Norwich v Chelsea

By Guy Mowbray
BBC Match of the Day commentator Venue: Carrow RoadDate: Saturday, 21 JanuaryKick-off: 1245 GMTCoverage: Watch live on Sky Sports 2 and highlights on Match of the Day; listen on BBC Radio 5 live and local radio; text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles

Saturday, 21 January 2012

Premier League

Gary Cahill (r) may have to wait for his Chelsea debut Norwich will be without Ritchie De Laet, whose season-long loan from Manchester United has been cancelled.

Back-up keeper Declan Rudd is out with an ankle injury, so 19-year-old Jed Steer will again be a substitute.

Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas has hinted that new signing Gary Cahill will begin on the bench at Carrow Road.

Branislav Ivanovic and Michael Essien are fit, but John Obi Mikel remains out, while Didier Drogba and Salomon Kalou are at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Eleven points is the key margin for both sides ahead of Chelsea's first visit to Norwich in nearly seven years. It's how far Norwich are away from the relegation places, and how far Chelsea are from the title pace being set by Manchester City.

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Villas-Boas has a decision to make over putting new signing Gary Cahill straight in, but he probably won't hesitate to write "Fernando Torres" on the team sheet

Canaries boss Paul Lambert insisted after last week's win at West Brom that his only aim remains staying just above the bottom three, but most stopped even thinking about Norwich as candidates for the drop a while back. Very recent history shows that Lambert is right to err on the "glass is half empty" side of thinking - Blackpool had the same points total (28) at this stage last year.

Like the Seasiders, Norwich have strode out confidently amongst England's elite, playing with the same attacking philosophy that has earned them back-to-back promotions. As Lambert said a week ago "we might not win every game, but we certainly make a go of it". Against Chelsea they're going for three successive Premier League wins for the first time since 1993, when the third victory came against… Chelsea.

The Blues have also won their last two league games, and are unbeaten in five matches away from home. Manager Andre Villas-Boas will be stressing to his players how important it is to continue those runs with a win at Carrow Road, especially with the rest of the top five playing each other on Sunday. Some or all will drop points, and Chelsea must take full advantage.

After fielding the same side in successive league games for the first time, Villas-Boas has a decision to make over putting new signing Gary Cahill straight in, but he probably won't hesitate to write "Fernando Torres" on the team sheet. Frank Lampard's tap-in against Sunderland owed everything to a superb effort against the crossbar from Torres, with signs throughout the game that it won't be long before the goals come again for the Spaniard.

The only certainty for a full Carrow Road to see will be the end of at least one 100% record. Both teams have won three out of three in 2012.

Head-to-head

Norwich have won four and lost four of their nine Premier League games against Chelsea, drawing once. Their most recent victory was a 3-0 success at Carrow Road in December 1994.The Blues have won their last five league and cup games against the Canaries, scoring 18 times and conceding just twice.

Norwich

Norwich have failed to keep a clean sheet in their opening 21 league games (as have Blackburn). It is the longest top-flight run without a shut-out from the start of the season since Sheffield United (26 matches) in 1975-76.No club outside of the top five have scored more league goals than Norwich. Blackburn are the only side who can match the Canaries' tally of 32.Opta statistics show that 41% of Norwich's league goals have been headers - the highest proportion in the top flight. Only 11% of the goals they have conceded were headers - the lowest figure in the division. They have only lost one of their last eight games in league and cup, and have won their previous three.

Chelsea

The Blues have collected 51 cards (48 yellow and three red), more than any other Premier League side this season.Victory would give Chelsea four successive domestic victories for the first time under Andre Villas-Boas. Fernando Torres has failed to score in his last 16 appearances for club and country.Frank Lampard's last four league goals have been match-winners for Chelsea.The Londoners have drawn 99 away games in the Premier League.