Chelsea

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against a variety of guests.

For week 12 he takes on The Farm singer and Liverpool fan Peter Hooton.

The Farm's new single, Forever & Ever, is out now and their new album, Let The Music (Take Control), is released in May 2025.

Sutton's prediction: 1-3

Enzo Maresca is back at Leicester for the first time since he left to take charge of Chelsea in the summer, and I actually think his return will be quite straightforward for him and his side.

Leicester will be pretty happy with the way they have started the season, given they had to replace Maresca, but I still think Steve Cooper faces a hard job to keep them up.

The only thing that makes me question whether Chelsea will win is because you never know quite where teams are after the international break, and also how many of their injured players will still be out.

Cole Palmer was one of them, but I am willing to bet he will start this game. If he is fit, they will have a little bit too much for Leicester.

Peter Wooton's prediction: 1-2

Chelsea looked like a basket case in the summer but they impressed me at Anfield earlier this month - they had a gameplan and played really well. I texted the Chelsea fans I know, saying 'crisis over'. Moises Caicedo is looking good and Nicolas Jackson has started scoring but it is Cole Palmer who makes them tick. He is a joy to watch, like a park footballer really - he appears lazy and nonchalant, but he is total class.

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Dave Fletcher
Radio Derby Burton Albion commentator

Image source, Getty Images

The Chelsea influence at Burton Albion is growing, despite the early departure of head coach Mark Robinson, who was lured from the under-21 set-up at Stamford Bridge by new owners the Nordic Football Group.

Robinson lasted just 11 matches, during which time Burton won once, before he was sacked.

The club also brought in three players from the Blues before the summer transfer window closed - Ronnie Sutter on loan, Dylan Williams on loan with an option to buy, and Charlie Webster on a three-year contract.

Forward Stutter, 19, has had least time to shine - he made a 19-minute cameo against Bristol Rovers before an injury meant he returned to Chelsea for treatment and he has not been seen since.

However, the other two are making their mark in the senior side, although Webster had to bide his time.

At 21, Williams is the oldest of the trio and he has featured in 11 of the opening 14 matches, largely as a left-back or left wing-back.

Lung-busting runs forward have become his trademark and a couple of assists in a struggling side are just a hint of things to come.

There was much excitement around Webster's arrival, but a foot injury on pre-season meant he had to wait until the end of September to make his League One debut. An hour as an attacking midfielder was enough to suggest he was going to make an impact.

The 20-year-old has been a regular in the squad since, more often playing a deeper-lying role, but his eye for goal was amply demonstrated with a spectacular strike against high-flying Wycombe.

Nat Hayward
BBC Sport journalist

An academy graduate who became an England international, Champions League winner, and then club captain all by the age of 23, Reece James should be the first name on Chelsea's team sheet.

But after featuring in each of the Blues' last four games - including two full 90 minutes - James has suffered yet another hamstring injury.

Although boss Enzo Maresca was keen to stress it would only be a short-term absence, it is understandable for fans to fear for a player who has missed far more football than he has played over the last two years.

That fear is only exacerbated by a statement released by the defender himself through social media on Thursday evening saying there is “another challenge ahead” but “against all odds” he will “eventually come out on top”.

Since the start of the 2022-23 season, Chelsea have played 87 Premier League matches with James only featuring in 30 of those, making just 22 starts.

It is a situation that was feared but hardly one that was unexpected. Of course, he may return shortly and go on to feature regularly this season but the fear of a further setback only increases with each spell on the sidelines.

For a player who relies on an explosive burst of pace and powerful ball striking, the repeated nature of James' hamstring problems illicits concern as to whether he will get back to the player who was described as the best right-back in the world by England and Manchester City stalwart Kyle Walker.

Given Malo Gusto's promise in the inverted right-back role, it may also mean Chelsea grow in Maresca's image without James. Rhythm for a team, especially under a new manager, is so important and a player who cannot stay fit is simply not a sustainable option for a side with aspirations to challenge for Premier League titles in coming years.

The player James was, and can be again, and what he represents for Chelsea means he must start when fit. It also means he is more than worth having as a part of the squad, even if he is only available for a certain percentage of matches.

However, if his appearances continue at the rate quoted in this article, remaining as captain will also become unsustainable. Especially since Maresca has also called for "more" leadership from him in recent months.

With such change and upheaval at Chelsea in recent times, even at 24 years old, James represents rare continuity at Stamford Bridge. However, until he gets a long run of matches under his belt, he must be hoping he does not get left behind.

Juventus could sign Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell on loan in January, as the 27-year-old searches for game time after being left out of the Blues squad by Enzo Maresca. (Mail), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game at Leicester (12:30 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Captain Reece James is unavailable for the trip to Leicester with what Maresca described as a short-term injury: "He felt something small and we don't want to take any risk. It's hamstring - a muscle problem."

• More on James' issue: "I know it's not easy but if every time [James] gets an injury, it becomes harder for him. He has to accept and try to avoid as much as he can. Sometimes things happen even if you want to avoid [them]. Hopefully he can be available for the next one."

• The Blues boss added that James is his only injury concern. When asked about the fitness of Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill, who withdrew from the England squad, he said: "Some of them are better, some we will check today. On the whole, most are much better because of the break."

• He was impressed by Joao Felix's performances for Portugal where he scored against Croatia: "Joao did fantastic. He is doing well but needs to find that balance. Today, 48 hours before the game, is the first time we get to work with 12, 13, 14 players. It's not easy, but we are trying."

• On returning to the club he won the Championship title with last season: "I'm excited and thankful. It was a fantastic season. The owner, his family are fantastic people. They care for players, staff, all of the people that work in the club. You can see that. I'm still in contact with them."

• On his journey since leaving the Foxes: ""I don't know if I'm better or worse, but I'm always curious to see things and study. That's the only thing I focus on."

Follow all of Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea have been linked with Liverpool goalkeeper Coamhin Kelleher over the international break after a mixed run of Robert Sanchez performances.

Although reports have been denied by club sources, the debate about who should be Chelsea’s number one rages on, with no goalkeeper making more mistakes leading to goals (3) than Sanchez.

Those mistakes came twice against his former club Brighton, while he gave away a penalty at Manchester United and, although it wasn’t registered as a mistake, the Spain international, 27, was blamed for Curtis Jones’s winner for Liverpool at Anfield.

It must be said that Chelsea’s oldest player also excelled in matches against Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest, earning his team points with some sensational saves.

A major figure in signing Sanchez was head of goalkeeping Ben Roberts, who worked with him at Brighton and joined Chelsea with Graham Potter, getting promoted from goalkeeping coach despite the Englishman’s sacking in 2023.

He is again working as a goalkeeper coach with new manager Enzo Maresca while still performing his wider role, which keeps an eye on the development of goalkeepers across the club, and includes having a big say on the players that are signed in the position.

Filip Jorgensen was added for £20.7m from Villarreal this summer and has started in cup matches for what has been dubbed the ‘B team’.

That has meant the Swedish-born Dane has yet to start in the Premier League.

But he is said to be a good fit for Maresca’s style of play, which benefited Mads Hermansen at Leicester last season, ahead of their reunion on Saturday.

The move for Jorgensen forced out capable former number one Djorje Petrovic, who remains on the books, along with Bournemouth loanee Kepa Arrizabalaga, who has no future at the club.

But the door has been left open for Petrovic to return from his loan spell at partner club Strasbourg in Ligue 1.

The Serb has excelled in France and fought his way into pole position to become his national team’s starting goalkeeper for the first time.

None of Sanchez, Jorgensen or Petrovic have proven themselves at the highest level but all seem capable of taking the next step.

There is also a host of young goalkeepers on the books like Mike Penders, Gabriel Slonina and Eddie Beach; who are at other clubs but could be called upon in future seasons.

It makes little sense to look to the transfer market for a goalkeeper and Chelsea will no doubt back their recruitment in feeling that there is already a long-term number one in their sphere of influence.

Who that is will be down to the individual performers, with Sanchez to continue as number one into the winter period.

BBC Sport pundit Nedum Onuoha gives us his insight and opinion every fortnight on your Premier League club but this week he's in the hotseat answering your questions.

Tim asked: Will Christopher Nkunku leave if he doesn’t play more games in the Premier League?

Nedum replied: It will depend on what he was told when he first joined the club.

He was meant to be a big signing for Chelsea and on quality should be playing weekly. He can play the waiting game, but I think Enzo Maresca sees him and Nicolas Jackson as two different types of player.

It is great that Nkunku is playing in Europe but he has come from playing every week in the Bundesliga and being one of the stars of that league. So for that reason, I would be surprised if he was happy to just be sat on the bench at Chelsea.

I am not saying he should leave but I wouldn't be surprised if he is talking to Maresca because he knows he is good enough to start games.

I also doubt he would struggle to find other suitors.

Nedum Onuoha was speaking to BBC Sport's Katie Stafford

Santos left-back Joao Victor de Souza, 18, has emerged as a target for Chelsea but the Premier League club will face competition from Barcelona for the Brazilian. (AS - in Spanish), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Image source, Getty Images

With Reece James back fit and Malo Gusto in good form, we asked you to have your say on who should be Chelsea's first choice right-back.

Here are some of your comments:

Barwell: While I have been impressed by Maresca, some of his decisions are a little curious as, in my view, a fully fit Reece James should always be first choice right-back and a fit Ben Chilwell should always be first choice left-back. Chilwell is a far better left-back/wing-back than Marc Cucurella. And Robert Sanchez is a liability and needs replacing as soon as possible.

Steve: James is one of the best right-backs in the world. However, since his return he does look a little slow compared to Gusto so it would depend on the opposition. I would not put either of them at left-back as Cucurella is brilliant right now.

Patrick: Gusto vs James. At one time, with overlapping full-backs as standard, Chelsea had the best two in the Premier League in James and Chilwell (before both were injured). Tactics are now different. James is one of the best crossers in the league. Since returning, his defending has been less good. Once that is restored he is the best option at right-back.

Sunil: Gusto has done a great job at right-back and deserves huge credit. But James, when fully fit, is an outstanding full-back and the better of the two. His range of passing and crossing is great and he is a constant goal threat, which Gusto is not. James is also 'one of our own'. We need James back as our right-back and also there for England.

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Chelsea FC

Chelsea's 15-year-old left-sided defender Calvin Diakite has established himself as an ever-present member in the under-18s this season all while playing above his age group.

The England youth international, who is eligible for Ivory Coast through his parents, is expected to sign his first professional contract in west London on his 17th birthday, which is not until April 2026.

Club scout Fiona Armfield spotted Diakite playing for Dynamo in Catford as a 10-year-old and he chose the Blues over fierce rivals Tottenham.

At the time, the Lewisham-based youngster was playing in central midfield and attempting to emulate his idol Yaya Toure, but he was soon converted to a defender in Chelsea's academy. Ex-Chelsea and now Real Madrid defender Antonio Rudiger is the main player he looks up to.

Good on the ball, quick and exceptional in one-v-one defending, Diakite has looked at home in the under-18s, and was previously given advice from former Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek before he departed for AC Milan last summer.

Diakite fell in love with football through his father, who took him to Premier League matches at Arsenal, Crystal Palace and Watford after relocating to the United Kingdom.

Chelsea have succeeded with Diakite in the team, winning multiple trophies with him in the under-16s last season and further success expected for him within the prestigious Cobham-based academy.

Enzo Maresca have given debuts to youngsters Tyrique George and Sam Rak-Sakyi this season, with 17-year-old Shim Mheuka making the bench in the Conference League just days after signing his first professional deal.

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Recently we asked you what one thing - good or bad - nobody is talking about at Chelsea and some of you suggested the impact of Reece James' return.

It has been four weeks since his long-awaited comeback and, after featuring in all four Premier League games, it looks like the worst of his injury issues may be behind him (whisper it quietly).

But, the question is now - how does he best fit in the team?

The 24-year-old has played nearly 250 minutes so far, including two full games, but although he returned to his original right-back role in the first match, he took up the left-back position in the following two and then was only used as a late substitute in the final game before the international break.

When James was fully fit and playing consistently, there was always a worry among supporters of who could step in and perform at the same level if he was out of the team.

The emergence of Malo Gusto quelled many of those fears as he so easily managed to step up and make the role his own - despite being just 21 himself - featuring 37 times last season.

But with James' natural quality and Gusto's form, it has given boss Enzo Maresca a headache. The answer may lie in what the Italian wants from that position.

Due to the disparity in minutes played, comparing the two defenders statistics per 90 minutes in the league this season reveals their respective strengths.

Read on for the case for each, and make your selection in our poll here...

If Enzo Maresca is looking for someone to contribute to help build attacks, Reece James has the advantage.

At 88%, the 24-year-old just edges Malo Gusto in passing accuracy, but when it comes to number of passes, he averages nearly double the amount attempted per 90 minutes at 71.4 to Gusto's 47.8 and comes out on top in touches too (91 to 69).

His progressive nature is also evident in the amount of forward passes per 90 (27 to 12), passes completed in the opposition half (30 to 25) and through balls (1.2 to 0.2).

On top of that, he has a take-on success rate of 50% compared to Gusto's 33% and averages nearly double the number of crosses at 5.7 to 2.6.

With just two Premier League clean sheets this term for Chelsea however, Maresca may want more defensive focus from the right-back position and this is where Malo Gusto comes to the fore.

The France international edges clearances (1.8 to 1.5) and interceptions (1.3 to 1.2) per 90 minutes, but averages more than double the number of tackles at 2.4 to James' 0.8.

He also contests more ground duels (7.5 to 4.2) and loses possession fewer times (11 to 15).

With the qualities both James and Gusto offer, as long as the former stays fit, it is difficult to see how either can be left out and it is going to require flexible thinking from Maresca to keep these two young talents in the Chelsea side.

Who do you think is the best right-back option, Blues fans?

How would you fit them in the side?

Let us know, external

Will Faulks
Fan writer

Image source, PA Media

The international break is a frustrating time for fans of club football, but for managers - especially those newly appointed, and those known for their thorough and detailed approaches to coaching - it provides a great opportunity to work in depth on issues they do not usually have time for.

Given Enzo Maresca fits into both of those categories, this fortnight of respite from individual match preparation should yield particularly positive results for Chelsea.

The new manager has been rightly praised for cutting through the potential confusion of a giant squad by picking and sticking with a consistent selection. But that rhythm has started to break down in recent weeks, especially in defence. While the centre-backs remain fixed, the full-backs have been fluid.

The return of Reece James from injury after the last international break was a boost to the squad - but it has opened up so many new options that Maresca is now tinkering more than he had been.

We have seen James used on the left and the right; Malo Gusto on both sides and playing inverted; and Marc Cucurella dropped unexpectedly for a month, then slotted back in to face Arsenal.

Maresca loves Gusto's versatility, but the Frenchman seems to be suffering from the endless shuffling, and his form has not been good this season. James is by far the most effective attacker of the three, but is still getting up to speed physically. Cucurella remains a mystery - capable of excellent individual performances and dreadful, frantic outings, without much in between.

If there is one thing Chelsea fans will hope Maresca has established in this break it is a clear plan of how to use his options at full-back - for creating more threatening attacking possession to support the frontline and for stabilising a defence that still concedes too many soft goals.

Find more from Will Faulks at Chelsea News, external

Image source, Getty Images

Chelsea duo Cole Palmer (12) and Noni Madueke (five) have created more chances for each other than any other pair of team-mates in the Premier League so far this season.

Palmer has also been directly involved in 10 goals in five league appearances against promoted sides for the Blues (six goals, four assists). He has averaged a goal or assist every 43 minutes in such matches.

Chelsea face competition from Manchester United and Newcastle United for 17-year-old Sporting and Portugal winger Geovany Quenda. (Give Me Sport), external

Meanwhile, the Blues will not make a move for 25-year-old Liverpool and Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher because Enzo Maresca is happy with his current options. (Give Me Sport), external

Want more transfer news? Read Wednesday's full gossip column