Chelsea
will be looking to bounce back from their worst Premier League defeat in 23
years when they host Huddersfield on Saturday.
The Blues slipped out of the top four after a 4-0 defeat at Bournemouth on
Wednesday.
There have been reports head coach Maurizio Sarri held a post-match
dressing-room inquest following the match.
"We are very angry," said defender Cesar Azpilicueta afterwards. "It is
unacceptable for Chelsea and we have to find the solutions.
"Conceding four goals is unacceptable, and we are very angry with that. We
expected another result. To lose 4-0 as Chelsea players is unacceptable."
New signing Gonzalo Higuain is set to make his home debut after starting
against Bournemouth
Huddersfield are bottom of the Premier League and 12 points from safety
after losing 1-0 to Everton in their first match under new manager Jan
Siewert.
Looking ahead to the trip to Stamford Bridge, Siewert said: "I know the
situation and I know they have difficulties.
"I saw some situations [against Bournemouth] in which they were vulnerable,
but to be honest it will be a totally different game. I know Maurizio Sarri
is a fantastic manager and we have to face everything which they give us."
Team news
Chelsea have no fresh injury concerns, although Sarri may shuffle his side
after the defeat to Bournemouth.
Aaron Mooy and Philip Billing are both set to return to the Huddersfield
starting line-up.
Mooy was used as a second-half substitute in Tuesday's defeat at Everton
after he recovered from knee ligament damage.
Billing is also expected to be available after two games out with a minor
knee problem, while new signing Karlan Grant could feature up front.
Opta stats
Chelsea have lost just one of their last 16 matches against Huddersfield in
all competitions (W11 D4), a 0-1 defeat in the League Cup third round in
October 1999.
In the top-flight, Huddersfield are winless in 10 matches against Chelsea
(D4 L6) since winning 1-0 in October 1954.
Chelsea haven't lost any of their last 14 home league matches against 'Town'
sides (W11 D3) since a 1-3 defeat to Luton Town in September 1986.
Chelsea have failed to score in three of their last six home Premier League
games, more than they had in their previous 21 combined in the competition
(2).
Chelsea are looking to avoid three consecutive Premier League defeats for
the first time since November 2015.
Huddersfield have won none of their 19 Premier League games against sides
who aren't newly-promoted to the division this season (W0 D3 L16), with
their two wins coming against Fulham and Wolves.
The side starting the day bottom have lost 11 of their last 12 away Premier
League games against 'big six' sides, by an aggregate score of 3-36. The
only exception was a West Brom victory against Man Utd at Old Trafford last
season.
Huddersfield striker Laurent Depoitre has scored both of Huddersfield's
Premier League goals against Chelsea, netting at the John Smith's Stadium in
December 2017 and Stamford Bridge in May 2018.
last permanent Huddersfield manager to win his first away league match in
charge was Neil Warnock in August 1993, a 3-2 win at Rotherham United in the
third tier.
Chelsea's Eden Hazard has had a hand in nine goals in his last seven Premier
League appearances against sides starting the day bottom (5 goals, 4
assists).
In 13 of the last 14 Premier League matches Huddersfield's Jason Puncheon
has started, the side he's been playing for has failed to score (10 for
Crystal Palace, 3 for Huddersfield).
Charlie Nicholas prediction
Like for Chelsea, this is also a must win for Huddersfield. I know the new
man [Jan Siewert] has just come in and needs time, but you do not have time
with the situation they are in as the gap is now very, very big indeed.
In all honestly, I think they are gone and although he will not admit it,
the new man is just trying to use players to blend to his style. But the one
thing he will not want is to get embarrassed and that can happen at Chelsea.
Chelsea are there for the taking right now though and Sarri is under serious
scrutiny. I do not think that will affect his decision making, but the thing
with Chelsea all season is if they do not get the ball to Hazard, they do
not win football matches. So, it will be interesting to see what Eden
Hazard's reaction is to this team situation at the moment.
However, I expect Chelsea to come through this one as it is a chance to get
into the top four, so I expect a fairly comfortable win with a little bit of
anger in it, with Hazard scoring twice.
CHARLIE PREDICTS: 3-0 (Sky Bet odds: 5/1)
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