Blackburn will host Chelsea at Ewood Park on matchday eleven of the Premier League on Saturday 5th November 2011.

Blackburn have just drawn 3-3 at Norwich on Matchday 10. The visitors drew first blood at half-time through Hoilett after an eventful first half that saw missed opportunities on both sides. Rovers took the initiative early on and squandered some scoring opportunities from Formica and Yakubu.

The Canaries had their own missed opportunity when Morison hit the ball over the post after Tierney and Pilkington had gotten the hosts past down the left flank. However, Morison made amends by scoring the equalizer in the 53rd minute, only for Yakubu to put the visitors ahead in the 62nd minute and when Samba got Blackburn’s third goal two minutes later, the game seemed all but over. The Canaries had one foot in the door, with a goal from Johnson in the 82nd minute, and Holt converted a penalty in stoppage time to level the score at 3-3.

On matchday 10, Chelsea faced Arsenal at Stamford Bridge. Lampard, fueled by a brilliant cross from Mata, put the hosts ahead early, in the 14th minute. Van Persie got his team back on equal footing, with an equalizer in the 37th minute, when Ramsey found Gervinho on the run, and the Ivory Coast striker took out Cech and squared Van Persie, who only had to touch the ball into the unprotected net. But the hosts had the last laugh just before half-time, when captain Terry put them ahead 2-1.

The second half was sheer chaos as Arsenal mounted a fierce comeback led by Van Persie scoring a hat-trick, and Chelsea went down 5-3, with Mata scoring his third goal in the 81st minute, a case of very little. , too late

Head to head, Chelsea have established a 13-2 lead over Rovers, in the 20 league games between the teams. The last time they met was in January 2011, with Chelsea winning 2-0, in the match organized by them.

After 10 games this season, Blackburn are currently in the relegation zone (18th place) in the Premier League points table, while Chelsea are in fourth place. In 5 home games, Blackburn won just one and lost 4; Chelsea have won 2 of 5 away games, losing 2 and drawing the rest. In their last 10 league games, Blackburn have only won one, lost 6 and drawn 3; Chelsea won 6, lost 3 and drew one of their last 10.

Chelsea are the bookmakers’ favorites to win, and they will be keen to make amends after a boring draw against Belgian side Genk in the Champions League in midweek.

Blackburn’s starting XI against Norwich: Robinson, Lowe, Samba, Givet, Olsson, Rochina, Pedersen, Nzonzi, Hoilett, Formica, Yakubu

Chelsea’s starting eleven against Arsenal: Cech, Bosingwa, Ivanovic, Terry, Cole, Ramires, Mikel, Lampard, Mata, Sturridge, Torres