Alistair Magowan
BBC Sport at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea has been an uncertain club since it was put up for sale last month, but could it be that it is starting to drift onto the pitch? It's a situation not helped by news in the last 24 hours of Antonio Rudiger being set to leave after failing to agree a new contract.

Thomas Tuchel says his team's home form is "fragile" and has blamed errors on the Stamford Bridge pitch. He uses his programme notes to describe the first half against Arsenal as "wild" and says the mistakes "have to stop now".

Without Andreas Christensen, who is a late withdrawal, the German adds: "It is up to us to show that we have learned the lessons from the last games here."

Mark Lawrenson takes on Austin Brown, singer and guitarist of rock band Parquet Courts, in the latest round of Premier League predictions.

Image source, BBC Sport

Lawro's prediction: 1-1

Chelsea were extremely vulnerable at the back against Arsenal on Wednesday, which was strange to see.

Afterwards, Blues boss Thomas Tuchel blamed the pitch for some awkward bounces, but I don't buy that. That might have been an excuse in the 1970s or 1980s because surfaces could be terrible then - but not now.

West Ham have got a big game to look forward to next Thursday, with their Europa League semi-final against Eintracht Frankfurt, but they will benefit from having a rare midweek off before this game.

David Moyes' side had started to look a little bit leggy but the rest will do them good. They have already taken points off Chelsea this season when they beat them at London Stadium in December, and I think they will have some joy here too.

Austin's prediction: I am a bit conflicted about this one because I have got my boy Christian Pulisic at Chelsea, but they are pretty safe in third place and playing better in other tournaments. I think West Ham will nick a late winner. 0-1

Find out how Lawro and Austin Brown, singer and guitarist of the Parquet Courts, think the rest of the weekend's fixtures will go

Ex-Everton striker Jermaine Beckford says his former club "will be worried" with Burnley just one point behind the Toffees.

The Clarets have taken four points from their past two games and could leapfrog Everton if they draw with Wolves on Sunday before Frank Lampard's side face Liverpool in the later game.

"Burnley showed all the qualities they will need to get out of a sticky situation," Beckford told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

"They're all in it together. They shut down Southampton and clearly don't want to go down with a whimper.

"It was a brilliant performance and now they have a great opportunity to put real pressure on Everton."

Beckford also expressed concern about Everton's upcoming fixtures. After playing Liverpool at Anfield, they host Chelsea and travel to Leicester.

"There are no easy games in the Premier League and these ones do look difficult," he said. "Liverpool are in scintillating form.

"Everton will need everyone on top form and keeping a tight ship at the back if theye going to get any points."

Listen to full discussion on Burnley's win and the relegation battle from 33'40 on BBC Sounds

Image source, BBC Sport

• After losing their first three Premier League meetings with Wolves, Burnley are now unbeaten in their past six against them (W3 D3).
• Wolves have won just one of their past 11 league games against Burnley (D5 L5), a 1-0 home win in September 2018. Wolves have scored just six goals in these 11 meetings, and never more than once in a match.
• Five of the Clarets last seven Premier League goals against Wolves have been scored by Chris Wood, who left the club for Newcastle in January. The only other player to score more than once for the Clarets against them in the competition is Ashley Barnes (2).
• Nineteen of the 28 goals Wolves have conceded in the Premier League this season have come after half-time (68%). They’ve conceded as many goals in the final 15 minutes of games as they have in the opening 45 so far this term (9).

• Chelsea have lost just one of their past 15 Premier League home games against West Ham (W10 D4), going down 1-0 in November 2019.
• West Ham have won three of their past five top-flight games against Chelsea (L2), including a 3-2 win at London Stadium in the reverse fixture this season. The Hammers had only won three of their previous 26 league games against the Blues before this (D6 L17).
• The Blues have lost just one of their past 25 Premier League London derbies played on a Sunday (W18 D6), with that loss coming at home to Tottenham in April 2018.
• Hammers manager David Moyes has never won in 16 Premier League away games against Chelsea (D7 L9). There are just two occasions of a manager facing a side more on the road without ever winning, with Moyes also responsible for both of those (18 v Arsenal, 17 v Liverpool).

We asked whether David Moyes should focus all his attention on winning the Europa League to give West Ham the best chance of playing Champions League football next season.

Hammers fans have mixed opinions:

Andrew: No-brainer - 100% everything should be on the Europa League.

Dave: I think they shouldn't give up on anything. Top four is unlikely, but all teams going for top four seem to be dropping points too.

Dom: I actually think our biggest chance of getting into next season's Champions League is now winning the Europa League, to be honest. So I think, although the Premier League is important and he shouldn't abandon it completely, the Europa League has to be the priority for Moyes now. I'd still like to see us finish fifth or sixth though, if possible.

Alan: Champions League qualification is now gone via a top-four finish. The best we can hope for is to finish in the top six. Winning the Europa League would be amazing, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

Noel: I think Champions League football is a step too far for us. I would rather another year in the Europa League, but with games coming up and the last couple of Premier League results, it’s now looking as if we may not finish top six. If the only way we get to play European football is to win the Europa League then so be it - go all out and win it.

Trev: Definitely still in the race, especially considering all the fixtures that Spurs, Arsenal and Manchester United have, including some against each other. Plus the fact that no team can get any momentum and capitalise on opportunities to gain some ground. Having said that, if we can't beat Burnley on home turf and get results against Brentford etc, we deserve to miss out.

Image source, Getty Images

David Moyes says West Ham are relishing still being in the hunt for European honours and a chance to finish in the top four this season.

The Hammers face German side Eintracht Frankfurt in the semi-finals of the Europa League next month and are five points away from the Champions League qualification places in the Premier League table.

"We wouldn’t want it any other way," said Moyes.

"We’re coming up to the end of April, we are still in Europe and we could make Europe again through our league position."

West Ham travel to Chelsea on Sunday hoping to complete a league doubleoover Thomas Tuchel's side.

In December, Arthur Masuaku's attempted cross took Blues goalkeeper Edouard Mendy by surprise and flew in at the near post for a late winner - a goal that consolidated West Ham's place in the top four.

"It was a great result for us at the start of the season when they were in top form," said Moyes.

"Now we have to try to get a result at Stamford Bridge as well."

Image source, BBC Sport

• Brighton have won just one of their nine Premier League games against Southampton (D5 L3) and are yet to beat Saints at home in the competition (D1 L3).
• Southampton have won their past three Premier League away games against Brighton – they’ve never won four consecutive top-flight visits against an opponent.
• Five of the 21 Premier League goals scored in meetings between Brighton and Southampton have been penalties (24%). Of all fixtures to have had at least 20 goals scored in the competition, this has seen the highest ratio from the penalty spot.
• Some 78% of the Premier League meetings between Brighton and Southampton have seen at least one goal scored in both halves (7/9). The two exceptions were both goalless at half-time, and both ended with Southampton winning away from home (1-0 in March 2019, 2-0 in August 2019).

Image source, BBC Sport

Lawro's prediction: 1-0

Southampton have had the upper hand in this south-coast battle in recent years - Brighton won at St Mary's Stadium last season, but that is their only win in their nine Premier League meetings since 2017.

I am going with the Seagulls this time, though. After scoring in their wins against Arsenal and Tottenham, Leandro Trossard missed their defeat at Manchester City through illness but he has a chance of making this game.

Southampton are always a bit up and down but, unusually for them, their passing wasn't good in their defeat by Burnley on Thursday. Their system didn't work at Turf Moor, and they weren't really a threat.

Austin's prediction: Both of these teams are safely in the middle of the table so we might get some goals here. 2-3

Find out how Lawro and Austin Brown, singer and guitarist of the Parquet Courts, think the rest of the weekend's fixtures will go

There has been a change to the Chelsea team...

Burnley caretaker manager Mike Jackson has praised Nathan Collins as the Clarets prepare for a vital game with Wolves at Turf Moor on Sunday.

Collins has scored important goals against Everton and Southampton in recent weeks but has also impressed in his centre-back partnership with James Tarkowski.

"Sometimes you forget he's only 20," said Jackson. "There's so much more to come from him.

"He's playing at Tarky's side so development is priceless."

Collins has got his chance in the backline with club captain Ben Mee currently sidelined through injury but, after the dismissal of Sean Dyche, Jackson praised the role of Mee in coaching Collins from the touchline.

"You're not just developing football skills," he said. "There's also character building with having Mee guiding him too."

Image source, Getty Images

Josh Brownhill says the managerial change at Turf Moor has made their opponents uncertain about what tactics they will be up against.

The 26-year-old set up both Burnley’s goals in a vital win against Southampton on Thursday night and was in bullish mood before Sunday’s game with Wolves, when a positive result could lift them out of the bottom three.

“With a change of manager, the opposition doesn’t know how you’re going to play,” he said. “We were more patient but still direct and played forward.

“We’re in high spirits because it was a massive win.”

Brownhill also stressed the Clarets would be relentless in trying to preserve their Premier League status.

“I think we’re up for the fight and we’re not going to stop,” he said. “We’re going to give absolutely everything.”

Ben Livingstone, TalkBFC, external

What a game, what a result and what a massive three points that is.

A surreal atmosphere at Turf Moor on Thursday – backed with an equally as good performance.

Mike Jackson has allowed the players to express themselves and revitalised our season. Simple changes like playing out from the back, allowing Dwight McNeil to be more creative and letting the wingers stay further up the field.

There is a real belief among the fans that we can do this, which was really felt last night. All four stands were rocking.

The tribute to Sean Dyche in the latter stages of the game was brilliant, after all Dyche did for the club and the town. The fans did it in a great way - getting behind the team for the full 90 and when the game was settled the Dyche chants came back out for what might be the last time.

With Wolves at home to look forward to this Sunday, there’s no reason we can’t get another three points on the board.

A win this weekend could take us out the bottom three for the first time in what feels like forever. It would also keep Aston Villa and Leeds looking over their shoulders. Considering that we have to play Villa twice still there’s so much to play for.

West Ham's subs are currently engaged in a pretty competitive game of piggy in the middle at Stamford Bridge. Declan Rice, Jarrod Bowen and Michail Antonio upping the usual levels.

Image source, Getty Images

There were plenty of people who thought Burnley had just thrown the towel in on this season when they sacked Sean Dyche.

Not so much, it turns out.

The caretaker team led by Mike Jackson has given the Clarets four points from their last two games and some hope in their quest to beat the drop.

After Southampton on Thursday, today sees them face Wolves in another massive game. A win takes them out of the bottom three - for a bit at least. Suddenly, Everton are the ones on the chase and Leeds and Villa are nervously looking over their shoulder.

Natalie Bromley from the No Nay Never podcast joins The Football News Show to discuss their remaining fixtures and the improvements on the pitch since the departure of former manager Sean Dyche.

Ross Mooring,Chelsea Fancast, external

Chelsea came back down to earth on Wednesday with a chastening 4-2 home defeat by Arsenal. The Blues have now lost four out of their past five meetings with their north London rivals, bringing back memories of the late 1990s and early 2000s when the Gunners held the voodoo sign over the club.

More concerning is the team's home form under Thomas Tuchel, not just in recent matches as Chelsea lost three straight home games in all competitions for the first time since 1993, but also as the German's Premier League 1.78 points-per-game average is one of the lowest by any manager under Roman Abramovich and a far cry from the English league record of 86 home games unbeaten set from 2004 to 2008.

There are mitigating factors, with Tuchel forced to select a team with half of its first-choice XI missing from the line-up after playing so many games in recent weeks. Without naming names, at least two of those players will probably be leaving in the summer, not being good enough for a squad looking to challenge for the Premier League title.

The other, debatably, is the standard of the pitch, both in the dimension (on the smaller side) and the quality of the surface being below the standards set by similarly high-profile clubs.

While not to a level of the infamous beach game against Charlton and indeed, better than at any time in recent memory, it is still not "lush" enough to bring out the highest technical ability of the team's players. With the size of land owned by the club being extremely small, it will be a challenge for any new architects looking at the stadium rebuild.

Much work is needed this summer both on and off the pitch.