WHEN Chelsea signed German superstars Timo Werner and Kai Havertz I reckoned a top-four finish was a stick-on.
And after a slow start Frank Lampard's men are beginning to motor to the top end of the table.
It's been a strange Premier League season with the likes of Arsenal, Man City and Man United as well as Chelsea languishing outside the top six.
But the Blues have impressed recently at home and in Europe and should easily see off a struggling Sheffield United side on Saturday.
Chelsea are 2-5 with Betfred while a one-goal win pays 9-5 at Betway against a blunt Blades side who have lost their last five by that margin.
Chris Wilder's side have taken one point from 30 but no one's battering them – Liverpool beat them 2-1 and Man City edged to a 1-0 victory last week.
Werner also took time to get going scoring one in his first five in blue but the £45million signing from Leipzig has now hit seven in seven for club and country and can be backed at 3-1 with bet365 to score first.
I don't know what to make of Man United these days. Most people reckoned they'd turned the corner with a scintillating 5-0 defeat of Leipzig but followed that with a 1-0 home loss to Arsenal and 2-1 humiliation in Istanbul.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks to be running out of time and Ladbrokes make him 8-11 to be sacked before Christmas and have Mauricio Pochettino 1-2 to be next boss at Old Trafford.
United are nearer the bottom and top and face a massive test at an Everton side who were only knocked off the top last week.
James Rodriguez and Richarlison missed last week's defeat at Southampton but key man James could be back as is vital defender Lucas Digne.
Solsksjaer wanted this game to be put back 24 hours after United's trip to Turkey and it doesn't seem as if he's looking forward to a trip to Goodison.
If James makes it Everton have every chance at 2-1 with McBookie while Dominic Calvert-Lewin will fancy his chances against a defence guilty of some comical defending in Istanbul. The England striker is 5-1 at bet365 to score and 7-5 to net at any time.
Saturday's other two games are West Ham v Fulham and Crystal Palace v Leeds.
The Hammers are much improved and have taken plenty of credit from matches against the likes of Liverpool and Man City.
Points against the top guns are a bonus but Davie Moyes will see this as a must-win against a side that's conceded six in their last three away games and look out of depth in the Premier League. A Hammers win pays 17-20 at Unibet and looks fairly generous.
Big guns Man City and Liverpool meet on Sunday and it's such a tough one to call.
The minute Virgil van Dijk was ruled out punters would have favoured City but Liverpool have won all their games in the Dutchman's absence and hit top form to annihilate Atalanta 5-0 in midweek.
City, still without Sergio Aguero, haven't hit the heights but have won three in a row without conceding and beaten Liverpool three out of four at the Etihad.
Goals are probably the shout but in a game that could either way I'll side with the draw at 16-5 with bet365.
Arsenal should beat Aston Villa at a fair price of 8-11 with Unibet and in the early game back Spurs at West Brom.
Saturday Treble
- Everton +1 (12.30pm)
- Chelsea (5.30pm)
- West Ham (8pm)
- (31-10, Betfred)
In December 2020 we sadly 
