Venue: Stamford Bridge, Fulham, London
Competition: Barclays Premier League
Kickoff Time: 19:45
Chelsea Team News:
Nicholas Anelka returns from a knee injury but Yuri Zhirkov's absence is extended further, along with the missing Alex and Yossi Benayoun. Jose Bosingwa returned as a sub at the Emirates.
Without a win in six matches and failing to cohere in attack, defence and especially midfield, the Blues simply have to win this match. Carlo Ancelotti must also find the right combinations all over the pitch to arrest the alarming sloppiness that has infected the Double winners' passing game and team play.
Bolton Team News:
The Trotters have lost their creative midfielder Chung-Yong Lee to the Asia Cup, where he will represent South Korea. Martin Petrov is likely to return to left midfield.
Wales international Sam Ricketts may retain his place at full-back should Gretar Steinsson, injured in the 2-0 win over West Bromwich Albion, not recover. Bolton's main attacking threats are well-known to Chelsea. Target man Kevin Davies and top scorer (with nine) Jonas Elmander, provided by Fabrice Muamba and a revitalised Matt Taylor, have 15 goals between them in this campaign.
Tamir Cohen is absent following the death of his father, former Liverpool star Avi.
Chelsea v Bolton in all competitions:
Games played 111
Chelsea wins 47
Bolton wins 36
Draws 28
Head-to-head in the League at Stamford Bridge
Games played 52
Chelsea wins 27
Bolton wins 12
Draws 13
Biggest league win at Stamford Bridge for each team
Chelsea 5-1 Bolton - 23/12/2001, 15/10/2005
Chelsea 0-3 Bolton - 18/01/1922
Chelsea stats and Milestones:
Competition: Barclays Premier League
Kickoff Time: 19:45
Chelsea Team News:
Nicholas Anelka returns from a knee injury but Yuri Zhirkov's absence is extended further, along with the missing Alex and Yossi Benayoun. Jose Bosingwa returned as a sub at the Emirates.
Without a win in six matches and failing to cohere in attack, defence and especially midfield, the Blues simply have to win this match. Carlo Ancelotti must also find the right combinations all over the pitch to arrest the alarming sloppiness that has infected the Double winners' passing game and team play.
Bolton Team News:
The Trotters have lost their creative midfielder Chung-Yong Lee to the Asia Cup, where he will represent South Korea. Martin Petrov is likely to return to left midfield.
Wales international Sam Ricketts may retain his place at full-back should Gretar Steinsson, injured in the 2-0 win over West Bromwich Albion, not recover. Bolton's main attacking threats are well-known to Chelsea. Target man Kevin Davies and top scorer (with nine) Jonas Elmander, provided by Fabrice Muamba and a revitalised Matt Taylor, have 15 goals between them in this campaign.
Tamir Cohen is absent following the death of his father, former Liverpool star Avi.
Chelsea v Bolton in all competitions:
Games played 111
Chelsea wins 47
Bolton wins 36
Draws 28
Head-to-head in the League at Stamford Bridge
Games played 52
Chelsea wins 27
Bolton wins 12
Draws 13
Biggest league win at Stamford Bridge for each team
Chelsea 5-1 Bolton - 23/12/2001, 15/10/2005
Chelsea 0-3 Bolton - 18/01/1922
Chelsea stats and Milestones:
- Chelsea's home record in the league this season is six wins against West Brom, Stoke, Blackpool, Arsenal, Wolves and Fulham, one draw with Everton and a defeat to Sunderland.
- The defeat at the Emirates was Chelsea's fifth in the last 10 in all competitions.
- Chelsea's victory against MŠK Žilina on 23 November was their only win in the last eight matches.
- The Blues have fallen behind seven times in their last nine league games.
- Chelsea have scored five goals in the last eight league games and won just six points from the last possible 24.
- Chelsea have conceded the fewest goals, 15 from 18 games, in the Barclays Premier League this term.
- If selected, Nicholas Anelka will make his 100th Premier League appearance for Chelsea.
- Petr Cech is looking for his 150th clean sheet in his 287th game for the Blues.
- Salomon Kalou's next strike will be his 50th Chelsea goal.
- KEY STAT: Chelsea are hoping to extend their unbeaten run against Bolton in all competitions to 15 matches.
- Although Bolton have lost their last two away games, only Man Utd have lost fewer than the Trotters four games.
- Before Tuesday's games, Wanderers had the eighth best away record in the division with 10 points from a possible 27. They have won at West Ham and Wolves, drawn with Aston Villa, West Brom, Wigan and Everton and lost at Arsenal, Man City and Sunderland.
- Bolton's clean sheet on Boxing Day was only their second in the Premier League this season and first since the opening day against Fulham at the Reebok Stadium. Seventeen games without one was the longest current run in the Premier League. They have yet to achieve one away from home this term.
- Bolton have the Pemier League's second worst disciplinary record with 37 yellow and four red cards (before Tuesday's games).
