Burnley welcome Chelsea to Turf Moor on Saturday, with both teams eyeing back-to-back wins in the Premier League.
The Clarets earned their first win of the Premier League season, beating fellow newcomers Luton Town 2-1 at Kenilworth Road on Tuesday evening in a rearranged fixture. This brought an end to the Vincent Kompany-managed side’s six-game winless run in the league.
The Blues, on the other hand, recorded a much-needed 2-0 victory over West London rivals Fulham in the league on Monday night. Prior to the Fulham game, they had dumped Brighton out of the Carabao Cup last week.
With both clubs keen to go into the October international break on a high, here are the key battles that could determine the outcome of this encounter. Without any further delay, let’s look at them.
#Luca Koleosho vs Levi Colwill
Luca Koleosho has quickly adapted to the rigours of Premier League football following his summer move from Espanyol. The teenager has started all of Burnley’s seven league games, clocking an assist so far. He is one of the players that could trouble Chelsea in this clash given his outstanding burst of acceleration and movement.
On the right flank, Koleosho will likely come up against Levi Colwill. Predominantly a centre-back, Colwill has delivered assured displays from the left-back position that sees him being picked ahead of Marc Cucurella and Ian Maatsen. The Englishman is composed in possession, aerially strong and possesses great recovery pace, which makes him a complete defensive package at such a young age.
It will be interesting to see who emerges on top in this key battle of two young starlets.
#Raheem Sterling vs Connor Roberts
Mykhaylo Mudryk scored his first-ever Chelsea goal in Monday’s win over Fulham, showing great skill and composure to tuck in a left-footed finish between Bernd Leno’s legs. However, he had to be substituted at half-time with a quad injury, which makes the Ukrainian doubtful to face Burnley at the weekend.
If Mudryk is unavailable, the door could be open for Raheem Sterling to impress out wide. Sterling missed training with a virus in the build-up to Monday night’s clash with Fulham, prompting Mauricio Pochettino to pick Armando Broja in the No.9 role instead. The England international came off the bench and made an impact but he will be raring to go from the start at Turf Moor on Saturday.
Sterling remains one of the Chelsea players that could secure all three points for his side. This is based on the fact that he’s potent in the final third and his ability to be in the right place at the right time in the box. So, Connor Roberts will have his work cut out.
The Wales international has been a mainstay in the Burnley defence, offering energy, overlapping runs and width from right-back. However, he isn’t great defensively when it comes to 1v1, and as a result, Roberts will need to be at the top of his game to keep Sterling quiet.
#Enzo Fernandez vs Josh Brownhill
Pochettino has been accused of failing to utilise Enzo Fernandez to his full potential so far from certain sections of the fans and media. This is because of his insistence on playing Fernandez as an attack-minded, creative midfielder, rather than the box-to-box style of player he is.
However, the Argentinean World Cup winner reinforced his manager’s idea by oozing class in Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Fulham. Classy on the ball, Fernandez made some incisive passes for the forwards and ran the show from a free No.10 role. Undoubtedly, the 22-year-old stands as one of the players that could trouble Burnley in this clash given his outstanding level of expertise.
Josh Brownhill and his fellow Burnley midfielders will have to be extra cautious of the threat Fernandez carries, with his creativity and vision to spot passes in the final third from anywhere. Stopping the Chelsea midfielder from getting space and time on the ball too much would be on Brownhill’s mind throughout, and if done so successfully should increase Burnley’s chances of getting a positive result on the day.
