Chelsea are on the road to finish the year as they travel to Ipswich Town in the Premier League on Monday night.
Blues supporters were forced to endure the unfamiliar feeling of defeat on Boxing Day as well Fulham secured their first win at Stamford Bridge since 1979 thanks to 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 play down his side's title hopes. While this 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 stay in the division. Kieran McKenna's side are likely to end 2024 in 19th place, having won just two league games since their return to the top flight so far.
The Tractor boys barely put a glove on Arsenal as they fell to a 1-0 loss at the Emirates on Friday night. This will be their first meeting with Chelsea since 2011.
Here it is 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 – 08/12/24 |
Chelsea 2-1 Brentford – 15/12/24 |
|
Ipswich 0-1 Crystal Palace – 03/12/24 |
Astana 1-3 Chelsea – 12/12/24 |
|
country |
TV channel/live streaming |
|---|---|
|
United Kingdom |
Not televised (BBC 5 Live – radio) |
|
United States |
peacock |
|
Canada |
fuboTV Canada, Fubo Sports Network 3 Canada |
McKenna could welcome captain Sam Morsy back from suspension and he is likely to return to the center of Ipswich's midfield on Monday night, replacing Kalvin Phillips in the starting XI.
The hosts are expected to be without Massimo Luongo again due to illness, while Axel Tuanzebe and Chiedozie Ogbene have been 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 a doubt with a muscle problem.
Ipswich predicted formation against Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Muric; Clarke, O'Shea, Greaves, Davis; Morsy, Cajuste; Burns, Hutchinson, Szmodics; Cupboard
Maresca has the squad to rotate on Monday night, but some have questioned whether the Italian trusts Chelsea's players. He made just one change during the Blues' defeat on Boxing Day.
Christopher Nkunku could replace Nicolas Jackson up front given the latter's dip in form, while Joao Felix will be hoping for a bigger role on Monday after struggling to feature after impressing in Southampton earlier this month.
Chelsea are without Mykhailo Mudryk behind him positive drug testwhile Benoit Badiashile, Wesley Fofana, Romeo Lavia and Carney Chukwuemeka are out. Reece James is back in training and is closing in on another comeback.
Chelsea predicted formation against Ipswich (4-2-3-1): Sánchez; Gusto, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Madueke, Palmer, Felix; Nkunku.
A naive and immature Chelsea manifested on Boxing Day, with their struggles against tightly packed defenses highlighted over the past week. Given how Ipswich lined up at the Emirates on Friday, the Blues are likely to face another deep backline on Monday.
While this would seem a clever ploy by McKenna, it represents a departure from the ideals that have brought the Suffolk side to this position. Their pressure has allowed them to be competitive in the top flight this season, so the Ipswich boss should not change his mind completely.
The Traktor guys have acquitted themselves well this term, but Premier League the schedule is starting to take its toll on a weak team. It will take a huge effort for Ipswich to go again and take the points off the Blues.