LAST week I suggested if Chelsea beat Man United the only team to benefit would be Arsenal.
As they say a week is a long time in football and with the top two wobbling more than Jordan (not Joe) the door has cracked open for the Blues.
It's still a big ask but if they beat Blackpool tonight they'll have closed the gap on United to nine points with a game in hand.
That could have been stretched to 18 last week but United followed up with a woeful display at Liverpool and Arsenal also slipped up at home to Sunderland.
United are stil hot favourites at 8-11 generally while the Gunners, three points behind, are 7-4 with 888sport and Blue Square. Chelsea are 33-1 withbet365 but that could be trimmed slightly if they win at Bloomfield Road.
Blackpool have been tricky opponents for most sides but are in the middle of slump and crucially miss top scorer DJ Campbell and playmaker Charlie Adam.
I can't see anything but a Chelsea but they are a biggest 1-3 with Ladbrokes and Paddy Power. Consider them minus one at 5-6 with Paddy Power.
Blackpool are 10-1 at Chandler with the draw 9-2 at the same firm.
Fernando Torres hasn't scored in four game but is getting closer. This could be the night he breaks his duck and the £50million is 4-1 with Coral to score first and evens to net at any time.
An alternative to Torres is Frank Lampard at 11-2 with bet365 and Ladbrokes now that he's back on penalties. And David Luiz, who netted in the win over Man United, is 28-1 with Coral and 8-1 with Paddy Power to net at any time.
All Blackpool's home games this season have featured over 2.5 goals and both teams have scored on each occasion.
Both teams to score pays 10-11 at Coral but be aware it's happened in only one third of Chelsea's league games.
I could see Blackpool drawing a blank without their two main threats in Campbell and Adam.
Recommendation
- Chelsea -1 (5-6, Paddy Power)