Premiership Title Showdown - Team News
Three points against Bolton Wanderers on Sunday may not be enough, but Chelsea intend to fight Manchester United all the way in the race for this season's Premier League title.
This is the fourth time the title race has gone right to the final game of the season and Chelsea know that a victory for them over a Bolton side who secured their own safety last week and a slip up by United at Wigan could see them crowned surprise champions.
Ahead of this titanic final weekend, manager Avram Grant has attempted to up the pressure on the Red Devils after insisting it is they and not his side that need to perform.
Bank Holiday Monday's 2-0 win over Newcastle United - secured courtesy of goals from Michael Ballack and Florent Malouda - kept them level on points with the leaders, albeit with a vastly inferior goal difference."The pressure is on them," said Grant. "I said we will never give up. We have given a good, good battle."Nobody thought about us as a candidate for champions. We will keep on fighting." Grant is likely to recall Frank Lampard and Joe Cole to his midfield after dropping the pair to the bench against Newcastle, while Ricardo Carvalho is expected to be fit despite limping off last weekend with a back injury.
Former Bolton striker Nicolas Anelka could return to the bench after scoring just twice in 23 appearances since his £15million move in January. Bolton are not mathematically safe from relegation, but Gary Megson's side would only lose their top-flight status in extraordinary circumstances. The 16th placedTrotters have a much better goal difference that both Fulham and Reading, so even if they moved level on 36 points at the foot of the table with victories, the Reebok Stadium outfit would still survive.Megson's side seemed certain to join Derby County in the Championship next season when they were thrashed 4-0 by Aston Villa in early April.
However, a run of three wins and a draw in their last four matches, culminating in Saturday's 2-0 victory against Sunderland, has almost certainly guaranteed Bolton a place in next season's Premier League.
Nicky Hunt (shoulder) and Jussi Jaaskelainen (back) will take no part in the final weekend of fixtures with long-term injuries, while El Hadji Diouf will make his last appearance in a Bolton shirt after revealing a desire to leave.
Chelsea were 1-0 winners when the sides met at the Reebok Stadium back in October with Salomon Kalou on the mark.
