Thomas Tuchel knows the time for tinkering and resource-management is over – it’s now or nowt.
The FA Cup semi-final against Crystal Palace (4.30pm, ITV ) will surely see the same Chelsea line-up that shone bright in Madrid on Tuesday.
In another boost for Blues backers, the magic of the contractual sub-clause has trumped the magic of the cup, and Palace will miss ineligible loanee Conor Gallagher.
The Eagles have lost both head-to-heads this season without him.
The last meeting was a 1-0, famed as Romelu Lukaku’s ‘ghost game’ –he managed just seven ball touches in 90 minutes and two of them were adjusting his shorts at a corner. Chelsea will be a handful at set-pieces again if the data is any guide.
Penalty shouts should be plentiful too on the stats. Both are ways in for a fun telly punt.
Antonio Rudiger has a big role in Tuchel’s playbook. Get on Rudiger ‘anytime scorer’ at 10/1 (Bet365, 90mins).
And have ‘penalty awarded in match’ at 11/5 (Boylesport, 90mins).
Newcastle ’s players really are doing the absolute bare minimum for their money. After exiting both domestic cups first pop, without scoring once or even getting on the team bus, they have clocked in for just 33 games so far.
Visitors Leicester (2.15pm) are already on game No.47, and they still have two in hand in the Prem – plus the strains of the Europa Continence League.
The Foxes could get caught short at set-pieces, and Toon totem Fabian Schar is a fun 9/1 (Paddy) ‘anytime scorer’.
On my forecasts, a minimum three of Burnley ’s last eight games are ‘must-win’ for any survival bid.
Thursday’s visit of Southampton is probably one of those. This trip to West Ham (2.15pm) isn’t – which might help explain the timing of Sean Dyche’s daft sacking if nothing else.
The Hammers could be leggy, post-Europa, but Burnley are so goal-lite that 10/11 (Fred) NO ‘both teams score’ is a solid coin-flip angle.
Last week: Winners at 27/10 and 20/21
