Ipswich vs Chelsea: Match Preview & predictions
Ipswich vs Chelsea: Match Preview & predictions. Chelsea are on the road and would be hoping to finish the year on a high as they travel to Ipswich Town in the Premier League on Monday night.
Chelsea fans were forced to endure the unfamiliar feeling of defeat on Boxing Day as Fulham secured their first win at Stamford Bridge since 1979 through Rodrigo Muniz’s last-gasp winner.
Chelsea’s performance and the subsequent result offered an explanation as to why Enzo Maresca has been keen to downplay his side’s title hopes. While that was their first league defeat since October, the west Londoners are now ten points behind league leaders, Liverpool.
At the other end of the table, Ipswich face an uphill battle to remain in the division. Kieran McKenna‘s side are likely to end 2024 in 19th having won just two league games upon their return to the top flight so far.
The Tractor Boys barely laid a glove on Arsenal as they fell to a 1-0 defeat at the Emirates on Friday night. However, this will be their first meeting with Chelsea since 2011.
Here’s our guide to Ipswich vs Chelsea clash in the Premier League.
What time does Ipswich vs Chelsea kick-off?
Location: Ipswich, England
Stadium: Portman Road
Date: Monday 30 December
Kick-off Time: 19:45 GMT / 14:45 ET / 11:45 PT
Referee: John Brooks
VAR: Michael Oliver
Ipswich vs Chelsea H2H Record (Last Five Games)
Ipswich: 0 wins
Chelsea: 4 wins
Draws: 1
Last meeting: Chelsea 7-0 Ipswich (9 January 2011) – FA Cup
Ipswich team news:
McKenna can welcome captain Sam Morsy back from suspension and he’ll likely return to Ipswich’s midfield pivot on Monday night, replacing Kalvin Phillips in the XI.
The hosts are set to be without Massimo Luongo again due to illness, while Axel Tuanzebe and Chiedozie Ogbene have been ruled out. Ogbene won’t play again this season due to a long-term knee injury.
George Hirst will be hoping to return from a knee issue in the new year, while Cieran Slicker is a doubt due to a muscle problem.
Ipswich predicted lineup vs Chelsea
Ipswich (4-2-3-1): Muric; Clarke, O’Shea, Greaves, Davis; Morsy, Cajuste; Burns, Hutchinson, Szmodics; Delap
Chelsea team news:
Maresca has the squad to rotate on Monday night, but some have posed the question as to whether the Italian trusts Chelsea’s fringe players. As he made just one change during the Blues’ Boxing Day defeat.
Christopher Nkunku could replace Nicolas Jackson up top given the latter’s dip in form, while Joao Felix will be hoping for a bigger role on Monday having struggled to feature since he impressed at Southampton earlier this month.
Chelsea are still without Mykhailo Mudryk following his positive drug test, while Benoit Badiashile, Wesley Fofana, Romeo Lavia and Carney Chukwuemeka are all sidelined due to injury. Captain Reece James is however back in training and closing in on another comeback.
Chelsea predicted lineup vs Ipswich
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Gusto, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Madueke, Palmer, Felix; Nkunku.
Ipswich vs Chelsea score prediction:
A naive and immature Chelsea manifested on Boxing Day, with their struggles against tightly-packed defences coming to the fore over the past week. Given how Ipswich set up at the Emirates on Friday, the Blues are likely to face another deep-lying backline on Monday.
While that would appear a smart ploy from McKenna, it does represent a deviation from the ideals which have got the Suffolk side into this position. Their pressing has allowed them to be competitive in the top flight this term, so the Ipswich boss shouldn’t change tack entirely.
The Tractor Boys have acquitted themselves well this term, but the Premier League schedule is beginning to take its toll on a thin squad. It’ll take a huge effort for Ipswich to go again and take points off the Blues.
Prediction: Ipswich 0-3 Chelsea
