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Preview: Chelsea vs. Queens Park Rangers

Preview: Chelsea vs. QPR
© PA Photos
Sports Mole looks ahead to Chelsea's London derby with Queens Park Rangers at Stamford Bridge.

These London rivals both need the three points on Wednesday evening at Stamford Bridge for very different reasons.

Hosting Chelsea still have hopes of challenging for the Premier League title - despite being 11 points behind leaders Manchester United - while visiting QPR are rooted to the bottom and are eight points from safety.

Rafael Benitez's appointment as Chelsea manager in November was met by resistance by a large number of the club's supporters, but under his guidance the team have lost just twice in 11 outings.

In contrast, QPR have lost their last three matches and are yet to win away from Loftus Road. What's more, the R's have failed to win at Stamford Bridge since April 1983.

Harry Redknapp has been tipped to make a number of changes to the side that lost 3-0 to Liverpool last time out, with Fabio and Esteban Granero expected to come into the starting lineup.

Meanwhile, veteran midfielder Frank Lampard may drop to the bench, despite the fact that he scored both goals during Chelsea's 2-1 win over Everton on Sunday afternoon.

Goalkeeper Petr Cech will also not feature because of an ankle injury.

Recent form

Chelsea: DLWWWW

QPR: DDWLLL

Possible starting lineups:

Chelsea: Turnbull; Cole, Cahill, Ivanovic, Azpilicueta; Mikel, Ramires, Oscar; Mata, Moses; Torres

QPR: Cesar; Onuoha, Nelsen, Mbia, Fabio; Diakite, Granero, Taarabt, Faurlin, Wright-Phillips; Mackie

Sports Mole says: 3-1


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Written by
Liam Apicella

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Steven Pienaar and Frank Lampard battle for the ball on December 30, 2012
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1Liverpool19144147192846
2Arsenal20117239182140
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest20124429191040
4Chelsea20106439241536
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle20105534221235
6Manchester CityMan City2010463627934
7Bournemouth209653023733
8Aston Villa209563032-232
9Fulham207943027330
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2061043029128
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12Tottenham HotspurSpurs20731042301224
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd206592328-523
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham206592439-1523
15Crystal Palace204972128-721
16Everton193881525-1017
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2044123145-1416
18Ipswich TownIpswich2037102035-1516
19Leicester CityLeicester2035122344-2114
20Southampton2013161244-326


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