Chelsea will be looking to get back on track when they face Ipswich Town tonight.
Ipswich vs Chelsea best bets
- Chelsea to win and both teams to score – 8/5 with bet365
- Chelsea to win the second half – 4/6 with BetMGM
- Cole Palmer to score any time – 10/11 with Paddy Power
Ipswich vs Chelsea odds
Find the latest match odds for Ipswich vs Chelsea. All odds are provided by our best football betting sites. Odds are subject to change.
Ipswich Town vs Chelsea predictions
Chelsea’s Premier League title chances have taken a hit over the festive period.
A 0-0 draw with Everton followed by a 2-1 home defeat by Fulham have seen Enzo Maresca’s men lose ground on leaders Liverpool, who have beaten Tottenham Hotspur, Leicester City and West Ham United.
A trip to Ipswich Town gives Chelsea an opportunity to close the gap, but even a win at Portman Road would leave them seven points adrift of top spot having played a game more than Liverpool.
The bookies make the Reds strong odds-on favourites to win the title and it is difficult to argue with that assessment.
It is worth remembering, though, that no one expected Chelsea to challenge right at the top before a ball had been kicked in 2024/25. Most pundits tipped them to miss out on the top four, so in that regard Maresca’s side are ahead of schedule.
Chelsea occupy the final guaranteed Champions League qualification spot as things stand, with a four-point gap separating them from fifth-placed Manchester City. A victory on Monday would give them a little more breathing space.
Chelsea have the youngest squad in the division, so it was always going to be difficult for them to avoid bouts of inconsistency. Still, it is important that they nip this blip in the bud as quickly as possible. Maresca does not want it to become a sustained downturn in results.
The Italian will draw confidence from Chelsea’s excellent record on the road. While the west Londoners rank a lowly ninth in the home table, they are second in the away equivalent, behind only Liverpool. Chelsea are one of only four teams (Nottingham Forest, West Ham United and Ipswich Town are the others) to have collected more points at opposition grounds than their own.
This Chelsea team is a work in progress, but given their current position it would be a disappointment if they missed out on the Champions League.
In order to realise their objective of qualification for Europe’s foremost tournament, Chelsea could really do with tightening up at the back. The expected goals data shows they have given up more chances than the likes of Crystal Palace and Everton. In fact, only eight teams have leakier backlines on that measure.
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Ipswich Town vs Chelsea betting tips
Both teams need the points for different reasons as Ipswich Town entertain Chelsea.
Chelsea to win and both teams to score
Ipswich Town are up against it in their bid to avoid relegation straight back to the Championship.
Unsurprisingly after back-to-back promotions, Kieran McKenna’s side look a little short of quality at this level.
No one can question Ipswich’s commitment to the cause and, despite having amassed two fewer points than Leicester City, they have arguably been the most impressive member of the promoted trio.
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Ipswich rank 18th for goals scored, but we still like their chances of making the net ripple against Chelsea.
The Blues are defensively frail compared to most of the teams around them. They should win at Portman Road, but a clean sheet will probably elude them.
⚽ Tip Chelsea to win and both teams to score at 8/5 with bet365 ⚽
Chelsea to win the second half
Chelsea suffered late heartbreak on Boxing Day, as Rodrigo Muniz struck in second-half stoppage time to give Fulham all three points against their west London rivals.
Generally, though, Chelsea have been pretty strong from minutes 45 to 90. That is particularly true on their travels.
Only Liverpool and Nottingham Forest have better second-half records in away games than Chelsea, who have not lost a single second period on unfamiliar soil.
Ipswich, for their part, have the worst overall second-half record in the division, below even last-placed Southampton.
The Tractor Boys will aim to make a fast start in front of their own fans, but Chelsea’s quality should make the difference as the match goes on.
⚽ Back Chelsea to win the second half at 4/6 with BetMGM ⚽
Cole Palmer to score any time
If Chelsea are to enjoy a successful season, Cole Palmer will be central to their efforts.
The former Manchester City man is a phenomenal footballer. In just 18 months as a Premier League regular, he has established himself as one of the best players in the division.
Only Mohamed Salah and Erling Haaland have found the back of the net more often than Palmer, whose strike against Fulham on Boxing Day was his 12th of the campaign.
Palmer frequently gets himself in dangerous positions inside the penalty area and he is capable of scoring from outside the 18-yard box too.
Ipswich will have their hands full in trying to keep the England international quiet.
⚽ Choose Cole Palmer to score any time at 10/11 with Paddy Power ⚽
📺 How to watch Ipswich Town vs Chelsea
- Location: Portman Road, Ipswich, England.
- Date and time: Monday 30th December, 7.45pm.
- How to watch: Not being shown live in the UK.
Read more about the 2024/25 football season
About the author
Greg Lea
Greg Lea is a freelance football writer from London. He predominantly covers the Premier League and has had work published by the Guardian, FourFourTwo, ESPN and others.
Follow Greg on X: @GregLeaFootball
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