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Chelsea are on course to finish the year as they travel to face Ipswich Town in the Premier League on Monday night.
Blues fans were forced to endure the unfamiliar feeling of defeat on Boxing Day Fulham achieved their first victory at Stamford Bridge since 1979 thanks to Rodrigo Muniz’s last-gasp winner.
Chelsea performance and the subsequent result offered an explanation as to why Enzo Maresca was keen to dampen his side’s title hopes. Although it was their first league defeat since October, the west Londoners are now ten points behind leaders Liverpool.
At the other end of the table, Ipswich face an uphill battle to stay in the division. Kieran McKenna’s side are likely to finish 2024 in 19th place after winning just two league games so far following their return to the top flight.
The Tractor Boys barely laid a glove on Arsenal while they lost 1-0 at the Emirates on Friday night. This will be their first meeting with Chelsea since 2011.
Here 90 minutes guide to Ipswich vs Chelsea in the Premier League.
Ipswich vs Chelsea H2H record (last five matches)
Current form (all competitions)
|
Ipswich |
Chelsea |
|---|---|
|
Arsenal 1-0 Ipswich – 27.12.24 |
Chelsea 1-2 Fulham – 26.12.24 |
|
Ipswich 0-4 Newcastle – 21.12.24 |
Everton 0-0 Chelsea – 22.12.24 |
|
Wolves 1-2 Ipswich – 14.12.24 |
Chelsea 5-1 Shamrock Rovers – 19.12.24 |
|
Ipswich 1-2 Bournemouth – 12.08.24 |
Chelsea 2-1 Brentford – 15.12.24 |
|
Ipswich 0-1 Crystal Palace – 12.3.24 |
Astana 1-3 Chelsea – 12.12.24 |
|
Earth |
TV channel/live broadcast |
|---|---|
|
Great Britain |
Not televised (BBC 5 Live – Radio) |
|
United States |
Peacock |
|
Canada |
fuboTV Canada, Fubo Sports Network 3 Canada |
McKenna can welcome the return of captain Sam Morsy suspension and he is likely to return to Ipswich’s midfield on Monday night, replacing Kalvin Phillips in the XI.
The hosts are again set to be without Massimo Luongo due to illness, while Axel Tuanzebe and Chiedozie Ogbene are ruled out. Ogbene will not play again this season due to a long-term knee injury.
George Hirst will be hoping to return from a knee problem in the new year, while Cieran Slicker is doubtful with a muscle problem.
Predicted line-up of Ipswich against Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Murić; Clarke, O’Shea, Greaves, Davis; Morsy, Cajuste; Burns, Hutchinson, Szmodics; Delap
Maresca has a squad for Monday night’s rotation, but some have questioned whether the Italian trusts Chelsea’s fringe players. He made just one change during the Blues’ defeat on Boxing Day.
Christopher Nkunku could replace Nicolas Jackson up top given the latter’s dip in form, while Joao Felix will hope for a bigger role on Monday having struggled to feature as he impressed in Southampton earlier this month.
Chelsea are without Mykhail Mudryk to accompany him positive drug testwhile Benoit Badiashile, Wesley Fofana, Romeo Lavia and Carney Chukwuemeka are sidelined. Reece James has returned to training and is nearing another comeback.
Predicted line-up Chelsea vs Ipswich (4-2-3-1): Sánchez; Gusto, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Madueke, Palmer, Felix; Nkunku.
Naive and immature Chelsea it was evident on Boxing Day, and their struggles against tightly packed defenses came to the fore over the past week. Given how Ipswich lined up at the Emirates on Friday, the Blues are likely to face another deep-lying back line on Monday.
While this would appear to be a clever ploy by McKenna, it does represent a departure from the ideals that have led the Suffolk side to this position. Their pressing has allowed them to be competitive in the Premier League this term, so the Ipswich boss should not change tactics completely.
The Tractor Boys performed well this term, but Premier League the schedule is starting to take its toll on a thin squad. It will take a big effort for Ipswich to get going again and take the points from the Blues.
