BURNLEY VS CHELSEA: PREVIEW

Maurizio Sarri takes his Chelsea team to Turf Moor on Sunday to face a Burnley side who were thumped at Manchester City last weekend.

The Blues are still unbeaten this season following Ross Barkley’s 96th-minute equaliser against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge last Saturday and haven’t lost at Turf Moor since 1983.

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TEAM NEWS:

Burnley boss Sean Dyche is still without defender Ben Gibson while Aaron Lennon will miss out with a virus.

Irish midfielder Robbie Brady is in contention to make his first appearance since last December after recovering from a knee tendon injury.

Eden Hazard is a doubt for Chelsea after missing Thursday’s Europa League tie with BATE Borisov with a back injury but is expected to feature.

Source: Sky Sports

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MANAGER'S COMMENTS:

Dyche will be hoping to face a Hazard-less Chelsea side on Sunday and has praised the Belgian’s scintillating recent form:

"I think he's shown his flexibility as a player, under different managers as well. I think most managers would like to have the chance to fit him in their side.”

The Burnley boss also reflected on Saturday’s punishing defeat at the Etihad:

"There was no big drama after that game. We're not measuring against them [Man City] really.

"Our time in the Premier League has not been about us beating the 'super powers' as I call them.”

Source: Manchester City FC

After Chelsea’s win on Thursday night in Europe, Sarri admitted that he still has doubts over Ruben Loftus-Cheek despite the midfielder’s hat-trick against BATE:

“He's improving but also he needs to improve the defensive phase.”

The Italian also admitted he’s considering his midfield options ahead of the trip to Burnley:

“At the moment we have four midfielders for two positions, and three of them with the same characteristics, or better, three offensive midfielders. Only N'Golo Kante is a defensive midfielder.

“I have to put 11 players in the starting XI, but have 28 players! Maybe I ask to play 16, 17 players?”

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STATS:

Burnley have lost six out of their last seven league games at Turf Moor on a Sunday.

No Chelsea manager has stayed unbeaten after their first 10 Premier League matches in charge - Sarri is currently on nine.

Ross Barkley will become the first Englishman to score in 3 successive Premier League games since Frank Lampard in 2013.

Chelsea have conceded on each of their Premier League visits to Turf Moor.