Chelsea v West Brom predictions: Blues should cruise past struggling Baggies

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Chelsea v West Brom in the Premier League on Saturday.

Where to watch

BT Sport 1, 12.30pm Saturday

Best bets

Chelsea to win to nil
1pt 4-5 general

Team news

Chelsea
Thiago Silva, Tammy Abraham and Jorginho are all nearing a return but face late fitness tests. N'Golo Kante and Callum Hudson-Odoi are injury doubts. Edouard Mendy is set to start in goal despite not joining up with Senegal over the international break.

West Brom
Chelsea loanee Conor Gallagher is ineligible to face his parent club but Hal Robson-Kanu will be included in the squad despite being sent home early from Wales duty.

Match preview

Thomas Tuchel has made a near-perfect start to life as Chelsea manager and the tactically astute German can strengthen the Blues’ stranglehold on a top-four place in the Premier League with a routine win over West Brom.

Chelsea are unbeaten in 14 matches in all competitions since Tuchel’s arrival at Stamford Bridge and their defensive organisation has been the catalyst for their fantastic form.

The Blues have been breached only twice during Tuchel’s reign and they have kept seven straight clean sheets, twice shutting out La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid in their Champions League last 16 as well as keeping Liverpool and Manchester United at bay.

In fact, Chelsea have yet to concede in seven home games under the German and that may spell disaster for a West Brom side who are ten points adrift of Premier League safety with only nine matches left.

The Baggies have offered some resistance to relegation and have tightened up defensively under Sam Allardyce, but a distinct lack of firepower is proving their downfall.

West Brom have managed just 20 goals from 29 league games this season and they have fired blanks in four of their last five top-flight fixtures.

An attack that failed to find a way past Burnley, Newcastle and Crystal Palace is unlikely to cut it against a well-oiled Chelsea machine which is giving up few goalscoring opportunities.

Of Chelsea’s five Premier League visitors during the Tuchel era, Wolves and Burnley failed to register a shot on target while Everton were restricted to only one effort on goal.

Manchester United also managed just two shots inside the Blues' box, which suggests it may be another quiet afternoon between the sticks for Edouard Mendy.

Key stat

Only one of Chelsea's 14 games under Thomas Tuchel has rewarded backers of over 2.5 goals.

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