CHELSEA EXPECTED TO MAINTAIN WINNING RUN

Chelsea fans have every right to be optimistic about the long-term life under new manager Thomas Tuchel going by what has happened in the short-term life under him.

The Blues have become a different team under him in comparison to the final days of the Frank Lampard regime.

Chelsea legend Lampard was sacked by the club last month after a poor run of results and was replaced swiftly by Thomas Tuchel, who had lost his job as the PSG manager earlier this season. Under Thomas Tuchel, Chelsea have won three and drawn one of the four games played in the league and that has taken the team to within one point of Premier League holders Liverpool in the race for Champions League football next season.

Liverpool are unlikely to defend the league title they won last season and they are presently in the fourth and final Champions League spot on the league table.
Thomas Tuchel and Chelsea have won the last three games. The Blues can make it four consecutive victories when they take on English Championship team Barnsley in the fifth round of the FA Cup and they are big favourites to get that win via all the major soccer betting sites. Chelsea were finalists from last season after they were beaten by Arsenal and they would be hoping to go one better than last season but they have to live up to the odds from the various soccer betting sites. For opponents Barnsley, they are unbeaten in their last three games in all competitions and they are massive underdogs for the FA Cup fifth round tie with Chelsea at Oakwell as per the numerous soccer betting sites worldwide. Surprisingly, Barnsley have beaten Chelsea in their previous two cup meetings. They eliminated Chelsea in the 1989 third round (4-0) and also knocked them out of the 2008 edition at the quarterfinal stage via a 1-0 scoreline.