After a massive 2-1 away win at Stoke you get the feeling that this Chelsea side will not slip-up as the season draws to a close. Even with Cary Cahill conceding a sloppy penalty last Saturday the Blues still manager to find a way to get the job done. It was Cahill himself who made up for his earlier mistake, rifling in an effort that ensured all three points made their way back to West London.
Chelsea haven’t lost since the first game of 2017, a 2-0 away defeat to Tottenham. That loss brought an end to a 13-match winning streak in the Premier League, and to follow the loss up the way they have has been impressive to say the least.
The Blues currently have a cushion of at least 10 points to their closest rivals. It would take a big drop in performance levels to let such a big lead slip, you just can’t imagine Antonio Conte allowing that to happen. His men look like generals on the pitch, they don’t given the opposition an inch, not even for a second.
Having said that, there is still a job to be done. No Premier League game is easy, although Chelsea have been making it look that way. The Blues will need to approach each game in the same professional manner they have done all season.
April sees home matches against Crystal Palace and Manchester City, as well as trips to Bournemouth, Manchester United and Everton. This is a tricky month no doubt.
Palace are starting to find some form under Sam Allardyce, winning 3 matches on the trot in the league, not conceding a single goal in the process. Manchester City are also in fantastic league form, winning 6 of their last 7 games. That match could prove pivotal, should City win they could have the momentum to get close to Chelsea and make the West-Londoners at least look tentatively over their shoulder.
Furthermore, Bournemouth have won their last 2, scoring 5 goals in the process, opposition that Chelsea will need to be wary of. United have looked very strong in recent months, and extended their unbeaten run to 18 games in the league with a win over Middlesborough on Sunday. Everton too are flying, star man Romelu Lukaku can’t stop scoring. That the trip to Goodison Park will not be easy for Chelsea to navigate.
The final month of the season is a little kinder to Chelsea, home games against struggling sides Middlesborough and Sunderland should prove to be regulation victories, althrough both teams may be scrapping for their Premier League lives. These two games are dissected by an away match versus West Brom, the Hawthorns is no easy place to travel to, as Arsenal found out last Saturday.
A home match against Southampton will need to be squeezed in somewhere, as the game has been rearranged due to Chelsea’s continued involvement in the FA Cup. Another tough game against a side in good form, new striker Gabbiadini has hit the ground running for the Saints – Chelsea’s back 5 will need to be on their toes.
It’s clear that Chelsea still have some tricky matches to come in the Premier League this season. However, the lead they have built up and the form they are in should mean they have more than enough to finish the season top of the pile come what may and to secure the FA Cup.