Expect a west London treble

With four of the top five Premier League sides going head-to-head this weekend it is an opportunity for Chelsea to narrow the gap at the top  and at least consolidate their position in the Champions League places.

They are currently 40/1 to regain the title and they need all three points at Carrow Road in the lunchtime kick-off on Saturday.

Chelsea hardly impressed against a much-improved Sunderland last time but Fernando Torres, again, suggested that he is on the verge of being back to his very best.

Favourite to score the opener.

But goals pay the rent and the Spanish striker is at least a couple of months in arrears.

AVB’s side are 4/7 to return from East Anglia with the points with the Canaries 5/1 and the draw 3s.

Torres is 19/4 favourite to score the opener and 5/4 to net at any time in the 90 minutes.

Norwich, who currently lie mid-table, are also on something of a roll at present with three wins on the spin but they were fortunate at The Hawthorns last weekend.

Indeed they are only 12/1 to be relegated despite being in the top half. Chelsea ought to win but their lack of pace continues to frustrate.

Fulham need to bounce back after a bitterly disappointing reverse at 10-man Blackburn and I think they will have too much for a Newcastle side who continue to grind out the results but are without their two stars, Demba Ba and Cheick Tiote, who are at the Africa Cup of Nations.

Fulham are even-money to maintain their recent good home record (I have expunged the United game from my memory) and that looks a fair enough price although the league table would suggest otherwise.

QPR limped into the fourth round of the FA Cup and a tasty clash with Chelsea, but the defeat in the North-East last weekend means the R’s have failed to find a win in their last nine league games and currently reside in 18th place – and are only 11/8 to return to the Championship.

Rangers entertain bottom club Wigan on Saturday and a victory could move them out of the relegation zone.

All three of the local sides are favourites this weekend and we bet 6/1 that Chelsea, Fulham and Rangers all win.

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