By Daily Sports on October 23, 2021

Top meets bottom in Saturday’s Premier League battle at Stamford Bridge, as Chelsea and Norwich City prepare to lock horns in the English capital.

The table-topping Blues marched to a 1-0 win over Brentford in gameweek eight, while Norwich claimed their second point of the season against Brighton & Hove Albion.

The Premier League’s ‘Big Six’ are quickly finding out how dogged and determined Brentford can be in front of their own fans, and it was no different against Chelsea, but Thomas Tuchel’s side ultimately prevailed 1-0 in the West London derby.

As a result, Chelsea lead the way in the Premier League with 19 points taken from a possible 24 and also in the knowledge that at least one of Manchester United or Liverpool will drop points on Sunday.

Sixteen goals scored – at an average of two per game – is not the most prolific record in the top flight, but a mere three conceded at the other end of the pitch typifies the new-found defensive resilience under Tuchel, whose side have also amassed nine goals at home in the league so far this term.

Any hopes of keeping pace with Manchester City on the goalscoring front may have been dashed with injuries to Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner in midweek, but with the chasing pack ready to close in, nothing but a dominant win will do for Chelsea over the hapless Canaries, who continue to wait for an elusive first win of the new Premier League season.

Elsewhere later on Saturday evening, defending champions Manchester City continue their quest to retain the coveted trophy as they take on Brighton and Hove Albion. City boss Pep Guardiola has no fresh injury concerns after the midweek victory over Club Brugge in the Champions League.

John Stones, who was not in the squad in Belgium, is available to make the trip, while Ederson and Gabriel Jesus – who both linked up with their team-mates in Bruges after missing last weekend’s win over Burnley following periods of isolation, are also available.

Ferran Torres is the only absentee as the Spain international continues his recovery from a metatarsal injury.

Brighton defender Adam Webster could be available for the visit of the champions.

Webster has missed the Seagulls’ past five games in all competitions but returned to training this week and is hoping to prove his fitness.

Midfielders Yves Bissouma and Enock Mwepu are also in contention having recovered from knocks to be unused substitutes last week, but Danny Welbeck (hamstring) and Steven Alzate (ankle) are still out.

•PHOTO: Chelsea players celebrating a victory.

Source Daily Sports

Posted October 23, 2021

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