It's strange to question Chelsea's Top Four-y-ness; still, Tottenham's Tuesday win at Aston Villa has temporarily knocked the Blues out of a Champions League spot. While hey'll likely beat Bolton today at Stamford Bridge and vault Spurs for fourth place, Chelsea was supposed to win Monday at the Emirates. They didn't come close, begging questions: It this finally "it?"
English Premier League Wednesday: Is Chelsea Top Four Material?
Two years ago at this time of the season, Chelsea was also outside the top four, but exiling Luiz Felipe Scolari to Uzbekistan solved their problems. Last winter, when the John Terry saga(s) sucked the team into the gutter, patience and little Carlo Ancelotti serenity helped them regain the title. This year, Ancelotti could do the same, but the side's a year older, noticeably thinner, has dug a bigger hole, and has more competition.
Mathematically, today’s not a must win, but it feels like it. They’re at home. They’re hosting a team that’s on lower tier than the title contenders. If Bolton gets three at Stamford Bridge, passes the Blues for fifth, Chelsea is done. They’d be seven points back with five teams to pass, but more importantly: Chelsea would be beyond winning must-win matches at hope against second tier competition, a line you never see on a championship resumé.
For the neutral, it's all incredibly exciting, seeing an assumed titan hit a wall nobody knew existed. In contrast, Liverpool's fall from grace was a slow, torturous one, the surprise mitigated by the ownership debacle and the club being 20 years without a league title. Arsenal's fall from favorites to contenders was almost a conscious decision, letting Thierry Henry go while the club rebuilt, refinanced, and reassessed. But Chelsea's the defending champions. They were the ones that started the arms race. They have Terry and Drogba and Lampard and Essien and Cole and ... and they really could lose to Bolton today. Wow.
That match kicks off a 2:45 p.m. Eastern, one of three early afternoon fixtures. At the same time, Arsenal will kick-off at the DW against Wigan, a place they coughed-up a 2-0 lead last season, allowing three goals in the last 10 minutes to lose, 3-2. Those memories may see a more vigilant club take on a Latics side that’s undefeated in three, coming off an impressive weekend showing at the Molineux. Then, Wolves gave up two early goals to Wigan, eventually losing their six-pointer, 2-1.
Today, Wolverhampton looks to rebound, traveling to Anfield to face a Liverpool side expected to have their Stevie G back. Of course, that means deciding where Steven Gerrard plays. Raul Miereles and Lucas Leiva have been good in the middle, while Dirk Kuyt has settled in nicely to a utility role that can be loosely described as Fernando Torres's supporting striker. That leaves only one spot for Gerrard - the left-leaning place he's occupied for England - but with Roy Hodgson intent on moving Gerrard in at the onset of the season, will the Liverpool manager keep Miereles and Leiva together and cast Gerrard in a wider role?
Doubtful, but who knows? Only Roy Hodgson, until Liverpool-Wolves kicks off at 3:00 p.m. Eastern. When they do, SB Nation Soccer will have the coverage, adding it to the updates of Chelsea-Bolton and Wigan-Arsenal.
Until then, how about some picks to mock? Here’s today’s fixtures, picks, and outlets.
| Time (EST) | Home | Road | Pick | Outlet |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2:45 p.m. | Chelsea | Bolton | 2-1, | Fox Socer Channel |
| Wigan Athletic | Arsenal | 2-0, Arsenal | FoxSoccer.tv | |
| 3:00 p.m. | Liverpool | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2-0, Liverpool | FoxSoccer.tv |
See More:
