A blog of two halves

The Blues may have lost last weekend’s Community Shield against Arsenal on penalties, but they’re a nailed-on, sure-fire, 100 per cent certainty to lift the Premier League title.

This was always going to be a closed-season of major change at Stamford Bridge with changes working their way through all levels of the club.

In all the ballyhoo and euphoria about Tony Conte’s Blues winning the league in his first season, Chelsea Ladies risk being overlooked.

It couldn’t have been simpler. Arsenal were hungry, Chelsea lethargic, and the Gunners deserved the trophy.

Most of Chelsea’s unused substitutes, assistant managers and medics missed Michy Batshuayi’s quickfire double which rounded off the Blues’ final league game of the season.

The heavens opened before kick-off at the Bridge on Monday night, and it could only have been one thing. Tottenham tears.

They’ll write folk songs about Brad Guzan’s legs. Every goal in Chelsea’s 3-0 victory against Middlesbrough on Monday night either went off or through the hapless keeper’s pins.

The halftime score at Goodison Park last weekend was 0-0, and nerves were starting to jangle.

The twists are turns to this thrilling title run-in get another spin this weekend as Chelsea travel to Goodison Park for a blue-on-blue encounter, while Spurs host the north London derby.

Who are all these neutrals gripped by a two-horse title run-in between Tottenham and Chelsea?