We’re another game-week closer to an overdue Premier League title. After shedding our rust and grinding out three points against Stoke last Saturday, our closest rivals Manchester City fell to a 2-1 loss away at Crystal Palace – we have one hand on the trophy.
Next up is QPR, or as I would say; a potential banana skin. Not only are they fighting to save their Premier League status, but this is their cup final. A side not relevant to our ambitions, but a West London derby and they will undoubtedly be up for this. The previous meeting between these two sides in November ended 2-1 to Chelsea, with goals from Oscar and Eden Hazard. We will be hoping for a similar result this time around.
Potential threats
Chelsea will know all about Charlie Austin after he scored a sublime back heel against them earlier in the season. He has scored 17 goals in the league this season, the same total as Sergio Aguero, and has also registered 4 assists. Mourinho’s side will need to keep an eye on Austin, who has been one of the surprise stars of the season, scoring all kinds of different goals – the mark of a great striker. Perhaps we can hope that the Englishman’s hidden fondness of the Blues will alter his thinking in front of goal on Sunday – here is pictured with Chelsea legends John Terry, Frank Lampard and Claude Makelele.
Matt Phillips is another who has been in fine form in recent weeks. He may have only scored two league goals this term, but both of those have come in his last four games. We will need to keep a plug on his array of creative abilities that have seen him held in the same regard as some of Europe’s elite.
7 – Only Lionel Messi (8) has assisted more goals than Matt Phillips (7) in the top five European leagues in 2015. Superstar.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 7, 2015
Team news
The only absentee for Chelsea is Diego Costa who will miss the next couple of weeks with a hamstring injury. John Obi Mikel is available for selection again after a spell on the sidelines with a knee injury. Both Nemanja Matic and Cesc Fabregas are on 9 yellow cards, and so will have to tread carefully as they are one booking away from missing season defining games against Manchester United and Arsenal.
QPR will be without Alejandro Faurlin, Richard Dunne, Leroy Fer and Eduardo Vargas through injury. Yun Suk-young will face a late fitness test after picking up a concussion.
Follow Jamie Wilkinson on twitter: @ParkedTheBus
