Chelsea vs West Bromwich Albion. Premier League.
Stamford BridgeAttendance40,945.
Wednesday 13 January 2016 19:50, UK
Diego Costa has won his fitness race, with the Chelsea striker set to start against West Bromwich Albion on Wednesday night.
Costa hobbled off the pitch during Chelsea's FA Cup tie against Scunthorpe last weekend with a knee injury, but manager Guus Hiddink has confirmed he will be fit to face the Baggies.
Tony Pulis' side are currently unbeaten in their previous three matches, having won their last two Premier League games against Newcastle United and Stoke City.
However, Chelsea have seen an improvement in results themselves. Since Jose Mourinho was sacked, they've been unbeaten in their last five encounters and their last league contest was an impressive 3-0 away win against Crystal Palace on January 3.
Team news
Forward Eden Hazard remains out with a groin injury and is working individually with the physios to return to fitness.
Loic Remy is back in contention following a calf problem, but fellow striker Radamel Falcao (thigh) is out.
Jonas Olsson and Victor Anichebe, meanwhile, are major doubts for West Brom's trip to the capital.
The duo are struggling with hamstring injuries which have kept them out of the Baggies' last two games.
Ben Foster is available after making his comeback in Saturday's 2-2 FA Cup draw with Bristol City, although Boaz Myhill could return after deputising for the goalkeeper during his 10 months out with a knee injury.
Opta stats
Chelsea have lost just one of their last six Premier League meetings with West Brom (W3 D2 L1), while the Baggies have lost more top-flight games against Chelsea than versus any other opponent (14).
Hiddink has lost just one of his 16 Premier League games as a manager (W12 D3 L1) and has the best win ratio of any coach to have taken charge of 4 or more games in the competition (75 per cent).
DCosta has scored as many goals in two league games under Hiddink this season (3) as he had in 14 Premier League appearances under Mourinho and Steve Holland in 2015-16 (3). Costa has had a hand in three goals (two goals, one assist) in three top-flight encounters against West Brom.
The Baggies haven't scored in the opening 15 minutes of a Premier League game since May 18th 2015 and are the only side yet to do so this season. In fact, this goal was scored by Saido Berahino versus Chelsea and was also the last goal that Chelsea have conceded in the opening 15 minutes of a Premier League match.
West Brom have scored more headed goals than any other Premier League side this season (9).
West Brom have played the highest proportion of their passes long in the Premier League so far in 2015-16 (21.7 per cent).
Merson's prediction
Chelsea seem to have turned a corner under Hiddink. They look hard to beat, efficient and are scoring goals - everything they were when they won the league last year.
West Brom had a shocking result in the FA Cup. I know they drew, but the replay is a game they don't need. I think Chelsea are going to go on a bit of run and could still get top four.
PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0 (5/1 with Sky Bet)
Betting
Chelsea are odds-on shots with Sky Bet to extend their unbeaten Premier League run to five matches with victory over 13/2 shots West Brom, with the draw trading at 18/5.
Chelsea are showing signs of a recovery under Hiddink, but are 7/1 shots to secure a top-four finish. Costa has scored four goals in as many games and the Spain international is the pick of Sky Sports pundits Jamie Redknapp, Phil Thompson and Matt Le Tissier to open the scoring against the Baggies.
See all the odds and match tips here.
