Ipswich vs Chelsea predictions: Blues to bounce back on their travels
- Ipswich have collected only 12 points from 18 games in the Premier League
- Chelsea have dropped to third after their 2-1 defeat to Fulham
- Recommended bet: Chelsea to win 3-0
Chelsea will look to bounce back to winning ways when they travel to Portman Road to face Ipswich in the Premier League on Monday.
Neither Ipswich nor Chelsea have enjoyed a fruitful festive period so far, with Ipswich losing both matches either side of Christmas, while the Blues have picked up just one point from their last two outings to fall seven points adrift of Premier League leaders Liverpool.
Ipswich's return to the top flight is turning into a nightmare, with the Tractor Boys picking up just two wins from their 18 matches and both of those away from home.
The goals have dried up, too, and the Suffolk side are in danger of being cut adrift alongside bottom side Southampton in the relegation zone.
Things had been going much better for Chelsea, who looked to be Liverpool's closest challengers in the title race thanks mainly to an eight-match unbeaten run in the Premier League, which saw them win five times from the end of November.
However, their progress has stalled with a 0-0 draw at Everton and a 2-1 home defeat to Fulham on Boxing Day which saw the Cottagers bag the winner deep into added time at Stamford Bridge.
Team news
Ipswich skipper Sam Morsy will return after a suspension ruled him out of the trip to Arsenal. Ben Johnson, Luke Woolfenden, Jacob Greaves, Kalvin Phillips and Liam Delap all started the defeat on Friday but Kieran McKenna is likely to make changes to his side following the quick turnaround.
Enzo Maresca has suggested he will rotate his starting line-up for the trip to Suffolk, but he will have to make do without Reece James and Wesley Fofana, while Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is a major doubt after missing the home defeat to Fulham.
Romeo Lavia and Benoit Badiashile are also doubts but Noni Madueke and Renato Veiga should return to the squad after missing the Boxing Day fixture due to what Maresca described as a 'technical decision'.
The stats
Chelsea have lost one of their last 13 matches in all competitions, while both teams have scored in six of Chelsea's last seven matches.
Ipswich have scored more than once in only one of their nine home league matches this term, while McKenna's team have lost five of their last six league matches, four without scoring.
Prediction
Chelsea have hit the skids in their past two Premier League matches, but they should get back on track against struggling Ipswich on Monday.
The Tractor Boys failed to register a shot on target in the 1-0 loss at Arsenal on Friday and they remain the only team in the top flight not to have won on home soil this season.
In contrast, the Blues have lost just one of their last 13 matches on the road and they have won five of their last six matches away from Stamford Bridge in all competitions.
Maresca suggested changes will be made to his side in a bid to freshen things up, and Chelsea's large squad is more than capable of negotiating the hectic period.
A comfortable away win looks likely and with Maresca's men averaging 2.55 goals per game in away league matches this season, backing a 3-0 away looks like a solid option.
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