Riding high under Enzo Maresca, Chelsea aim for their sixth consecutive victory in all competitions as they host Nottingham Forest at Stamford Bridge for a Premier League clash.
After Cole Palmer shone in Chelsea's Premier League victory over Brighton, making history as the first player to score four goals in a single half, Maresca's squad showcased their scoring depth in Thursday’s Europa Conference League match against Gent. Renato Veiga, Pedro Neto, Christopher Nkunku, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall all found the net, helping Chelsea begin the league phase of the competition perfectly. Even the Blues' fans could appreciate Gent's first goal, assisted by the son of former striker Eidur Gudjohnsen.
The top four has been elusive for Chelsea in recent years, but they trail only Liverpool, Arsenal, and Manchester City on points as they head into gameweek seven. With 15 goals, they boast the best attacking record in this season's Premier League, and their last four matches have seen an impressive 16 goals scored. Maresca’s team has achieved a remarkable shot conversion rate of 20.3%, the highest in the league.
In contrast, Nottingham Forest has focused on grinding out narrow wins and tight draws. They suffered their first Premier League loss of the season against Fulham, where they failed to capitalize in front of goal, conceding a penalty to Raul Jimenez. Despite this setback, Forest remains comfortably mid-table in 10th place, with a six-point buffer to both 18th-placed Crystal Palace and league leaders Liverpool.
Last season, Forest also surprised at Stamford Bridge with a 1-0 win, courtesy of Anthony Elanga, but Chelsea redeemed themselves with a 3-2 victory at City Ground and haven’t lost consecutive home league matches against Forest in 116 years.
Prediction: Chelsea
Chelsea vs Nottingham Forest stream and TV listing
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