Chelsea v Norwich City team news & stats

Mark Holmes
Branislav Ivanovic: Set to return for Chelsea against Norwich City

Branislav Ivanovic: Set to return for Chelsea against Norwich City

Chelsea will hope to make it 12 games unbeaten against Norwich City on Saturday as they look to kick-start their Premier League season.

Team news

Branislav Ivanovic is available again for Chelsea after recovering from a hamstring injury, while Thibaut Courtois has also returned to training this week following a knee injury. Asmir Begovic is set to continue in goal, however.

Norwich, meanwhile, welcome back captain Russell Martin after a one-match ban and also expect Nathan Redmond to be fit after a thigh injury, but Matt Jarvis misses out with a knee problem.

Opta stats

  • Chelsea are unbeaten in their last 11 matches in all competitions against Norwich City (W8 D3), last losing to the Canaries 3-0 away in the league in December 1994.
  • Norwich won four and lost one of their first six Premier League meetings with Chelsea but have won none and lost six of the last eight.
  • Eden Hazard has scored two goals in four Premier League appearances against Norwich, with one of those goals coming in his only start against the Canaries (October 2012).
  • Norwich have won just one of their last seven top-flight games (D2 L4), although that victory did come last time out (1-0 v Swansea).
  • Jose Mourinho has lost seven league games in a campaign for the first time as a manager in any league.
  • Chelsea have lost three league games in a row for the first time since October 1999.
  • Chelsea have allowed more shots on target against them than any other team from inside the penalty area this season (49).
  • Chelsea have scored three goals direct from free kicks this season. The rest of the Premier League have scored four between them.
  • The Blues have dropped the joint-most points from leading positions in the top flight this season (eight along with Aston Villa).
  • Dieumerci Mbokani has been involved in three of the Canaries’ last five Premier League goals (scored two, one assist).

Predictions

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