Chelsea’s Conte taking season ‘step by step’ ahead of Man City test

Star striker Diego Costa racked up 13 Premier League goals before Christmas but has struggled to keep up that form, scoring only four times since then.

“The Premier League is still open”, Fernandinho told the City website.

The hosts are seven points clear of Spurs, and 11 ahead of City, who drew 2-2 at Arsenal on Sunday after twice taking the lead. “It makes it more interesting, the championship”, Conte said.

Chelsea are at home so Tottenham will have to assume they will get a win, with anything less purely a bonus.

Chelsea remain in the driving seat to win their sixth league title in coach Antonio Conte’s first season in charge.

Eden Hazard returned to Chelsea’s starting XI against Palace, assisting Cesc Fabregas’ opener, but it was another Belgian in Christian Benteke who stole the show with an incredibly audacious goal which turned out to be the victor.

But Zaha levelled matters in the ninth minute, drilling home through a posse of defenders, and two minutes after his pass freed Benteke to dink a cocky finish over Thibaut Courtois.

Conte was philospical in defeat, his side’s first loss at Stamford Bridge since September and said his team must now concentrate on the next clash against Manchester City on Thursday morning (AEST).

Eric Dier and substitute Heung-min Son scored second-half goals for Tottenham, which earned a fourth straight league win. That experience could prove vital.

“We have a tough game against Chelsea away”. He had also made the fewest changes to his starting line-up of any boss in the Premier League but he was forced into a huge one against Palace. Their last home win against the Manchester side in the league was in 2013.

And Mourinho’s United once again drew at Old Trafford, a result which hasn’t overly surprised many Red Devils fans…

Chelsea have historically held the advantage in this fixture, but City did enjoy a 3-0 win the last time they visited the Bridge.

Liverpool hired a private jet to get Coutinho back from global duty in good time for the match and it proved to be a worthwhile investment.

Sadio Mane put Liverpool in front in the eighth minute, drilling in following a one-two with Roberto Firmino, but was later forced off by a knee injury. Liverpool already has attacking midfielder Adam Lallana out injured.

Merson added that he expects Tottenham will go to Swansea and record a 2-0 victory.