FC Chelsea – Ipswich
With the commanding 3-0 victory over Legia Warsaw in the Conference League behind them, Chelsea are eagerly awaiting the upcoming Premier League clash against promoted Ipswich Town. Coach Enzo Maresca’s team, currently in 4th place in the table, wants to consolidate their position at the top of the table, while Ipswich, in 18th place, urgently needs points to avoid relegation. There is a lot of pressure on Kieran McKenna’s team, which has already suffered three consecutive defeats in the league, especially after their 2-1 defeat against Wolves. Ipswich caused a stir at the end of December when they beat outsiders Chelsea 2-0 – a result that left its mark on the Blues. The focus is on Ipswich striker Liam Delap, who has surprised everyone with twelve goals this season and is now reportedly on Chelsea’s radar. Given that they have won three of their last five league games, the current form clearly favors the hosts, who desperately need to score points in the fight for international places. Ipswich, on the other hand, need a minor football miracle to close the threatening gap to the safety shore.
Chelsea – Ipswich Info
- Stadium: Stamford Bridge, London
- Date and Time: 04/13/2025, 3:00 p.m.
- Competition: Premier League (Matchday 32)
Chelsea Form & Record Check
In domestic competition, Chelsea have recently fluctuated between brilliance and disappointment, but should continue to have momentum after their recent success in Europe. In the Conference League second leg against Legia Warsaw (3-0), Noni Madueke and young Tyrique George in particular caught the eye. However, the last league game against Brentford ended goalless, which slowed the forward momentum somewhat. At least it followed a hard-fought 1-0 win over Tottenham, which clearly showed that Maresca’s defensive concept is working – in the past three league games, the team has conceded just one goal. Instead of unrelenting attacking pressure, Maresca now relies more on tactical discipline. Chelsea are currently striking strikingly often after the break, which makes their style of play somewhat predictable, but also less risky. With 53 points, the club is on target for the Champions League places, while talents like Josh Acheampong or Tyrique George are experiencing a noticeable rise under Maresca. Nevertheless, the coach could still rotate the starting XI against Ipswich and may prefer to give Nicolas Jackson the nod in the center forward position.
Maresca is likely to go with a 4-2-3-1 again, with Sánchez in goal and a back four of Cucurella, Adarabioyo, Badiashile and James. In central midfield, the duo of Dewsbury-Hall and Caicedo could start, while Palmer pulls the strings behind striker Jackson. Sancho and Neto are available on the wings. The injured Wesley Fofana, who is out for the season, is sorely missed, as is Lavia, who has a hamstring problem. Fernández, on the other hand, is a first-class alternative on the bench. However, it is conceivable that Maresca will rotate a few positions after the European Cup game – especially in the striker position, he could once again place his trust in Nicolas Jackson to play to his strengths against Ipswich’s shaky defense.
Ipswich Form & Record Check
Ipswich’s form is rather gloomy: only one win in the last five games testifies to a worrying downward spiral. In the most recent 1-2 defeat to Wolves, Liam Delap scored an early goal for his team, but as so often, Ipswich collapsed at the end. This late decline is a recurring theme throughout the season, as is the shaky defensive work after the break – in 80% of the last matches, the opponents only scored in the second half. There was a brief ray of hope, however, when they beat Bournemouth 2-1, but defeats like the 4-2 against Nottingham or the unlucky exit in the cup on penalties against Forest are testament to the lack of consistency. Delap remains the standout player, though: his eye for goal has attracted interest from top clubs like Chelsea, even if Ipswich’s relegation seems increasingly unrealistic given the large number of points they have left behind.
Kieran McKenna is also likely to stick to the 4-2-3-1 formation for the guests. Delap acts as the target man, flanked by Broadhead, Enciso and the in-form Hutchinson in the forward line of three. The duo of Morsy and Cajuste will likely start in defensive midfield, while Davis, Burgess, Townsend and O’Shea will form the central defense. Palmer is in goal behind them – also because first-choice goalkeeper Muric is injured. Ogbene and the long-term injured Burns are also missing, while goal scorer Szmodics will have to take a break until May with an ankle injury. This sick bay makes Ipswich’s mission to avoid relegation even more difficult.
Chelsea – Ipswich head-to-head & statistics
There is little reliable data available for the head-to-head comparison, as the two teams have only met each other once in the recent past. That game was a real thriller, though: Ipswich pulled off a surprise 2-0 win in December 2024, with the team scoring in both halves and Chelsea being left without a goal of their own. This defeat still weighs heavily on the Blues, and Maresca will be out for revenge. McKenna, on the other hand, hopes that his team can match the efficiency of that game.
