The Premier League title won’t be decided until Championship Sunday, but if Chelsea drop points against Norwich, they’ll almost certainly find themselves out of the running (Watch live on NBCSN at 11 a.m. ET and online via Live Extra).
After beating Everton on Saturday, Manchester City are top of the table, but Liverpool will regain the lead if they beat Crystal Palace on Monday. But if Chelsea beat Norwich, they’ll take top of the table - and spend tomorrow rooting hard for the Eagles. If the Blues fail to win, however, and Liverpool grab three points, there will be no trophy in José Mourinho’s first year back in charge.
The visitors, far from fighting for a title, will be fighting for their very lives. Without at least a point, Norwich are essentially relegated. Sure, they could make up the 13 goal gap on goal difference between themselves and Sunderland, but the Black Cats have a game in hand - and Norwich have the lowest number of goals scored in the league, with just 28 from 36 games.
Yeah, it’s not looking good for the Canaries.
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After last week’s disastrous 4-0 loss to Manchester United, a few changes had to be made to the Norwich side. Martin Olsson, Leroy Fer and Nathan Redmond are out, while Alex Tettey, Johan Elmander and Ryan Bennett are in.
Demba Ba gets the start for Chelsea after getting the first goal in the 2-0 win over Liverpool last week. Mourinho does make a few changes, however, from that match, bringing back John Terry, Ashley Cole, and Willian, who got the second last weekend. Eden Hazard begins on the bench - will we see the Belgian?
LINEUPS
Chelsea: Schwarzer; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Cole; Lampard, Matic; Salah, Willian, Schurrle; Ba
Subs: Hilario, Kalas, D Luiz, Van Ginkel, Hazard, Torres, Eto’o
Norwich City: Ruddy; Martin, R Bennett, Turner, Whittaker; Tettey; Snodgrass, Johnson, Howson, Olsson; Elmander
Subs: Bunn, Bassong, van Wolfswinkel, Fer, Hooper, E Bennett, Redmond