Real Football Man All of the Football, All of the time
The Premier League was on pause last week what with the F.A. Cup taking it’s place but this Afternoon sees it’s return, it may be a curtailed programme due to the EFL Cup Final taking place tomorrow but that does not make this set of fixtures any less important.
Runaway leaders Chelsea have the chance to open that 8 point gap at the top even further as none of the other teams in the top 6 play Today and Antonio Conte’s men play host to Swansea. A few months ago that would have been a home banker but since Paul Clement has taken charge of The Swans they have been a different outfit.
Chelsea cleared the hurdle of Wolves in the cup last weekend to book a place in the Quarter Finals but their last league outing saw them only manage a draw away at Burnley. That said though the fact that so many teams have lost at Turf Moor this season means that a draw for the league leaders is not a bad point at all.
A win Today at Stamford Bridge for Chelsea would really put down a marker and see them extend their gap at the top of the table to 11 with only Tottenham being the other team in the top 4 to play this weekend the Blues could even end the weekend with a 10 point gap over their nearest rivals.
Other teams may have the game in hand but it could be a crushing blow in terms of any race for the title. The fact that Chelsea could well add more points on the board will put the ball back in the court of the quintet of clubs fighting over what is now three Champions League places.
Chelsea may be in irresistible form but Swansea are in decent form themselves, it is now 4 wins from their last 6 matches as they continue to pull themselves further away from the drop zone. They now sit in the relative comfort of 15th but manager Paul Clement will be fully aware that they cannot rest on their laurels.
The positive momentum will need to continue and after a win away at Liverpool and nearly snatching an away draw at Manchester City this game is by no means a foregone conclusion. A win today and they could move above Bournemouth and drag another club into what is becoming a tougher battle each week to beat the drop.
Swansea did themselves a massive favour when they beat Leicester in a 6 pointer a fortnight ago. That game perfectly summed up the upward trajectory that Swansea are currently in while Leicester are in a downward one and we all know now how that one has panned out.
Can Swansea get anything from Today’s game? Well on current form there is absolutely no reason but this will be the toughest test that Paul Clement has faced in his short time as Swansea boss. Perhaps though it is considered a free hit and the pressure is not really on them this Afternoon.
Chelsea cannot afford to be complacent but when has that been the case at any point this season, as promising as the Swansea resurgence has been I think it might just be halted later Today. I think a home win for Chelsea as the gap at the top gets even wider.
