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Match Preview
Premier
League: Burnley vs Chelsea
Kickoff
Time: 2023-10-07 22:00 (HKT)
Source:REUTERS/PETER
CZIBORRA
In
a midweek replay match, newly promoted Burnley secured their first victory in
the season by defeating Luton Town. Last season, Burnley had the highest ball
possession rate in the English Championship at 61.1%. They emphasised short
passing and a high defensive line, with even the goalkeeper frequently involved
in the attack. However, this season, Burnley’s ball possession rate has dropped
to 51%, ranking them 11th in the Premier League. Their preferred passing and
control tactics have not been as effective, and they have often resorted to
defensive counterattacks, primarily launching attacks from the backcourt. Coach
Vincent Kompany’s football philosophy is now in need of rebuilding.
Offensively, Burnley’s performance has been average and somewhat lacking in
distinction. Defensively, they have conceded the second-highest number of goals
in the Premier League, surpassed only by Sheffield United, who are at the
bottom of the table.
Source:REUTERS/ANDREW
COULDRIDGE
Chelsea
had a difficult start to the season due to injuries, which affected their
performance. In an effort to overcome this situation, Coach Mauricio Pochettino
directed the forwards to focus on practicing shooting starting from
mid-September. In the last round of league matches, their forward line showed a
significant revival. Mykhaylo Mudryk scored his first goal for the club, while
Armando Broja found the net again after a year. It’s worth noting that Chelsea
failed to score a single league goal throughout September, leading to criticism
from fans and the media. Breaking the goal drought had an instant positive
impact on Chelsea. Their psychological burden was lifted, and the players
appeared more determined and confident in their ball handling. Pochettino,
known for his belief in passing and control, emphasises speed and strength in
running and passing the ball. As a result, Chelsea’s average ball possession
per game reached 64%, ranking them second in the league. With the return of
players’ confidence, their passing success rate is likely to improve
significantly.
Given
the considerable disparity in the overall strength and player value between
Chelsea and Burnley, it is reasonable to predict that Chelsea will hold the
initiative as the game progresses. With the revival of Chelsea’s forward line
and the potential vulnerabilities in Burnley’s defence, it is likely that
Chelsea will seize the opportunity to secure all three points.
Burnley’s
Last 5 Games: WLWLD
23-10-04
Luton Town 1-2 Burnley
23-09-30
Newcastle United 2-0 Burnley
23-09-27
Salford City 0-4 Burnley
23-09-24
Burnley 0-1 Manchester United
23-09-19
Nottingham Forest 1-1 Burnley
Chelsea’s
Last 5 Games: WWLDL
23-10-03
Fulham 0-2 Chelsea
23-09-28
Chelsea 1-0 Brighton
23-09-24
Chelsea 0-1 Aston Villa
23-09-17
Bournemouth 0-0 Chelsea
23-09-02
Chelsea 0-1 Nottingham Forest
Head
To Head Record:
22-03-05
Burnley 0-4 Chelsea
21-11-06
Chelsea 1-1 Burnley
21-01-31
Chelsea 2-0 Burnley
20-10-31
Burnley 0-3 Chelsea
20-01-11
Chelsea 3-0 Burnley
Prediction: Chelsea to win