Chelsea is in a weird spot right now. Honestly, if you’re a Blues fan, you’ve probably spent the last week checking the medical reports more often than the league table. Liam Rosenior has just stepped into the hottest seat in London, taking over after the Enzo Maresca era hit a wall on New Year's Day. He's already had a wild introduction—a 5-1 FA Cup demolition of Charlton followed by a chaotic 3-2 loss to Arsenal in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg.
But forget the cups for a second. The Chelsea FC premiership fixtures are where the real drama is hiding.
Right now, Chelsea sits in 8th place. 31 points. They are a massive 18 points behind league leaders Arsenal. But the gap to the Champions League spots isn't actually that scary. It’s reachable, but the schedule coming up is basically a gauntlet designed to test whether this young squad has any actual backbone.
The January London Gauntlet
January is effectively "London Derby Month" at Stamford Bridge.
First up is Brentford at home on Saturday, January 17. Kick-off is at 3:00 PM. This is Rosenior’s first Premier League game at the Bridge, and he’s desperate to get Reece James and Cole Palmer back on the pitch. Both missed the Arsenal cup game—James with a hip knock and Palmer with a groin issue. Rosenior confirmed they’re training, but with a virus currently sweeping through the Cobham training ground, the starting XI is anyone's guess.
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After the Bees, Chelsea travels to Crystal Palace on Sunday, January 25 (2:00 PM). Then they wrap up the month by hosting West Ham on Saturday, January 31 at 5:30 PM.
These aren't just games. They're identity tests. If they drop points here, the European dream for 2026 is basically cooked.
February and March: No Breathing Room
The schedule doesn't get any kinder when the calendar flips.
- Feb 7: Wolves (A) - 3:00 PM
- Feb 10: Leeds United (H) - 7:30 PM (Midweek under the lights)
- Feb 21: Burnley (H) - 3:00 PM
- Feb 28: Arsenal (A) - 3:00 PM
The trip to the Emirates at the end of February is the one everyone has circled. After the 3-2 cup thriller, there’s legitimate bad blood brewing.
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March is even more technical. They go to Aston Villa on March 4, host Newcastle on March 14, and then head to Goodison Park for Everton on March 21. Somewhere in the middle of all this, they have to navigate the Champions League knockout phases. It’s a lot for a squad that’s currently relying on teenagers like Estêvão and Josh Acheampong to provide the spark.
The Brutal April "Big Six" Block
If Chelsea is still in the hunt for Top 4 by April, they’ll have earned it. Just look at this stretch:
- Manchester City (H) - April 11
- Manchester United (H) - April 18
- Brighton (A) - April 25
Facing City and United back-to-back at home is a season-defining moment. This is where the Chelsea FC premiership fixtures get really spicy. By this point, Liam Delap and Jamie Gittens—who have been struggling with illness lately—will need to be firing on all cylinders. Delap and Enzo Fernández are currently tied as the club's top league scorers with 6 goals each. That’s a low number for April. Someone needs to step up.
The Final Countdown in May
The season ends with a mix of the sentimental and the terrifying.
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On May 9, Chelsea heads to Anfield to face Liverpool. Then, for the final home game of the season, Tottenham Hotspur visits the Bridge on May 17. Nothing says "season finale" like a high-stakes London derby against Spurs. Finally, the curtain closes on May 24 with a long trip north to face Sunderland at 4:00 PM.
What to Actually Watch For
Don't just look at the dates. Look at the context.
Liam Rosenior is trying to fix a defense that has been, frankly, a bit of a mess. They’re conceding 1.14 goals per game on average, but that number feels higher when you watch them live. The transition from Maresca’s rigid system to Rosenior’s more fluid approach is happening in real-time during the most congested part of the year.
Also, keep an eye on the January transfer window. The club just green-lit a £22m move that Enzo Maresca had previously blocked. New faces in the locker room during this January run could either steady the ship or capsize it completely.
Actionable Strategy for Fans
- Check TV schedules weekly: Because of the Champions League and FA Cup runs, almost half of these Saturday 3 PM kick-offs will likely move to Sunday or Monday nights.
- Monitor the injury list: Reece James' hip and Cole Palmer's groin are the two most important barometers for Chelsea's success. If they aren't starting by the Brentford game, lower your expectations for the West Ham clash.
- Watch the youth: With the virus in the camp, players like Tyrique George and Samuel Rak-Sakyi might get more minutes than expected. This is the best time to see the "Project" in action.
The path to the 2026 Champions League is narrow, but the fixtures are there for the taking. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.