Chelsea vs Ipswich - Preview, prediction, team news and lineups

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·12 April 2025

Chelsea vs Ipswich - Preview, prediction, team news and lineups

Ipswich are seeking to complete a first league-double over Chelsea since 1978/79 although, to achieve this, they'll have to win at Stamford Bridge for the first time since then, without a victory in 11 subsequent visits.

Chelsea vs Ipswich Town Preview

Can Chelsea continue their winning streak at home? The Blues have won five successive league games at Stamford Bridge, most-recently beating fierce rivals Spurs, form that is very much keeping their Champions League charge alive. That's because, on the road, Enzo Maresca's side are without a win in eight in the league, held to a goalless draw at Brentford last Sunday, thankful to Robert Sánchez for the point they earned across West London. Thus, the Blues remain fourth, albeit they could end the weekend as low as seventh, meaning they simply cannot afford to slip-up here.

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On Thursday night, Chelsea all but secured their place in the Conference League semi-finals, swatting aside Legia Warszawa 3-0 at Stadion Wojska Polskiego. After a goalless first half, youngster Tyrique George broke the deadlock, his first-ever senior goal, before substitute Noni Madueke struck twice. Now set to face Djurgården or Rapid Wien in the last four, will the Blues collect three vital points here, as attention turns back to Premier League commitments?

As for Ipswich Town, last weekend's defeat all but mathematically rubber stamped their return to the EFL Championship. Despite taking the lead through Liam Delap, two late goals saw the Tractor Boys beaten 2-1 by fourth-bottom Wolverhampton Wanderers at Portman Road.

Three days earlier, Kieran McKenna's team had seemingly given themselves hopes by beating Bournemouth, just their fourth win of the campaign, but the Blues are now a whopping 12 points from safety with only 21 points left to play for. So, the Ipswich faithful will simply be seeking to enjoy their last few weeks in the Premier League, because who knows if they'll be back any time soon. Arguably, the Tractor Boys' most-memorable victory of the season came against Chelsea in December, 2-0 winners in Suffolk, so can they now cause an even bigger upset at Stamford Bridge?

Chelsea vs Ipswich Town Head-to-Head Record

Matches Played: 46.

Chelsea Wins: 26. Draws: 10. Ipswich Town Wins: 10.

Chelsea Team News

Enzo Maresca went fairly strong in Warsaw on Thursday, with Cole Palmer seeing 45 minutes of action, while Reece James also started, before Marc Cucurella, Levi Colwill and goalscorer Noni Madueke were all introduced.

Nevertheless, Robert Sánchez will be back in goal, while Trevoh Chalobah, Enzo Fernández, Pedro Neto and Nicolas Jackson will also return, refreshed having spent Thursday on the substitutes' bench. Moisés Caicedo, another who will be back in, has to be careful as he's one booking away from a two-match ban.

Chelsea predicted lineup vs Ipswich Town: (4-2-3-1): Sánchez; Gusto, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; Fernández, Caicedo, Madueke, Palmer, Neto; Jackson.

Chelsea Players to Watch vs Ipswich Town

Cole Palmer was replaced at half time in Poland, now without a goal in 13 appearances across all competitions, so can he break this barren streak back at Stamford Bridge?

Ipswich Town Team News

Arijanet Muriç, Chiedozie Ogbene, Wes Burns and Sammie Szmodics remain sidelined, while there is optimism that both Leif Davis and Omari Hutchinson could return, the latter desperate to start against the side who sold him, having scored a screamer in the reverse fixture.

In his absence, Ben Johnson continues to be deployed further forward, chosen over Jack Clarke and Jaden Philogene. Star striker Liam Delap will sit out the Blues' next two fixtures, Arsenal (H) and Newcastle (A) if cautioned, a tightrope he's already been walking for four matches.

Ipswich Town predicted lineup vs Chelsea: (4-2-3-1): Palmer; Tuanzebe, O'Shea, Burgess, Davis; Cajuste, Morsy, Johnson, Hutchinson, Enciso; Delap.

Ipswich Town Player to Watch vs Chelsea

Since arriving from West Brom in January, goalkeeper Alex Palmer has made 26 saves in seven Premier League appearances, so can he now earn his first-ever top divison clean sheet?

Chelsea vs Ipswich Town Prediction

We cannot see beyond a home win. Chelsea have claimed many emphatic home wins over struggling opposition in recent weeks, a trend that's likely to continue on Sunday: Chelsea 3-0 Ipswich Town.