More trouble for Chelsea?

More trouble for Chelsea?

By Formex

Following the midweek international friendlies we have a big weekend in the Premier League and the FA Cup reaches the quarter final stage. Warm Cup favourites Chelsea host Stoke on Sunday by which time they could find themselves only third in the league.

With both Man United and Arsenal appearing to have straightforward tasks in notching three points, at Wolves and at home to Burnley respectively, and improving their goal differences this could be another bad week for the Stamford Bridge side who were trounced by Man City last weekend.

United find themselves a point off the top having lifted their first silverware of the season, the League Cup, at Wembley last Sunday and on current form they should have little to worry about facing a Wolves side sitting just above the relegation zone. The home side have though performed creditably with draws against Liverpool and Arsenal and did take all three points from Tottenham recently. It may not be a wide margin victory but it should be a win and 0-2 is the choice.

That would take Ferguson’s team to the top although Arsenal may have taken that spot earlier in the day as they face a very poor Burnley at the Emirates. Brian Laws men have a dismal away record (0-1-13) and although Arsenal will still be reflecting on last weeks horrific injury to Aaron Ramsey they should have far too much ammunition for the Championship bound side.

Elsewhere in the league Liverpool should be able to keep the pressure on those above them by taking the points from their trip to Wigan on Sunday. Whilst the Europa League has taken on anew importance for the Reds with Torres back and scoring they simply have to go all out for fourth place in the league and they cannot afford to drop points here.

Returning to the FA Cup and a chance for the Blues and John Terry to put the troubles of last weekend behind them in the encounter with Stoke. They incidentally knocked Man City, victorious over Chelsea last weekend, out of the Cup in the last round. Chelsea’s problems though are not just with Terry, the absence through injury of Ashley Cole and more importantly keeper Petr Cech has added to Ancelotti’s woe.

It’s hard to see Tony Pulis’ side pulling off a shock win, certainly at the Bridge, but if Stoke have recovered from the horror of Aaron Ramsey’s injury inflicted at the Britannia Stadium they could take Chelsea to the wire. Not a game on which to go overboard on and maybe a 2-1 correct score will pay dividends.

The other Sunday quarter-final sees Reading host Aston Villa and with the home side having already put Liverpool, Burnley and WBA out of the competition in earlier rounds they are without doubt this seasons giant killers. Villa though will be especially hard to beat following their Wembley defeat last weekend and it looks the end of the road for the Championship side.

Both of Saturday’s ties, involving Fulham playing Tottenham at Craven Cottage and Birmingham travelling to Fratton Park to face Portsmouth look likely to go to replays and that is certainly the recommendation.