The Chelsea vs Ipswich clash will be crucial for the Londoners’ UEFA Champions League hopes. Manchester City’s resounding win over Crystal Palace squeezed the Blues out of the top-four. They must beat the Tractor Boys to keep themselves in contention for the English Premier League’s UCL slots. Easier said than done. Ipswich beat Chelsea 2-0 when they met at Portman Road in December. Coach Enzo Maresca will need his boys fully focused and brimming with confidence as they welcome their Suffolk opponents. He will be particularly relying on these three players to seal the three points in the Chelsea vs Ipswich fixture.
3 Key Playes in Chelsea vs Ipswich Tie
Cole Palmer
It’s no secret that Chelsea’s talismanic playmaker has not been at his best recently. His half-time substitution in the Londoners’ emphatic win over Legia Warsaw raised eyebrows. Was it about preserving his energies for Sunday’s game or was it about hooking off an ineffective player? Note that the player who replaced Palmer scored the brace that settled the game in Chelsea’s favor.
But before the naysayers break out the ‘Palmer Out’ signs, it’s worth considering the England midfielder’s season stats. No other Chelsea player has scored more goals or laid on more assists than ‘Ice Cold’ Palmer. You could argue he was the key factor in the West Londoners’ sparkling early-season form. At some point, Chelsea couldn’t fashion a scoring opportunity without the ball first touching Palmer’s feet.
Given the enormity of his contributions to The Blues’ current position in the EPL standings, we can extend Chelsea’s number 20 some grace. Carrying a historic club on his shoulders at just 22 years of age is no small feat. The fact that injuries and illness have recently disrupted his flow should also be taken into account.
The Blues will be happy to have Palmer back in their starting 11 in the Chelsea vs Ipswich match if only for his set-piece abilities. The penalty Christopher Nkunku missed against Legia Warsaw may have been more costly in a different setting. In Cole Palmer, they have a more dependable spot-kick taker. On his day, the midfield maestro can also bang in a free kick from the right position. His mobility, ability to quickly shift the direction of play and vision will provide the bues with numerous goalscoring opportunities in the Chelsea vs Ipswich encounter.
Nicholas Jackson
Despite his recent lack of goals, Enzo Maresca has affirmed his commitment to Nicholas Jackson. “With Nico we’re a completely different team…” Can the gangly striker be the deciding factor in Chelsea vs Ipswich? The Senegalese must play with a chip on his shoulder following the barrage of criticism he bore last season. And he hasn’t been spared this season, especially after Chelsea’s early season form faltered. But he hasn’t lost his manager’s faith: “You can see how important is Nico for us…he’s that kind of striker who’s always a threat for the opposite defensive line.”
Going into Sunday’s Chelsea vs Ipswich game, ‘Nico’ will be well-rested and hungry for action. Though he traveled to Poland for the UEFA Conference League game, he played no part in on-field proceedings. Jackson will have the motivation and the energy to be the prickliest thorn in the Ipswich defenders’ sides.
His personal axe to grind aside, Nicholas Jackson will be a much better focal point for Chelsea’s attacks than Nkunku was. As a natural center-forward, he holds the ball up much better. He also has the physique to keep Dara O’Shea and Co. busy, creating space for other forwards to have a go at Alex Palmer. Chelsea vs Ipswich will be the perfect opportunity for Jackson to remind doubters of the qualities that made him unplayable in La Liga.
Tosin Adarabioyo
Maresca was effusive in describing Liam Delap during his pre-game interview, reminding the reporters that he managed the Ipswich striker when he coached Manchester City’s U23s. Whoever will have the task of preventing Delap from scoring or creating chances will be crucial to a Chelsea win. The Blues manager has an embarrassment of defensive options to pick his back-four from. It’s hard to imagine Trevor Chalobah’s Crystal Palace loan spell had to be curtailed to cover for Chelsea’s injury-enforced defensive absentees.
Benoît Badiashile, Levi Colwill, Chalobah and Adarabioyo are all available to take up the two centre-back slots in Maresca’s 4-2-3-1. Of the four, Adarabioyo has arguably been the most consistent. He will have the task of marshaling the Blues backline and keeping Delap quiet. At 27, he is the oldest of Chelsea’s defenders. His experience has proved vital in ensuring the concession of only two goals in all competitions since the end of February.
Whether he’s paired with Badiashile, Colwill or Chalobah, Adarabioyo will be expected to provide leadership and a calming presence at the back in the Chelsea vs Ipswich encounter. This will be just as important for the defense as for the goalkeeper. After being replaced by Filip Jørgensen for a few games, it seems Robert Sánchez has won back the confidence of his manager. A composed backline will help the Spaniard avoid the unforced errors he’s prone to committing.
The ex-Fulham center-back has also proven to have an eye for goal. He will be a real threat when the Londoners win corners in the Chelsea vs Ipswich match. If Sunday’s game turns out to be one of those tactically tight affairs with limited chances created in open play, Tosin’s aerial ability in the opposition 18 will come in handy.
