Chelsea needed to win this game. Their three top 4 rivals had all lost, they were at home and Eden Hazard was playing despite the concern over his ankle injury. Burnley were essentially safe too, avoiding the situation the London club had with Huddersfield last season, when the Terriers scraped a point to stay in the Premier League despite Chelsea dominating the game, however, in the end, that is exactly what happened again and there was a real sense of Deja vu for Chelsea fans.

The hosts came out all guns blazing and almost had the lead within the first two minutes when Ruben Loftus-Cheek couldn't quite control Tom Heaton's save from Hazard's original shot. Chelsea were in fact totally dominant and Gonzalo Higuain had an effort cleared fantastically well by Ben Mee off the line.

Chelsea then gave away a soft corner, with David Luiz the guilty culprit. The corner was originally dealt with by Cesar Azpilicueta before Jeff Hendrick smacked in a volley into the bottom right corner with Kepa totally unaware. Burnley took the lead with their first shot, after Chelsea had been dominant, it immediately seemed like a familiar story for the London club.

It did not take Chelsea long to respond however, with N'Golo Kanté finishing well after Hazard's superb trickery. Burnley barely had time to react before Chelsea were on the attack again, this time Higuain fired an effort past Heaton via the Cross bar, with Azpilicueta providing a superb back heel assist. Chelsea had a deserved lead and it seemed like it wouldn't be long before they added another.

Maurizio Sarri's men had 83% possession after 22 minutes and they had come close through Loftus-Cheek in the 19th minute, however, Burnley were the side to score the next goal. A free kick was given away, with David Luiz once again responsible, and Burnley had two free headers through Mee and Chris Wood before Ashley Barnes got his foot on the end of the second ball and squeezed it home.

Chelsea continued to push for another goal, with Jorginho, Higuain and Hazard all coming close before Callum Hudson-Odoi went down injured with what like a season ending achilles injury. Kanté then went off injured at half time, with Pedro and Mateo Kovacic the two chosen players for Sarri.

The second half was dull in comparison with the first. Chelsea continued to dominate but could not find a winner, whilst Chris Wood had an excellent chance to score a goal that would have given Burnley a second 2-3 victory at Stamford Bridge in as many years. The match ended with a skirmish that went on after the final whistle in the tunnel, with Kovacic being booked and Sarri sent to the stands.

In the end there was to be no winning goal for Chelsea in what was a frustrating evening for the London club. They did rise up to 4th, ahead of Arsenal, but had a golden opportunity to go 3rd and push a real claim for the top 4 spot. They sit on 67 points, alongside Tottenham but behind on goal difference, with Arsenal behind on 66 points and Manchester United sitting in 6th on 64 points after their 4-0 hammering at Everton.

Burnley stayed in 15th but the point earned at Stamford Bridge has all but assured their top flight status for next season, as they lie 9 points clear of 18th placed Cardiff City, and have a massively superior goal difference.

Jeff Hendrick

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