It has seen Thomas Tuchel’s side strengthen their grip on third place ahead of a resurgent Arsenal, while Norwich’s slim survival hopes have been hit by a run of four straight defeats.

Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat to Brentford was a further blow and left Dean Smith’s side at the foot of the table with games running out to produce an unlikely escape.

Team news

Thomas Tuchel said ahead of the game at Carrow Road: “Everybody was on the training pitch [on Wednesday] except for Ben Chilwell and Reece James, who has muscular problems after three matches - not his injured leg but the other leg. We need an examination.

“We thought he could be on the pitch today but no. He needs further examination.”

Marcos Alonso (Covid) is set to return along with Cesar Azpilicueta (muscle), with the Spanish duo likely to take up their usual positions at wing-back against the Canaries.

Callum Hudson-Odoi missed the win at Burnley due to a foot problem and is not expected to start at Norwich, with Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner restricted to the bench again.

Norwich are expecting Lucas Rupp to be available after missing the Brentford match due to a hamstring injury. Billy Gilmour is unable to face his parent club while Adam Idah and Ozan Kabak are out.

Predicted line-ups

 Chelsea XI: Mendy; Chalobah, Silva, Rudiger; Azpilicueta, Kante, Jorginho, Alonso; Mount, Pulisic; Havertz.

Norwich XI: Krul; Aarons, Gibson, Hanley, Williams; Lees-Melou, Normann, McLean; Rashica, Pukki, Sargent

Norwich have struggled badly against the teams are the upper end of the table this season, with a 7-0 defeat to Chelsea, 5-0 to Manchester City and Arsenal and 3-0 to Liverpool.