Chelsea return to Premiership action on Sunday when they travel to Everton for a fixture being shown on pay-per-view TV (2pm).

Claudio Ranieri's men will be hoping to find better form than they were showing just before the two-week break for internationals.

The Blues followed their disappointing UEFA Cup exit by Hapoel Tel Aviv with a far from convincing win over Ipswich Town.

The merchants of doom would have you believe that Chelsea's season lies in tatters. But while it is true that they have hardly pulled up any trees this season, it is worth remembering that Chelsea have lost just one of their 11 league matches so far.

The problem is that six draws have left them out of the top six but the Premiership table is far tighter than in any previous years and Chelsea are just five points behind leaders Leeds United.

l Paul Lagan on Chelsea in tomorrow's Wandsworth Borough News.

November 16, 2001 10:31