TALKING POINTS



The arrival of Champions League semi-finalists Manchester City on Saturday evening ushers in a run of remaining home fixtures for Chelsea against three of the current top four sides in the Premier League.

This meeting last season was one of the big hurdles the champions had to overcome in the approach towards the home straight. It will be an odd feeling to have a say, but not be involved, in the outcome of the race for the title and Champions League places for the first time since 2001/2.

As Guus Hiddink has warned his players, though, these games are effectively an audition for incoming head coach Antonio Conte, and anyone who wants a part of that future will have to be at their best. The Blues are now six points behind seventh-placed Southampton with a game in hand.