Chelsea vs. QPR: Key Issues and Decisions That Will Shape EPL Game

Chelsea will welcome west London rivals Queens Park Rangers to Stamford Bridge on Saturday, looking to continue their unbeaten run in the Premier League. The last time these two sides met in the league in 2013, QPR pulled off a shock 1-0 win through former Blue Shaun Wright-Phillips, and Jose Mourinho will want to prevent history from repeating itself this weekend.

Click through for the key issues and the selection decisions that will shape the outcome of this tie.

Fitness

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It seems that the worst of Chelsea’s injury crisis is over for now, with Diego Costa having returned to training this week, per Kieran Gill of the Mail Online. Mourinho said in his post-match interview, following the 2-1 Capital One Cup win over Shrewsbury Town, that the striker would be fit if everything is normal, which will give Didier Drogba a well-earned rest.

QPR manager Harry Redknapp hit the headlines when he accused midfielder Adel Taarabt of being three-stone overweight, igniting a very public row in the process. However, the club have since announced that the incident is in the past, per BBC Sport, and the midfielder could be in line for his second start of the season at Stamford Bridge.

Form

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Chelsea are the only team in the league yet to be defeated this season, with only four points dropped so far. By contrast, QPR are second from bottom of the league, having recorded their second league win of the season over Aston Villa on Monday.

Redknapp knows that he will have a tough task ahead of him if he is to emulate the success of 2013, and there is one issue in particular that stands in his way.

Morale

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The row between Redknapp and Taarabt is only one example of the infighting that has gone on at Loftus Road this season. A report from James Nursey of the Daily Mirror suggest that Rio Ferdinand’s three-match ban for insulting somebody on Twitter has been welcomed by his team-mates, while the defender’s dismal attitude is unlikely to boost the unity in the dressing room.

Chelsea do not seem to suffer from the same issues. The squad has jelled well since the summer, and they frequently share reports of training-ground pranks. If this match comes down to a test of team morale, there can be no doubt that the Blues will win.

Playing Away

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Chelsea’s home form this season has been on a par with that of Mourinho’s first spell in charge. The Blues have won all of their fixtures at Stamford Bridge, scoring 11 goals and conceding just two in the process.

Meanwhile, QPR have lost eight of their last nine away fixtures and have failed to score in six of the last seven matches they have played away from Loftus Road.

Derby Day

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All of these issues become less relevant when you factor in the ferocity of the fans on derby day. The 3,000 travelling fans will add their voices, heavily laced with vitriol, to what will be an excellent atmosphere at the Bridge. However, Chelsea supporters are generally unfazed by the R's and are likely to respond to their taunts with a less-polite version of “We don’t hate you because you’re not very good.”

Having already beaten one London rival this season, Chelsea will do everything they can to repeat that feat on Saturday.

All statistics per WhoScored.com.