The stats reveal that six of the last 12 league meetings between these two sides have ended in a draw, with both sides securing three wins apiece.

However Everton have won only one of their previous 20 Premier League trips to the Bridge, and since the start of 2009-10 the Toffees have won only three of their 20 top flight away games in London (D11, L6).

Throw in the fact that Chelsea are unbeaten in their seven league matches (W5 D2) and know that victory will guarantee them a third place finish you can see why they are odds-on to win this despite the fact that the visitors will be desperate to give David Moyes a winning send-off in his last game as manager.

Frank Lampard became the highest goalscorer in the history of the club (203) with his brace against Aston Villa, and looks decent value at 7 with Coral and Stan James in the first scorer market.

He has been absolutely outstanding all season, and the standout 3 on offer with Stan James about him netting anytime looks huge given that he is as short as 2.25 in a place.

The last three meetings in the league between the two sides have seen nine goals netted (average of 3), so backing over 2.5 in this encounter also makes plenty of appeal at 1.73 with BetVictor.

In the correct score market I am going to suggest a small punt on Chelsea winning 3-1 – the same as when they last met in the league at Stamford Bridge. That outcome is chalked up at a best of 15 with Stan James.

Venue: Amsterdam Arena

Date: Wednesday, 15 May

Kick-off: 19:45 GMT

Here we are then, not quite last year’s European final but a European final nonetheless and we won’t turn our noses up at the prospect of adding a bit more silverware to our ever-growing cabinet.  We’ve done the important business in securing a Champions League spot, thanks to Frank Lampard at the weekend, so starting XI permitting, it’d be good to see us playing some more attacking football with a bit of the pressure off.

MANAGER’S VIEWS

Going into today’s game and off the back of much fuss in the press, Benfica manager Jorge Jesus says “No Benfica player has undermined the quality of any Chelsea player or the Chelsea team. In my opinion the strongest team make the Europa League final. Chelsea is an excellent team and they will finish third in the Premier League this year. They have quality.”

SQUAD NEWS

For Benfica, there are no new injury worries, and defender Andre Almeida is expected to be fit.

For Chelsea, it’s not great news, with both JT (ankle) and Hazard (hamstring) injured in the win over Villa at the weekend. Mikel (hip) hasn’t played for four games and Bertrand (knee) is another one unlikely to feature. Romeu has travelled although hasn’t played since December and Ba is cup-tied. On the plus side, Lampard should get a game.

TEAMS

BENFICA (possible line-up): Moraes, Almeida, Garay, Luisao, Pereira, Matic, Perez; Salvio, Lima, Gaitan; Cardozo.

CHELSEA (possible line-up): Cech, Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Luiz, Cole, Ramires, Lampard, Moses, Mata, Oscar, Torres

LAST MEETING

Chelsea 2-1 Benfica (April 4th, 2012) 3-1 agg

PREDICTION

At the end of this game we could be in the unique position of being the holders of both the Champions League and Europa League cups or we could finish the season without a trophy.  We’re probably just about edging it as favourites, although that’s not necessarily a position that does us any favours as a rule and Benfica won’t be spectators in this game. Tough one to call – and I’m far too superstitious anyway!

The Blues have won two of their last four trips to Villa Park (D1, L1) and face a side who have won just three of their last 11 home matches in the Premier League, losing six.

However a win for the home side will ensure that the Villans are safe from being relegated so there is a lot at stake and the game promises to be a real hard fought affair.

Having said that it’s hard not to believe that Chelsea will not make their class tell, especially as they gave Villa their biggest ever defeat in the top flight when they met just before Christmas (8-0).

That was also the game with such Fernando Torres score his last goal in the Premier League when he netted the opener in the third minute.

He is a a 7 chance with Stan James and William Hill to repeat the dose and bag the first in this, and can also be backed at 3 with Stan James to net anytime.

Both teams to score also looks a solid wager at a standout 1.67 with Stan James given that Villa have found the net in seven of their last 8 games, and over 2.5 goals also appeals at the 1.73 on offer with BetVictor.

In the correct score market I am going to suggest split stakes on Chelsea winning 3-1 or 3-2.

The former is 15 chance with BetVictor, while the latter is a tasty looking 26 with Betfred and Stan James.

Venue: Villa Park

Date: Saturday, 11 May

Kick-Off: 12.45 GMT

A cliched must-win game for us today if we are to get the 3 points that would secure a Champions League place for us next season and take some pressure off before our Uefa Cup final.  For Villa though, it’d guarantee them Premier League football next season, so they aren’t on their summer holidays yet either. And whilst we might have given them a right royal battering at Stamford Bridge in December, it really is a case of that was then and this is now – and it’s fair to say they’re a changed side of late.

One thing that hasn’t changed though, is the applause we’ll hear – in the 16^th minute for Roberto Di Matteo and again in the 19^th for Stiliyan Petrov – although I suspect both may be with a heavier heart than usual on this occasion. For the Villa fans, the news of Petrov’s retirement this week will undoubtedly have a bearing, whilst for us, I suspect we all know the constant recognition for Roberto Di Matteo is nearing its end – like the interim’s contract really!

MANAGER’S VIEWS

In spite of the ordeal he endured when he brought his side to Stamford Bridge for our last meeting, Paul Lambert is apparently full of confidence for this one, saying “To be fair to Chelsea, that game (at Stamford Bridge) – it could have been more and that’s the reality of it. Brad Guzan made some great saves.  But the team has bounced back incredibly. We’re a different team now to what we were then. There has been a massive improvement in the way that we’ve played, the belief and the confidence has been really high. Against the teams around about us, in the games we’ve had to win, we’ve produced. I think that’s been a big, big factor in where we are at the minute.”

SQUAD NEWS

For Villa, Karim El Ahmadi (thigh) and Ciaran Clark (foot) miss out, whilst Matthew Lowton (thigh) will face a late fitness test. Richard Dunne, although back in training, is unlikely to feature in Villa’s remaining fixtures.

For Chelsea, Ryan Bertrand (knee) is out, Eden Hazard (calf) and Victor Moses (leg) are doubtful, although John Obi Mikel (hip) is available again.  Oriol Romeu (knee) is also back in contention following his long-term absence and Lampard should get a start.

TEAMS

VILLA (Possible line-up): Guzan, Lichaj, Vlaar, Baker, Bennett, Westwood, Delph, Sylla, Agbonlahor, Benteke, Weimann

CHELSEA (Possible line-up): Cech, Azpilicueta, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole, Lampard, Ramires, Moses, Mata, Oscar, Ba

LAST MEETING

Chelsea 8-0 Villa (23^rd December 2012)

PREDICTION

We absolutely thumped Villa in the reverse fixture back in December and Frank Lampard would certainly like a goal here today which would see him equal Bobby Tambling’s 202 club goal scoring record but the Villa side we face today, unlike back then, are 3^rd in the PL form table (behind Arsenal and us) so it won’t be quite so easy.

We’ve won 2 from our last 4 trips to Villa Park (with a draw and defeat in the other 2) and Villa haven’t been brilliant at home lately, winning just 3 from their last 11 in the league on home soil. But whilst they’ve gone 20 league games without a clean sheet, Villa’s attack has been in impressive form, with 18 goals seeing them win five of their last 8 games.

With us both really needing all 3 from this one though, are we doomed to suffer a bore draw?

A must-win game for us in today’s early one at Villa Park, what’s the likelihood of us getting that win though? Well, why not have a look at the prediction & stats from the brilliant KickOff.co.uk? You know where to click

Venue: Old Trafford

Date: Sunday, 5 May

Kick-off: 16.00 GMT

This afternoon will see the fifth meeting between us and United this season. Obviously we beat them in both the FA and League Cups although Clattenburg made sure it wasn’t a clean sweep – despite our fight back from 2-0 down at home.  As likely winners as we looked in that one as well, the sendings off of Ivanovic and Torres were a enough to see us concede a late winner from Chicharito.

And as if that isn’t enough to provoke talk of ‘revenge’ in this one, it seems Fergie and the interim have been getting a few digs in at each other in the run-up to the game, so it looks as if there’ll be as much love lost as usual for today’s clash.

MANAGER’S VIEWS

Whilst all he had to say about his counterpart ahead of the game was that he seemed a little obsessed with his CV, on his own side, SAF says “I never took into account all the [celebratory] things that happen,” he said. “The PFA award, our own player of the year awards, the parade and then [Nemanja] Vidic came to me last week and asked if the team could go to Chester races on Wednesday. And I said, without thinking, ‘Yeah, of course’. But then when you put all these things together you think, ‘What the hell?’ I hope  they don’t forget there’s a game of football to be played. Now if they don’t win on Sunday I think that  [trip to the races] would be cancelled.”

SQUAD NEWS

For United, Fletcher (illness), W Keane, Welbeck (both knee) and Young (ankle), all miss out although Scholes and Vidic are both back in training, with Scholes possibly available for a place on the bench.

For Chelsea, Romeu remains out and Hazard might not be risked for a starting place, having come off against Basel midweek. Demba ba, who missed the Basel game courtesy of being cup-tied and Ashley Cole, through suspension, are both back in contention.

TEAMS

MAN UNITED (Possible line-up): De Gea; Rafael, Jones, Evans, Evra; Carrick, Giggs; Nani, Kagawa, Rooney; Van Persie, Webb

CHELSEA (Possible line-up): Cech; Azpilicueta, Cahill, Ivanovic, Cole; Lampard, Luiz; Mata, Oscar, Hazard; Ba.

LAST MEETING (PL)

Chelsea 2-3 Man United (28^th October 2012)

PREDICTION
United and Chelsea have met 41 times in the Premier League and ahead of today’s game, it’s all square with 13 wins each and 15 draws. United will come into the game the fresher side as well because whilst we play our 65^th game, United, of course have had a rest from European action. Mind you, they’ve won just 2 of their last 5 in the league and already have the title under their belt, so the outcome will undoubtedly be determined by the usual dodgy decisions and controversy!

Here we go then, another massive game in the run-in and with Spurs winning again yesterday, the pressure’s on for us to get something against United – but will we? Well let’s see what the brilliant KickOff.co.uk reckon shall we? Click here

It’s nearly six year since Jose Mourinho left Stamford Bridge. Six years during which we’ve had a succession of manager’s who haven’t quite lived up to either supporters’ or Roman’s ideals.  Hardly surprising given there’s never been a plan B – a fact that was highlighted with the initial appointment of Avram Grant and even more recently, so crudely underlined by bringing the interim in.

That’s not to say Jose Mourinho was, or is, the be-all-and-end-all of football management, far from it. When he left, as shocked and disappointed as I was at first, there was also a strange sense of relief.  Like a love affair fuelled by lust, it had been an intense relationship between Chelsea and The Special One. From the minute he arrived, when we seemed to have captured the hottest property in town and had the press fawning like love-struck teenagers, Jose Mourinho became the centre of Chelsea’s universe.  From the relentless gathering of points and silverware to the handsome figure he cut on the touchline, Mourinho was hailed for all that he did – and man, did we feel fulfilled!

The trouble is, those breathless, early days don’t last forever, and when the honeymoon period was over – with column inches racking up, rather than points – this match made in heaven started to look more like a fatal attraction every week. Whether rumoured or real, there seemed to be tears and tantrums on and off the pitch on an all too frequent basis, and there was certainly no love lost between Mourinho and the press in the end. It had all turned a bit sour and so came the inevitable (very public) break-up.

But, having called it a day once the gloss had worn off, Chelsea had put no thought into their next suitor. So, clearly in an ‘on the rebound’ sort of way, it was the hapless Avram Grant who was to find himself subjected to months of grief vented by those in the desperate throes of separation anxiety – until the club replaced him as well and moved from one fling to another in search of ‘the real thing’.

Probably the closest we came – albeit probably too short-lived to ever really find out – was Roberto Di Matteo. A man whose loyalty and love for us required no testing, a man who took us to dizzy heights that reached the ultimate climax last May (if prematurely it seems). Yet ultimately, a man the club decided not to commit to long-term – and in bizarrely similar circumstances to those six years ago, decided upon a replacement that, for the supporters, has felt a bit like dripping salt water onto a gaping wound – stings like hell to start with, followed by an uncomfortable irritation you just about manage to distract yourself from because you know it’ll be over soon.

And so, almost six years on, having found out the grass isn’t always greener, the club considers a reconciliation. I know I’ve never been a big believer in going back over old ground – on the basis that whatever problems forced the break-up will still be there, only this time, they’ll be added to by perceived infidelities in between. Somehow though, I don’t see that here – Mourinho, as I see it, never really gave himself to Inter or Real Madrid and Chelsea (for the supporters at least) have never let go of the hope of a reunion. If anything, the majority of Chelsea supporters have gone through the motions for years. Of course, the support for the players has still been there, we’ve celebrated the successes and drowned our sorrows in the defeat, but somewhere along the line the connection’s been lost.

The board and supporters have never seemed quite so disconnected – a point brutally reinforced on 21^st November last year – and that detachment will surely sit as uneasily with Roman Abramovich as it does with many of us. 

Of course, I’ve said before there were things about Jose Mourinho’s time at Chelsea I didn’t like – for me, the whole Ronaldo thing was the straw that broke the camel’s back – but then I’ve also said I’d rather see our players chasing refs than shadows. 

So, taking everything into account, would I welcome the return of The Special One? Well, that can be summed up with those 3 little words so many of us long to hear….

Bring Jose Home.

Since Roman Abramovich has taken over the Stamford Bridge, the Manchester United v Chelsea rivalry has gone to a whole another level – in terms of both performance and transfer targets.

The recent stats are not good as far as the Blues are concerned as United are unbeaten in their last four Premier League meetings with them (W3,D1).

However with the title in the bag, the home side seemed to take the foot of the gas last weekend against Arsenal when they were very slow out of the blocks and Chelsea certainly have the players at their disposal to take advantage if they start in similar fashion.

One thing that this game looks to have written all over it is goals.

The last six clashes between the pair in all competitions have seen 29 scored – an average of 4.8 goals per game.

That makes over 2.5 look a steal at 1.73 with bet365 and Betfred, and over 3.5 also looks well worth considering at 3 with Coral.

In the first goalscorer market Torres, who scored the equaliser in Chelsea 3-1 win over Basel in midweek, looks worth an interest at 9 with Ladbrokes.

The Spaniard will have been given a much needed confidence boost with that goal and can also be backed at a best of 3.5 with Ladbrokes to net anytime.

Frank Lampard also looks a big price to score anytime at 4.33 with William Hill given that he is as short as 3.25 to do so elsewhere.

In the correct score market I am going to take Chelsea to win 2-1 or 3-1.

The former can be backed at 13 with BetVictor, while the latter is a 29 chance with Coral.

Venue: Stamford Bridge

Date: Sunday, 28 April

Kick-off: 15.00 GMT

If there was a game we could pick for the run-in ahead of United away, Spurs at home, Villa away and finally Everton at home, would we have gone for Swansea?

I mean, we’ve played them three times already this season – and not once have we come out on top.  We managed to lose over two legs in the Capital One Cup and drew 1-1 away in the league – although to be fair, we probably struggled to hold it together after ballboy-gate.

MANAGER’S VIEWS

Going into today’s game, Michael Laudrup talks up our need for points, saying “For a club like Chelsea it would be a huge disappointment if they do not reach the Champions League.  They have to go into the Champions League not only because of the money but also the prestige. The top clubs feel they have to be in that competition every year. Chelsea need to be there.  There are four places for the Champions League, but there is always that small doubt about the fourth spot because you have to play one round before you go into the group stages. All the big clubs want to avoid that so Chelsea will be going for the third spot.” No pressure there then!

SQUAD NEWS

For Chelsea, Oriol Romeu (knee) remains a long-term absentee.  Demba Ba could replace Torres and Gary Cahill could also make a return to the starting line-up. Eden Hazard could also start, so ballboys, get your riot gear on!

For Swansea, there’s no injury concerns for Laudrup to worry about and Neil Taylor will probably start from the bench again as he makes his way back.

TEAMS

CHELSEA (Possible line-up): Cech; Azpilicueta, Cahill, Luiz, Bertrand; Mikel, Ramires; Mata, Hazard, Oscar; Ba

SWANSEA (Possible line-up): Vorm; Rangel, Chico, Williams, Davies; Sung-Yeung, Britton; Hernandez, Dyer, Guzman; Micho

LAST MEETING (PL)

Swansea 1-1 Chelsea (3^rd November 2012)

PREDICTION

Swansea are having their worst run right now with five games without a win but before any of us get carried away with that fact, we should remember they’re unbeaten in their last four against us. So, given just how much we need a win today, is a draw being too optimistic?