The Premier League returns after the international break with a fixture that, on paper, appears one-sided and a likely win for the visitors – but in the world’s best league, the underdog’s story is never far away.
Burnley vs Chelsea, an early 1:30 kick-off, sees Enzo Maresca’s team travel to Turf Moor in search of a win that would not only take them within touching distance of league leaders Arsenal, but also give them the consistency in the league fans have been yearning for. Scott Parker’s side will look to defy expectations and make a statement in front of their home fans.
With Chelsea pushing to climb the table and Burnley desperate to turn their performances into results so as to avoid getting dragged into the relegation zone, this clash promises far more intrigue than the league standings suggest.
Burnley, against Manchester United, was a tough nut to crack, and it only took a 97th-minute penalty from Bruno Fernandes to secure all three points for the Red Devils. If the club can perform in that same fearless manner against the Club World Cup Champions, they might surely have something to celebrate at the end of the 90 minutes.
Burnley vs Chelsea Preview
Burnley
The Clarets’ return to the Premier League has been tough. This season, they have suffered seven defeats in 11 games, while conceding 22 goals. The Clarets have struggled against teams in the top half of the Premier League, with four of their defeats coming against sides currently sitting in the top seven.
Scott Parker’s side sit 17th on 10 points, and are in a battle with West Ham, Wolves and Nottingham Forest to avoid the relegation zone. In the Burnley vs Chelsea game, he is expected to set them up to frustrate the visitors – if possible, tweaking their system by playing a five-man defence that would sit deep, stay compact, and look to capitalise on set-piece opportunities. His approach towards the game on Saturday will be geared towards grinding out a positive result and proving that Burnley can hold their own against the league’s stronger opposition.
With pressure building and the relegation battle tightening, their manager will hope his team can drop a performance that would spark a turnaround in their season when Chelsea come to town.
Chelsea
Despite being without key figures Cole Palmer and Levi Colwill – two players central to their style of play – Enzo Maresca’s side have remained impressive, grinding out results to climb into third place. After 11 games, they have scored the second-most goals in the league (21). Even without their talisman, the Blues remain among the league’s best for shots on target per game and lead the way in big chances created, tallying 37 so far.
Despite facing a Burnley side that has conceded 22 goals, fans are still sceptical as they are wary of the exact team that’ll show up against the Clarets. Could it be the team that saw out an impressive win against Liverpool weeks ago, or could it be the team that surrendered their 1-0 lead to another newly promoted team, Sunderland, going on to lose the game in the last minute?
Chelsea’s last three meetings with newly promoted sides have ended in either frustrating draws or disappointing defeats, and with another Championship newcomer on the horizon, they will be eager to break that pattern. This fixture offers the Blues a chance to reassert their dominance and prove they can take care of business against teams they are expected to beat.
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Key Players
Burnley
Jaidon Anthony
In a team filled with inconsistencies, Englishman Jaidon Anthony has been one of Burnley’s standout performers this season, producing four goals and one assist to sit as the club’s top scorer. His goals and assists in the Championship were instrumental in helping Burnley secure promotion to the Premier League, and he has since become a reliable outlet in the final third – a player capable of carrying the ball, creating transitions, and producing decisive moments when his side needs them most.
Against Chelsea, the Clarets will hope Anthony can once again be the difference-maker, using his pace and directness to exploit spaces on the break and give Burnley a fighting chance against one of the league’s toughest opponents.
Kyle Walker
Regarded as a Premier League legend, Kyle Walker – winner of six league titles with Manchester City as well as a Champions League – is an undisputed starter for Burnley, and his pace and years of experience have been invaluable to the team.
Having started all of Burnley’s games this season, he is also in contention to start against the Blues as his presence in the backline provides not only experience and composure but also the organisational discipline Burnley will need to cope with Chelsea’s attacking threats.
At 35, Walker is still very quick, which has always given him the ability to recover ground, read danger early, and organise the back line.
In matches like this one, Burnley will once again rely on Walker’s elite mentality and big-game pedigree to guide the team through difficult moments and keep them competitive against stronger opponents.
Chelsea
Estevao Willian
The excitement surrounding the young Brazilian since his days at Palmeiras has been fully justified by his displays for Chelsea. The Blues’ teenage sensation made an immediate impression from his very first pre-season appearance, and despite early concerns about his physicality and adaptation to English football, the 18-year-old has silenced the noise and allowed his talent to speak for itself.
Estevao, whose last goal came against Senegal in Brazil’s World Cup qualifiers, is tied with another Brazilian, João Pedro, as the Blues’ leading goalscorers this season. “Steve,” as he is fondly called by Chelsea faithful, has created three big chances despite lesser playing time and ranks fourth in the league for most dribbles per 90 minutes, averaging 3.7 with a dribble success of 43.8%.
It is unclear whether Enzo Maresca will start the Brazilian against Burnley, as he is carefully managing the player’s minutes and gradually easing him into English football. If he does start, though, fans can expect a dynamic presence in attack, with his creativity, pace, and technical skill likely to pose serious problems for Burnley’s defence.
Moises Caicedo
Ecuadorian Moises Caicedo has been a key figure in Enzo Maresca’s setup, operating in front of the defence and acting as a vital link between the backline and attack. This season, he has added goals to his résumé, showing an ability to arrive late in the box and contribute decisively in the final third, with his shot power and accuracy being one of his major strengths.
The midfield partnership of Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez provides a perfect balance for Maresca’s side. While Caicedo – who has been compared to Arsenal’s Declan Rice – offers defensive solidity, ball recovery, and energy, Fernandez brings creativity, vision, and forward thrust, making them a complementary duo capable of controlling games and dictating the tempo from midfield, which is crucial for any team with ambitions of pushing for the Premier League title or securing Champions League qualification.
Head to Head
Last eight Premier League clashes at Turf Moor:
- 1 Burnley vs Chelsea 4
- 0 Burnley vs Chelsea 4
- 0 Burnley vs Chelsea 3
- 2 Burnley vs Chelsea 4
- 0 Burnley vs Chelsea 4
- 1 Burnley vs Chelsea 2
- 1 Burnley vs Chelsea 1
- 1 Burnley vs Chelsea 3
Chelsea dominate recent history, unbeaten in their last eight games against Burnley – seven wins, one draw since 2014. At Turf Moor, the Blues have won five of the last five PL meetings, with a score aggregate of 19-3.
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Betting Tips
The last eight meetings between the sides have regularly seen multiple goals, with scorelines like 4-1, 4-0, and 4-2. And with Chelsea’s attack beginning to click of recent, there’s a high chance of another high-scoring encounter.
Chelsea have won five of the last five Premier League meetings against Burnley. With their strong record and current form, a Chelsea victory is highly likely.
Final Bet: Chelsea to win | Over 2.5 Goals | Chelsea Clean Sheet
Conclusion
A win for Burnley would provide much-needed breathing room, creating a gap between them and the relegation zone, as they are currently level on 10 points with West Ham.
A win would boost the squad’s confidence and morale, potentially giving them the momentum needed to tackle fixtures during the busy festive period as they aim to climb the table and secure Premier League survival.
While Chelsea, who would be careful not to underrate their opponents, will be looking to assert their quality and secure a win that could see them gain crucial ground in the Premier League title race, and also Champions League qualification, reinforcing their status as serious challengers.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / Pro Sports Images
Recording Date: 08.11.2025
