Just as quickly as they entered the Premier League title race, Chelsea have exited the race after losing 2-0 to Ipswich Town at Portman Road on Monday.
WATCH — Ipswich v Chelsea full match replay
Since they moved to within two points of Liverpool on Dec. 15, the Blues (4th - 35 points) are winless with just 1 goal scored in 3 games. The gap is now 10 points with Chelsea having played one more game as well.
On the flip side, Ipswich have their first home win this season and it was a win nearly 23 years in the making. The last time Ipswich won a home PL game, the date was April 24, 2002. Though they remain in the bottom-3 at the halfway point of the season, the Tractor Boys (18th - 15 points) are now just one point behind Wolves (17th) and two behind Everton (16th).
O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?
All that possession (76 percent!!!), and for what? Hasn’t anyone ever told Chelsea it’s more about quality than quantity? Ah, never mind then. Anyway, Chelsea have a real problem being intentional with their possession right now. Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson both have 1 goal, 0 assists in the last 4 games, since Romeo Lavia has been out injured. Without him in the team, Chelsea have been unable to string together passes and advance the ball at the same time. The midfield duo of Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez is as short on creativity as it is long on price. Palmer is at his best when he can drift out wide and venture into the penalty area, but without Lavia there to bring the ball into the final third, Palmer is forced to come deep to get the ball right where the opposition want him to have it.
Player ratings - Ipswich vs Chelsea
What’s next?
- Crystal Palace vs Chelsea — Saturday, 10 am ET
- Fulham vs Ipswich — Sunday, 9 am ET
Ipswich vs Chelsea live updates - by Andy Edwards
Ipswich vs Chelsea live score: 2-0
Goalscorers: Liam Delap (12' - PK), Omari Hutchinson (53')
GOAL! Ipswich 2-0 Chelsea: Delap pounces on Disasi-strous giveaway, finds Hutchinson (53')
OFFSIDE! Joao Felix equalizes for Chelsea, but VAR rules him narrowly offside (26')
Another brilliant ball from Cole Palmer finds Joao Felix at the back post, but he was leaning just offside when it left Palmer’s foot.
#IPSCHE – 24’ VAR OVERTURN
— Premier League Match Centre (@PLMatchCentre) December 30, 2024
Felix’s goal was initially awarded on-field. VAR checked and determined that he was in an offside position and recommended that the goal was disallowed. pic.twitter.com/urbBh4i115
GOAL! Ipswich 1-0 Chelsea: Delap converts from the penalty spot (12')
Chelsea starting lineup
Jorgensen - Disasi, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella - Caicedo, Fernandez, Palmer - Madueke, Felix, Nkunku
Ipswich starting lineup
Walton - O’Shea, Woolfenden, Greaves, Davis - Morsy, Cajuste, Hutchinson - Burns, Broadhead, Delap
How to watch Ipswich vs Chelsea live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 2:45 pm ET Monday (December 30)
Venue: Portman Road — Ipswich
TV Channel: Peacock
Streaming: Watch live on Peacock
Enzo Maresca insisted at the time that the Blues (3rd - 35 points) were not genuine title contenders due to their lack of experience in such matters, and perhaps we should have listened to him. After winning 5 games in a row (while scoring 16 goals) to move to within 2 points of leaders Liverpool, Chelsea’s next two games have been arguably their worst results of the season — 0-0 away to Everton, followed by a 2-1 home defeat to Fulham despite leading after 81 minutes. The gap to Liverpool, who still have a game in hand, is now 7 points, so it’s top four or bust with the likes of Newcastle, Manchester City and Aston Villa all at least 6 points behind Chelsea.
There hasn’t been much to celebrate at Portman Road this season, with Ipswich (19th - 12 points) the only side yet to win a game at home this season. The Tractor Boys have only scored 6 goals in 9 games and were battered 4-0 by Newcastle in their last home game. And yet, 3 points is all that separates them from Wolves — red-hot winners under new manager Vitor Pereira — in 17th. Everton (17 points), Crystal Palace (17) and Wolves (15) are the only ones still within double-digit points, while the three newly promoted sides occupy the bottom three as 2024 draws to a close.
Ipswich team news, focus
OUT: Axel Tuanzebe (hamstring), George Hirst (knee), Janoi Donacien (groin), Chiedozie Ogbene (achilles - out for season) | QUESTIONABLE: Massimo Luongo (illness)
Chelsea team news, focus
OUT: Mykhailo Mudryk (suspension), Reece James (hamstring), Wesley Fofana (hamstring), Benoit Badiashile (undisclosed), Omari Kellyman (thigh) | QUESTIONABLE: Romeo Lavia (undisclosed), Carney Chukwuemeka (illness), Kieran Dewsbury-Hall (knock)
Ipswich vs Chelsea prediction
Chelsea have looked a bit weak and frail without Romeo Lavia to manage the game in midfield, and that should give Ipswich hope that there will be chances for them. What a way to end an already magical year. Ipswich 2-1 Chelsea.
