Chelsea Miss Out On Opportunity To Boost Top-four Hopes

Five-time Premier League champions Chelsea have missed out on the chance to properly take the top-four race by the scruff of the neck after their home draw with Burnley on Monday night.

The Blues were forced to a 2-2 draw by the Clarets as both teams settled for a share of the spoils.

Chelsea needed a win to leapfrog Tottenham Hotspur into third in the race for top four places on the Premier League table.

The Chelsea faithfuls were stunned in the opening minutes of the game when Jeff Hendrick gave Burnley an eighth minute lead.

The hosts responded to that setback in style with two goals in two minutes.

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Chelsea levelled proceedings through N’Golo Kante after 12 minutes before out-of-form striker Gonzalo Higuain crashed home a second goal for the Blues in the 14th minute.

The game produced three goals in the first 14 minutes before Ashley Barnes added a fourth goal ten minutes later.

Both teams served up a four-goal thriller at the halftime interval.

Chelsea dominated the first half and that pattern continued into the second half but neither side was able to add to that tally as Burnley held on for a well deserved point.

Burnley are nine points clear of the relegation zone and not in danger of suffering demotion from the Premier League.