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How Many Trophies Will Chelsea Win?

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They are trailing Premiership leaders Liverpool and Arsenal by four points and face a tough second leg at Goodison Park in the semi-finals of the Carling Cup, Despite that, Avram Grant thinks it is still possible for Chelsea to win four trophies this season, but does Nik Wardle agree?

Following under-strength Chelsea's victory against under-strength Tottenham at the weekend, Avram Grant said this of Chelsea's chances of winning all four major competitions his side have entered this season: "We can do it." Betfair customers can either agree or disagree with Grant by betting on 'Team Trophies', where you can bet on how many trophies the 'big four' sides will win. Over my next four blogs, I'll be looking at the chances of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Man Utd of picking up between 0-4 trophies this season, starting with The Blues.

Following their first leg victory over Everton in the Carling Cup semi-final Chelsea are at just 2 to retain the trophy. Both sides will be missing key players for the second leg and I think this'll be the toughest test for Chelsea in this competition. If they overcome Everton, they'll have their Africa Nations Cup players back and Terry and Lampard returning from injury to face either the young Arsenal side they defeated in the final last season or a Tottenham side they've only lost twice to in around twenty years. In the semi-final much will depend on whether Anichebe and/or Johnson can perform sufficiently well to worry Chelsea's defence in Yakubu's absence.

Holders Chelsea travel to Wigan in the 4th round of the FA Cup. They should have a fairly comfortable passage through as Wigan minds will be focused on Premiership survival. Like any of the 'grand slam' teams, Chelsea only really need to fear a draw against one another. Chelsea are at 4 to win the FA Cup and at 9 to repeat their double cup triumph of last season.

Olympiakos stand in Chelsea's way of making the last eight of the Champions League. This is as good as a bye but things will obviously get tougher from there on in. They're one of the favourites to lift the trophy at 6 but I think half-a-dozen teams could be victorious. The Blues are at 50 to win all three cup competitions.

Although they're four points behind Man Utd and Arsenal in the Premier League, Chelsea do have to play both those teams at home - and Liverpool too. If they can get to the end of the Africa Nations Cup period without losing any more ground (Birmingham A, Reading H, Portsmouth A and those involved in the final would miss Liverpool H) the race will pretty much be in their own hands. Chelsea are at 6 to win the Premier League.

At present Chelsea are at just 5 to match Avram Grant's boast that they can win all four trophies. Man Utd's league form is such that I doubt Chelsea will win all four but it's well worth analysing the combinations of cup successes - retaining both domestic cups is an attractive punt at 9.