By Alex Roberts
Ipswich are all however relegated at this level, sitting 18th, 12 factors off Wolves in 17th. It’ll be the second consecutive season all three promoted sides go proper again down however solely the third time it’s occurred in Premier League historical past.
Nonetheless, they did handle to beat Chelsea within the reverse fixture and that is precisely the type of recreation Enzo Maresca’s facet have struggled in all season. Might an excellent escape be on!?
An audition for Liam Delap
Ipswich could properly go down but it surely’s unlikely that Liam Delap will. The striker has been linked with virtually each facet within the Premier League however few greater than Chelsea. The West London facet have been in want of a striker for round three years. Delap could properly fancy himself as the person to fill that spot.
With 12 Premier League objectives, the one Chelsea participant to have scored extra is fellow Man Metropolis academy graduate Cole Palmer. He’s additionally in red-hot type, scoring in his final two league video games.
Chelsea will likely be making strikes in the summertime, there is no such thing as a doubt about that. Delap could have loads of choices however contemplating Palmer’s rise to prominence, a transfer to the capital could be on the high of his listing.
Some puzzling selections from Enzo Maresca
It’s been an odd week for the Italian. He determined to relaxation Palmer and Nicolas Jackson for what was arguably the extra essential recreation in opposition to Brentford, solely to go and do the identical this for the 3-0 win over Legia Warsaw.
The followers are beginning to get just a little antsy. Maresca’s soccer isn’t precisely entertaining and a few of his selections are beginning to confuse. There are solely seven video games of the Premier League marketing campaign left, it could be in his greatest pursuits to subject his greatest eleven for all of them.
Failure to qualify for the Champions League might properly be the ultimate nail within the coffin of Maresca’s relationship with the followers. It stays to be seen whether or not it could price him his job, nonetheless.
Dara O’Shea is main from the again
Talking of gamers that would properly keep within the Premier League even when Ipswich don’t, O’Shea has impressed this season. He was improbable within the unlucky 2-1 defeat to Wolves final day out, offering the help for Delap’s purpose in addition to being stable on the again.
The Republic of Eire worldwide made ten clearances, together with one off the road, two blocks, and 4 recoveries. Sadly, his arduous work was undone by just a little little bit of magic from Pablo Sarabia and a purpose from Jørgen Strand Larsen.
It’s been a troublesome season for defenders in newly-promoted sides. Being requested to play out from the again once they merely don’t have the amenities is a tall order. O’shea has acquitted himself properly, nonetheless, and Ipswich would do properly to maintain him.
Prediction
This one might be just a little tougher to foretell than it needs to be on paper. On one hand, Ipswich are destined to go down, on the opposite, Chelsea have didn’t impress for the reason that begin of December. We’re going with a 1-0 Chelsea win.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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