? Lampard, luiz, maybe ramires. Just keep calm and watch, obi ll get his chance, it depends on tactics employ by boss. We have strong mid fielders now
@cfc obsessed you are on point.is not about mikel,but about cfc 1st.every player will get their chance,but they must also proove they deserve to play.mikel must step up his game now or never because matic is really a handful.i love all the players,but i want 2 see the perfect team against the hawthorns.cfc2 albion0.
Whic obI let forget d fact that we are nigerians nd let us live sentiment out of this mikel is a talent but matic is better than him in anyway.
Mikel
@ Tedd, dont be rude. Matic ain’t better in general terms than Mikel but at the moment we all agree Matic himself has stepped up and manage to stay in form too. Its not about sentiments its about tactical deployment of our manager in every single match which is different with each opponent.
Matic is an example of what our loaned or traded players should have been…viz KDB, Lukaku etc to find first team shirts but they failed. I am glad this players in CM/DM are good options esp as they play a bit differently but effectively.
@Jayde can say from ur hrt that matic is not a complete player than mikel?, why do u tink jose brought him back. Thats wat he is showin to we all chelsea fans mikel is benched.
@ dear Frenzy, I gave my views candidly. I don’t know how to interpret my own statements.
I just know pretty well that Mourinho buys who he pleases letting your work show on pitch like Matic has undoubtedly… but don’t get it wrong, both players are not same just as performances fluctuates.
It depends on what you meant by being “complete”…above that I’m not sure Matic is illegible to play in CL …(Galatasaray) which is Mikel’s selection anyway. So nobody is benched as such bro. Matic also is to play even more games now at moment than Ramires and Mikel to rest tired legs for dividend of rotation for coming wks ahead. Lets see how it unfolds. CFC 4life
@jose so dis is the strongest 11 cfc can field.tired & clueles rami & oscar.wat is mikel,schurle & salah doing on the bench.matic was strained by an ineffective rami & selfish oscar.from d start 2 finish we were poor.just giving bal away in dangerous position.cant jose bench rami & oscar.am just angry but hop 4 an improvd perfomanc next tim.