Premier League: Chelsea’s First Win is Drawing Near

Chelsea vs Luton Town

Mauricio Pochettino’s reign at Stamford Bridge is well and truly underway but, with two games played, the Blues are still waiting for a victory.

A draw with Liverpool and a defeat to West Ham is not the start Poch hoped for, but his next opportunity, a Premier League game against new boys Luton Town, is a golden one.

The Hatters have returned to the top-flight after an absence of over 30 years, during which time the club fell to the fifth tier of English football and bravely climbed its way back to the top.

Manager Rob Edwards did an outstanding job to lead Luton to promotion last season, finishing third and winning the play-offs, but they are hot favourites to make a swift return to the Championship.

With just one game played, a 4-1 defeat away to Brighton, the underdogs will sink to the bottom of the table if they take another thumping on Friday night, and the pre-match Premier League 2023 betting odds suggest they will.

Talking Points

Chelsea’s new boys getting up to speed

While Pochettino is yet to pick up a win as Chelsea boss, the club’s fans (and owners) need to have a little patience. Performances on the pitch showed some promising signs, though £115 million man Moises Caicedo will take another game or two to get up to pace.

Another big summer signing is already injured and that is a serious blow to Chelsea. Christopher Nkunku’s knee injury will keep him out until December. And after an impressive pre-season for the France star, that is a cruel turn of events.

And teammate Carney Chukwuemeka, who was bright against the Hammers, has also suffered a knee injury so he is out of the running too.

Mykhailo Mudryk struggled to make an impact against West Ham and his manager has called for patience, and the same applies to summer signing Nicolas Jackson, who the Blues fans hope may turn out to be their next Didier Drogba.

At the other end of the pitch, Edouard Mendy’s departure for Saudi and Kepa’s move to Real Madrid has left a gap in the goalkeeping section, and Chelsea expect to sign Djordje Petrovic from MLS side New England Revolution in time to make the squad against Luton.

Will Barkley make his Luton bow?

A Chelsea old boy might well be lining up for the Hatters on Friday following the recent arrival of midfielder Ross Barkley at Kenilworth Road. He has joined on a free transfer from Nice, where he failed to impress last year and, at 29 years of age, he still has a lot to prove.

Barkley played for England at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, but over the last few years, his career has stalled. However, with 33 England caps to his name, he is the biggest signing Luton have made, and the player is grateful to have another chance in the Premier League.

Luton need him to perform. The Hatters have only played one game, but they start the campaign with one of the two weakest squads and are at odds of 1.35 to take the drop, with Sheffield United at 1.40.

Everton is the next club in line at odds of 2.75 with Wolves and Bournemouth both in the mix. Nottingham Forest showed last season what can be done, surviving in their first season in the top-flight for many years, but Forest spent a lot more money than Luton have.

Those teams will be keeping a close eye on the Premier League 2023 updates on Friday, hoping for a home win. But if the Hatters can spring a surprise, then their fans can start to hope.

History

Chelsea and Luton have met twice over the past three years in the 2021 and 2022 FA Cups, and the Blues came out on top both times, winning 3-1 at Stamford Bridge in 2021 and 3-2 at Kenilworth Road in 2022.

These two teams have identical records over the past six games with two wins, three draws, and a single defeat, with steady pre-seasons and tricky starts to the league campaign.

Chelsea have incredibly failed to win any of their last nine games on home soil, and their fans will be inconsolable if they make it 10 on Friday.

Betting Tip

It’s not going to happen surely. Luton will be well-organised and will fight hard, but Chelsea are joint-fifth favourites to win the league at a SBOTOP price of 21.00 – level with Manchester United and ahead of Spurs – and that represents progress. But the new look Blues need to start picking up points quickly.

At odds of 1.21 to win, Pochettino’s men simply must deliver against a team which is priced at 10.60 to win and 5.03 to draw.

A 2-0 win at odds of 5.41 is the most likely outcome with 3-0 to Chelsea at 6.76.

 

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