It wasn't that long ago that Chelsea were knocked out of the FA Cup shortly before a 5-0 win at Arsenal, but there is still a chance they can salvage a respectable league finish of the season.
Four points and very creditable performances against Aston Villa and Spurs kept Mauricio Pochettino's team in the hunt for a European spot, which was helped by Manchester United's difficult run-in. United have trips to Crystal Palace and Brighton and tough home games against Arsenal and Newcastle. Chelsea, three points behind United, play West Ham and Bournemouth at home either side of trips to Nottingham Forest and Brighton. A win over West Ham at Stamford Bridge would move Chelsea within two points of Newcastle in sixth place, the last place in the Europa League. Seventh would mean Conference League football.
Chelsea have been very inconsistent this season, but their underlying credentials have always been quite solid and that may be starting to pay off. Their good football – such as the three performances against Man City in the league and the cup – is of a higher level than a team like United has produced all season. Pochettino certainly believes they deserve more.
“If we talk about performance, I definitely think we are in the top four,” said Pochettino. “The results and the competition are different and I agree that we did not fight well (at the start of the season). But if we talk about performance, I think we are definitely in the top six.”
Chelsea will be hoping Levi Colwill and Christopher Nkunku can return from respective toe and hamstring injuries. West Ham have little to play for but will want to give David Moyes a strong send-off in what will likely prove to be his final games in charge. Moyes' team has not kept a clean sheet in fifteen Premier League games.
Full team news coming soon and we'll also get updates from Nick Szczepanik in Brighton vs Aston Villa.