Rory Fitzgerald

Quick look at Burnley.

Good point, I have no idea to be honest, I just thought it was 10,000 across the board - thats ignorance on my part, I havent been keeping track too closely of the exact relaxation of restrictions in the UK.

Burnley are bringing work ethic, running, energy and a bit of muscle. They've taken a hiding off some good teams and we gave them a bonus 3 points at Anfield. But they're also bringing a bruised ego and a chance for their players to have their egos massaged by 10,000 fans for the first time in a year. Putting in a good performance and having those fans cheering will food for their soul. But I'd rather face all that, than a good football team. Their games on TV have been dire this season. Honestly, pick another team to play away outside the bottom 3. Not sure I'd go against Newcastle with a bit of pace and the importance of their fans. Brighton are a good team, not sure I'd fancy Palace away with Zaha, Ezi etc and their load fans. I'm not saying I'd hand pick Burnley, but they are not a bad team to play and their forwards present a lower risk to our 2 CBs that other teams. They might be a nuisance to break down but hopefully their fans being present urges them to come out a bit like WBA did.

Oh, game on 2-1

Key Leicester player(s) to get reds and/or some kind of modest injury

My head is flip-flopping all over the place. I have made peace with the results I want to see tonight. Now its the sequencing, if our worst result occurs tonight (Chelsea win by 1 goal), then we realistically have to beat Burnley otherwise we need Spurs to do something away at Leicester. If Leicester win by 1 goal, then as someone else says, we can draw with Burnley and then go for a straight GD shootout vs Chelsea on the final day as would be level on GD but we have more goals scored, so Chelsea would have to outscore us. In that sense, if Leicester can win tonight, my head would not completely fall off a cliff if we got pulled into a dogfight of a draw tomorrow. Jaysus, this week is going to be cruel isnt it !?

Yeah, tomorrow's game is going to be very tense so the liklihood of a win for either side by 3 or more is very unlikely and I say that because if a team goes 1 or 2 up, they should be focused on closing out the game. Unless we see a game changing red card, then we're probably looking at a game with a goal either side in it.

Nice to be able to sit back today and let Chelsea and Leicester worry about themselves - we'll be in that bucket tomorrow. Just throwing it out there, if Leicester win by 1 goal and we win by 1 goal vs Burnley, then a draw against Palace would do us even if Chelsea beat Villa but just by 1 goal. Obviously, if you add a goal to the Leicester win or us beating Burnley then that threshold goes up. Of course, Chelsea won't lose tonight and we're not getting away from Burnley without having to dog out the last 10 mins.

They kinda both did lose on Sunday

Yes Assuming we win, the worst outcome is us winning by 1 and Leicester losing by 1 We will both be on 66pts with our GD at 22 and them on 20. If they beat Spurs by 2 more than what we beat Palace (assuming we both win) then they get 4th as they have more goals scored.

You were playing a blinder until the last sentence. A draw is fine as 2 wins still guarantee us 4th as Chelsea could only hit 68 and we hit 69. The absolute worst result for us is a Chelsea win by 1 goal. It means us and Leicester can hit 69 but Leicester still have a shot at out scoring us. Here’s ideal results for tomorrow. 1. Big Leicester win. 2. Small Leicester win 3. A draw 4. Big Chelsea win 5. Small Chelsea win

Yeah, we can all pick their team and formation. None of that will be a surprise. Though we'll see with Nick Pope, he's a maybe. Its the fan factor, night time game and looking for redemption after Leeds that might dictate their approach. They are safe but they've take a few hidings along the way this season, City, Spurs, Chelsea have all put a few past them. United did the double too over them. They got a draw out of Leicester and their only win against a decent team - yep, Anfield. Dyche has been talking up Vydra lately and his work ethic and running the channels etc etc but they are not the team that poses the same threat when we play a high line like the likes of other teams. I am sure Williams and Phillips will be back themselves against Wood and Vydra if it comes down to defending from a high line. You'd imagine they'd try play on Williams just like WBA did and put Wood winning headers against Williams and Vydra chasing them down against Phillips. Would be quite unusual to try pin Wood up with Phillips. After that, yeah, they'll be true to their identity and what Dyche always preaches and thats that all his players work hard and carry no passengers. Just bloody match that and add on a layer of our quality and - no harm if Pope was still out. Their attack doesnt worry me too much (4th worst goals scored) and they've shown in a few games that the flood gates can open when they are off colour.

Who are the 3 ahead of him ? Walker, Trippier and James (or Wan Bissaka ?). England's attacking midfielders are all players that can come inside and the attackers like Calvert Lewin and Kane will feed off good service. Mad shout.

I dont know about the UEFA Cup spot, I just know that our CL position would be safe. I agree, I've always had it in my mind that whoever wins the cup final, probably wont win the league game given there would be a different level of focus between the 2 teams due to the emotions of a win/loss. On top of those emotions from Saturday, lob on that last minute winner from yesterday as well to mess with their heads.

Big game for Chelsea vs Leicester on Tuesday. No guarantee we beat Burnley but they have to go into that game assuming we'll win our last 2 and that one of them is missing out ! Chelsea 0-3 Leicester would be very nice. Effectively means we could draw one of our last 2 and still go through and it means Chelsea can only qualify for the CL by beating City, so not a bad result either that way.

That was them snapping into Chelsea when Chelsea had 11 men, I think we'll see this for the opening 10mins and then take it from there. No point putting out those kind of players and then asking them to sit off, let them go out and try win the ball within 30-40 yards from goal especially if we are playing through Williams and Phillips.

Diagne and Maitland Niles dropped presumably because WBA relegated and they won't be around next season 4-1-4-1 by the looks of it, which you could also read at times as 4-3-3 given the wide players are attackers Johnstone Furlong Ajayi Bartley Townsend Yokoslu Diangana Phillips Gallagher Pereira Robson-Kanu

That's a fair point. We were not too hot in the opening 10-20mins the other night and we did give a few chances to Southampton and Leeds. Its not like his back line is devoid of any pace so they could come out and try burst into us like Fulham did at Craven Cottage and play a bit higher like on our goal kicks or when we have the ball deep, see if Alisson has another poor pass in him or if Phillips/Williams have a mistake, or if Gallagher/AMN can snap at the heels of our midfielders when they get the ball. I think that's the kind of intensity that will reflect their mindset. If we are working through them, they can pick a different/deeper point on the pitch to engage us. But even if they need to go back, it will be interesting to see who their "get out" ball is. Diagne should naturally target himself to their right and his 6'2 frame against Williams and try bully him (wouldn't make sense to pick Phillips) whilst working through their left with Gallagher and Pereira down Phillips side on our right. As you say, do they come out and be more aggressive on how they engage us or do they accept we have the ball and draw us on to create more space behind our centre backs. I think - and I think you think (?) - they might come out and take a few swings at us and see how we respond and take it from there.

I’d say the first thing to look for is their formation. Sam has generally gone with a back 4 and 1 striker which have been variations of 451/4231 depending on how attacking his wide selections are. However on a few occasions (less than 5), he’s gone with 3 CBs like he did away at Chelsea when they win 2-5. They got a big help with Thiago Silva being sent off but still quite an achievement. If he goes 3 at the back then O’Shea plays and I think Conor Gallagher replaces Matt Phillips in the team below. If it’s a back 4 O’Shea drops out and then I think it’s a toss up between Phillips and Robinson for a wide slot. Another thing to look out for in their line up is if Pereira is starting behind Diagne or out left. If he’s behind and Robinson’s on the left then it’s another clue on his mindset. Personally I think he’ll go with a back 3. The 2 full backs are pretty fast and so Ajayai. Yokuslu CM with AMNiles and Gallagher either side and Pereira behind Diagne

Hopefully Leicester batter them on Tuesday and damage Chelsea's goal difference - would give us the potential to draw a game and still make it through on GD.

Some save that !

He's level with Kane on 21 league goals, he'll want to play all 3 games this week. I expect Kane will be in Ryan Mason's ear as well - hopefully keeps Spurs motivated to keep their captain by getting him the Golden Boot and putting in a shift vs Leicester....and hopefully he falls short of course !

Just as well that poor fella wasn't facing Balotelli/Lambert/Borini or he might have been RIP

Goal !

Goalscorer and artful blocker Gini and Jota peel towards the front post as the ball clears their heads (Shaw and Fred switch off), and Mo holds Cavani to stop him tracking Jota. Also has a quick look at the linesman to make sure its all good. Didn't think the selfish git had it in him to help the team