Sutton's predictions: Chelsea v Burnleypublished at 18:37 GMT 20 February
18:37 GMT 20 February
So much for me thinking that Burnley might give their fans something to cheer about by going on a good FA Cup run.
After their brilliant fightback to beat Crystal Palace in their last league game, the Clarets made changes against Mansfield and went out on their own patch to a League One side.
I just can't see anything other than a home win for Chelsea here, even with their wobble last time at Stamford Bridge where Leeds fought back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 - Liam Rosenior's side won't let that happen again.
Lavia returns for Chelsea Under-21spublished at 12:06 GMT 20 February
12:06 GMT 20 February
Nizaar Kinsella Chelsea reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Chelsea midfielder Romeo Lavia played 45 minutes for the Under‑21s as they hosted Leeds at the club's training ground on Friday afternoon.
The 22‑year‑old made his first appearance in the 2-2 draw having suffered a quadriceps injury during the Champions League match away to Qarabag in early November.
It was the latest setback in what has been an injury‑hit spell at Stamford Bridge following his £54m move from Southampton in 2023.
Lavia has still yet to complete a full 90 minutes for Chelsea, having made just 30 appearances in two and a half years and missing 98 matches across 603 days since joining the club.
Head coach Liam Rosenior revealed Lavia has been back in training over recent weeks while following a "detailed plan" aimed at ensuring he returns "for good". However, Rosenior has declined to give a timeframe for when the midfielder will be available for first‑team selection.
Chelsea's youth team went top of the Premier League 2 table despite surrendering a two‑goal lead, with Liam Rosenior and several first‑team players — including Cole Palmer, Liam Delap and Malo Gusto — watching from the sidelines.
Rosenior on Cucurella's fitness, Delap's form and league's competitivenesspublished at 14:30 GMT 19 February
14:30 GMT 19 February
Nat Hayward BBC Sport journalist
Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Burnley at Stamford Bridge (15:00 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Rosenior confirmed Reece James and Cole Palmer "trained really well today" and are "are both fully fit and both available for selection at the moment", but their fitness is "based on day by day".
He did not give a return date for Marc Cucurella, who will not be available: "I can't given an exact timeframe. He suffered a hamstring injury just before half-time in the Leeds game. It's a real shame because he's an outstanding player, and one of the best left-backs in the world. But we have Jorrel [Hato] and we have Malo [Gusto] who can play on that side, so we have really good players that can cover."
Several first-team players used a free midweek to travel to Dubai: "I looked at the players' schedules over the past 18 months. That was my idea. I thought it was the right thing for the players considering the workload they've had. I encouraged the players to go and get some sun. Sometimes it is the best way to rejuvenate."
On captain James' relationship with former skipper John Terry: "John is a legend of the club. With the experience he has got, it's an amazing thing for Reece to tap into. You can learn from anyone, but learning from people that have been there and done it is the best way."
On the race to qualify for next season's Champions League:: "It's February. There is plenty of time. It's not going to be simple. This is a strong league. We have to take care of our business regardless of what time we play."
Asked how competitive the league is in the wake of leaders Arsenal's drawing at bottom side Wolves, Rosenior said:" I don't think it's just complacency. I thought Wolves were outstanding yesterday. This is such a strong league now. What we have to do is focus on our own performance and prepare ourselves right. Whether we're playing Wolves, Burnley, Manchester City or Arsenal, our process is the same."
On Liam Delap's recent lack of goals: "That's the first thing I look for in my strikers - people contributing to us winning games of football. All strikers want to score goals - that's why they play the game - but Liam defends from the front amazingly well. If you look at most players and their careers, it's usually the second season they take off. He's had some injuries. I'm really happy with Liam."
Rosenior responded strongly when asked about the incident of alleged racist abuse targeted at Vinicus Junior in the Champions League game between Real Madrid and Benfica: "If any player or any coach is ever found guilty of racism, they shouldn't be in the game. It's as simple as that."
Sa challenge on Pedro should have been penalty, panel sayspublished at 13:15 GMT 19 February
13:15 GMT 19 February
Dale Johnson Football issues correspondent
Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,
Referee Jarred Gillett should have awarded three penalties to Chelsea at Molineux
Chelsea should have been awarded a third penalty in their 3-1 victory at Wolves on 7 February, the Premier League's Key Match Incidents (KMI) Panel has said.
However, it also felt the incident did not reach the threshold for a video assistant referee (VAR) intervention.
Striker Joao Pedro had already been awarded two spot-kicks, following first-half fouls by Matt Doherty and Yerson Mosquera.
The third incident came in the fourth minute of the second half.
Wolves goalkeeper Jose Sa came out to claim a high ball under pressure from Pedro.
The Portuguese shot-stopper caught the ball with a raised boot leading into the thigh of the 24-year-old.
The KMI Panel voted 3-2 that the spot-kick should have been awarded on the field.
It said: "Sa's boot is high and his extended leg makes contact with Pedro, with the panel feeling a penalty should have been awarded."
The KMI Panel was unanimous that the VAR official Paul Howard was right not to intervene for the penalty or a red card.
It added that the challenge "lacks any real force to meet the threshold for a red card".
Chelsea enjoy rare reset and eight-day break after 'relentless run'published at 10:48 GMT 19 February
10:48 GMT 19 February
Nizaar Kinsella Chelsea reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Chelsea will be only just back from their mid-season break when Liam Rosenior speaks to the media to preview Saturday's home match against Burnley.
After a relentless run of midweek fixtures since the September international break, Chelsea have finally had eight days to prepare for a game - with players given permission to take short overseas holidays.
Cole Palmer, Wesley Fofana, Joao Pedro, Enzo Fernandez and Marc Cucurella all travelled to Dubai, while Alejandro Garnacho chose Egypt for some winter sun.
Allowing the squad time away appears an obvious decision, given most of them played in the Club World Cup and had only 35 days between seasons - the shortest break ever recorded for Chelsea.
It will be interesting to see how the team look after this reset, and how Rosenior - who has experienced a whirlwind start since arriving in early January - has used the time.
Come back to this page later on Thursday for all the key lines from Rosenior.
Will the Emenalo brothers be first to make Premier League and NBA debuts?published at 16:17 GMT 18 February
16:17 GMT 18 February
Nizaar Kinsella Chelsea reporter
Image source, Getty Images
The Emenalo family story is about more than a Chelsea-linked father and his son.
Brothers Sebastien and Landon Emenalo - raised by former Nigeria international and long‑serving Chelsea technical director Michael Emenalo - could become the first siblings to play in the Premier League and the NBA at the same time.
Landon, 18, operates as a midfielder or defender, is a regular for Chelsea Under‑21s and represents England at youth level.
Older Sebastien, meanwhile, stands at 6ft 7in and began as a goalkeeper in Chelsea's academy before switching sports. He progressed through the NBA Global Academy in Canberra, Australia, and is now a freshman guard at Loyola University Maryland in the United States.
His ambition is clear: to enter the NBA draft within the next two or three years.
Sporting excellence runs throughout the family. Their mother, Erin, was an All‑American goalkeeper at the University of Portland before playing for the Washington Freedom in the first professional women's league in the US.
Within Chelsea circles, the Emenalo name has long been familiar because of Michael, who represented Nigeria at the 1994 World Cup and played in the US, England and Spain, before later working in executive roles at Monaco and in the Saudi Pro League.
For Sebastien and Landon, it has been a blend of nature and nurture that has positioned them to pursue an unprecedented dual rise in two of the world's most competitive sporting environments.
Landon is highly thought of at Chelsea. He has trained under three managers - Mauricio Pochettino, Enzo Maresca and now Liam Rosenior - and has been on the bench in Premier League, Champions League and Conference League matches.
And having represented both England and the United States - while remaining eligible for Nigeria - he could yet become the focus of a future tug‑of‑war over his international allegiance.
Future signing Quenda recovering with Chelseapublished at 10:01 GMT 18 February
10:01 GMT 18 February
Nizaar Kinsella Chelsea reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Sporting winger Geovany Quenda has been carrying out much of his recovery from a fractured metatarsal at Chelsea's training ground.
The 18‑year‑old has been given access to Chelsea's world‑class facilities at Cobham and the chance to familiarise himself with his future club ahead of his summer move.
Quenda hopes to return to the pitch in March, having sustained the injury in early December during a match against Benfica.
That return would see him feature in Sporting's upcoming Champions League last‑16 ties and his side are also competing for the Portuguese title and sit four points behind leaders Porto in second place.
The decision to have Quenda continue his rehabilitation at Cobham is not always the case, with fellow future summer signings Emanuel Emegha, at Strasbourg, and Dastan Satpaev, at FC Kairat, both currently injured but completing their recovery away from Chelsea. Emegha has remained at Strasbourg, while Satpaev has been rehabilitating in the Middle East.
Chelsea agreed a £40m pre‑contract to sign Quenda in July 2026, finalised in March last year.
'Not good enough for starting XI' or 'will surprise the doubters next season'?published at 08:12 GMT 18 February
08:12 GMT 18 February
Image source, Getty Images
We asked for your views on where you stand on Liam Delap and his long-term future at Stamford Bridge.
Here are some of your comments:
Keith: Delap needs to start scoring goals but for that to happen he needs the service. A good run in the side will help.
Paul: He has had a disruptive season so far. I think if he stays injury free, he will surprise all the doubters next season.
Steven: Delap is nothing more than a decent Championship player. Never has been a Premier League player and never will be.
Phil: Delap has been very poor overall. Always seems more concerned with attempting to bully the opposition centre-half than looking after the ball and the Hull City miss was the most unprofessional piece of play I've ever seen. I'd welcome Nicolas Jackson's return, even though his main attributes seem to be petulance and self-absorption. We're not exactly spoiled for back-ups to the excellent Joao Pedro.
Baz: Delap is 'another' young player who the powers that be chose for potential. That potential is not being realised and Chelsea, can't believe I'm saying this, were better off with Jackson. Delap tries to balance failing to impress fans with his scoring by being aggressive in challenges, petulant even. Sadly, he has been mostly careless and attracts yellow cards for his troubles and lack of finesse. Delap is likeable, though, and I wish him well wherever he goes next.
Don: First thing to do for Delap is change his shirt number. The nine has been a curse for strikers at the club for too many years. His work-rate is second to none and I think the goals will come, but the nine shirt is wrong for him. He's still young, so work with him more and I think it will come.
Richard: What do you expect when he spends sooooo much time on the right wing. Get in the box, do not leave the width of the box. Watch more videos of Didier Drogba.
Gary: Having watched Delap in a Blue shirt this season, l was hoping he would prove to be an asset for us. To date, l been extremely disappointed and his performance against Hull has drawn me to two conclusions. 1. He is an excellent Championship-level player and no more; 2. He's not good enough for any Chelsea starting XI. I hope he'll prove me wrong.
James: There is no doubt Delap is a good player but is he of the level that Chelsea require? I am yet to be convinced. I feel like he would thrive more, as he did last season, playing for a team lower down the table. Without this coming across as snobbery, that would bring the best out of him.
Gossip: Blues eye Murillopublished at 08:07 GMT 18 February
08:07 GMT 18 February
Nicolas Jackson and Chelsea will evaluate their options in the summer with Bayern Munich not expected to trigger an obligation to buy the 24-year-old Senegal striker during his season-long loan in Germany. (Mail - subscription required), external
