Strike

Mahrez is not just a dribbler and a runner, he also creates. Plus he has the confidence and ability to take the ball in tight situaitons and hold it under pressure - something only Hazard is capable of in Chelsea's attack.

Horrific performance.Home to under-strength Arsenal in a League Cup Semifinal. Did not create one decent opening. Several players look like they are just mailing it in this season.

That's the Champions League game against Barcelona in a month for me. I wouldn't worry much if the team didn't make the finals here

I'd love to see a surprise or two today. Barkley in midfield or Musonda maybe? It is an important game but not absolutely vital that we can't field one or two young talents in it

and he is English. Where would he play in this team though? We have an Oscar problem with him

Okay. Forget the fee. Do we need him?

Reading this a lot that the 15m fee is good, low-risk Barkley is out of contract at the end of the season. Is it really necessary to spend 15 million on him now?

Not sure if this has been posted here. Decent round-up of transfer rumour sources

They're gonna both sign on!

Something that might go under the radar is Hazard's substitution. I know Chelsea scored immediately after that but Hazard is the only player in the team who was holding the ball going forward. All that defensive pressure in the end that lead to Bellerin's goal, Hazard on the pitch would draw Arsenal back and he should have stayed on imo. Conte is too protective of Hazard. 1-1 away at the Emirates with 80 minutes gone. What was the need to sub him?

No excuses for Morata. Good movement and won several duels but three horror finishes when he was clean through on goal.

How many are available on a pre-contract now?

Fantastic CB but wouldn't spend half that money on him. Happy with our set of Centre-Backs and would rather improve the team in other areas. If the wing backs and attackers are upgraded, the defense will be much better.

Whoever is managing the Instagram page, you are doing a brilliant job

Not too displeased since the team never really looked like conceding and controlled much of the game. But lacking a striker and more incisive play from midfielders than just spread the ball wide and hope for a cross to work.

Hazard will win this

Not sure Conte will add too many signings in January. He has already said that the club is looking for a striker and given how the team is playing a false 9 in recent weeks and missed out on Llorente in the window, that should be the signing he makes in January. A striker to ease the burden on Morata and a left-back - Sandro (? if he is available). Just' cant see the club making three January signings

The team is comfortably top 4 with the leaders out of sight. I sense a lack of urgency or purposefulness from the players in few games this season. Hopefully a January signing or two injects freshness into the team like Anelka in 2008.

I am not sure that is the case with Chelsea anymore. Since the Torres transfer, only one player has been bought for an absurd amount of money - Alvaro Morata. It is clear that the club has a principle in place now. Luke Shaw, John Stones, Alex Sandro, Koulibaly, just few of the players the club could have bought since 2011 but chose not to, because of the price.

Agree with the sentiment here. Bring em' on. Its been a few years since there was a classic Champions League night at the Bridge. After the 2012 run, I think only the win against PSG where Ba nicked a winner came close. It feels good to have these big games back on the fixture list.

I don't understand this football club sometimes

This is right. I read the list wrong. Everton away is in the league and Bournemouth at home is in the cup Still, all winnable.

Was okay I thought. Zappacosta is limited but he's doing the little things like running all game, stretching opposition defenses. Could be better but as rotation to Moses, I'm okay with Zappacosta so far.

West Ham Huddersfield Soton Bournemouth Brighton Stoke Win 6 out of 6 and we'll be close to the top I reckon. City have United and Tottenham during that stretch. Always hopeful of a slip up

I agree with Hazard's statements in the media. Real belief that Chelsea can take on anyone now that the team's early season problems have been solved. Actually looks like it will be hard for any team to break Chelsea down with Kante giving midfielders little or no time, defense having good games and Hazard being in supreme form. The Roma result was a one-off. Burnley was down to the red card and City played really well to win 1-0. If I was a PSG or Barca fan, I'd hope to avoid Chelsea really.