Chelsea can create 10-point gap at the top with win over Burnley
Chelsea will look to open up a 10-point lead over title rivals Manchester City when relegation-threatened Burnley travel to Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Jose Mourinho's Premier League leaders can put the champions under real pressure by claiming three points ahead of their Saturday Night Football clash with Newcastle United.
The Blues were forced to hold on at times in their 1-1 Champions League last-16 draw at PSG, but Mourinho will be confident they can return to winning ways in front of their own fans where they have failed to win on just one occasion this season.
Burnley sit second from bottom of the Premier League and travel to the Bridge with the odds stacked against them, having won just once on the road this season.
Despite the lack of resullts away from home, the Clarets have produced a number of industrious displays which, if repeated, could cause a potenitally fatigued Chelsea side problems.
Team news
Awaiting Chelsea team news
Burnley welcome Stephen Ward back into the squad for the first time in two and a half months for the trip to London.
The full-back has recovered from a fractured ankle suffered in the 1-1 draw against Newcastle at the start of December.
Dean Marney has undergone successful surgery on his cruciate ligament injury but will be out until next season along with Kevin Long. Matt Taylor suffered a slight setback in his recovery from Achilles surgery but he is back training with the squad again.
Opta facts
Chelsea have kept 16 clean sheets in their last 20 Premier League home games, conceding just six goals in that run.
Burnley have won just two of their 31 Premier League away games (W2 D5 L24) and kept just one clean sheet in those matches.
All four shots on target in the first half of Burnley v Chelsea on the opening weekend of the Barclays Premier League season resulted in goals.
Danny Ings has scored in five of his last six Premier League matches, while Diego Costa has scored six goals in his last seven top-flight outings.
The Clarets have won just one of their last nine Premier League matches (W1 D3 L5)
The Londoners have won 33 and lost just one of their last 40 Premier League matches at Stamford Bridge.
Merson's prediction
Chelsea did enough in midweek against PSG and when they scored they were happy because they’re confident of beating them at Stamford Bridge. I don’t see a problem for Jose Mourinho’s men against Burnley. Sean Dyche will set up his side to have a go and they can cause teams problems, but I just don’t see any problems for the Blues. Burnley will score because they’re not going there with 10 men behind the ball, but a goal is all I see them getting.