Chelsea’s season will be defined by their English Premiership home match against Tottenham on Wednesday night, writes GARY LEMKE.

Win or draw, and there’s still hope of a Champions League spot. Defeat, and it’s all over – and probably the back of star man Eden Hazard to Real Madrid at the end of the season. They will also end trophyless, despite still being ‘alive’ in the Europa League, out of next year’s Champions League – and again managerless.

All as a result of those extraordinary scenes on Sunday. Towards the end of the Carabao Cup final between Manchester City and Chelsea, the most expensive goalkeeper in the world, Kepa Arrizabalaga, publicly humiliated the manager Maurizio Sarri, his own teammates and the club itself by refusing to be substituted after suffering what appeared to be cramp.

The 24-year-old waved away the instructions of Sarri and assistant coach Gianfranco Zola, and disrespected not only the occasion at Wembley, but even the ethos of the sport itself.

When Chelsea paid a record £71-million for the Spaniard last year, the player said: ‘In terms of being the most expensive keeper in the world, it’s something I don’t think about. I’m just going to be myself and try to give my best to the club. I don’t really think about the price. It is not something I have in my mind. I just think Chelsea have made a great bet in taking me. I will do everything I can to repay the trust they have put in me.’

Actions prove stronger than words, however, and Arrizabalaga behaved disgracefully. Many have called for him never to play for Chelsea again, but that’s not how the business of football works. After all, he cost a round £71m a few months ago. The club would need to get that much back for him, given his age and reputation.

Banishing him to train with the reserves or youth team wouldn’t work either. After all, he’d still be collecting his £200,000 a week in salary. What would he care? The only way to punish him is to hit him in the pocket. Give him a six-month fine and make him play for nothing. And if he refuses to play, on that basis, hit him legally for not fulfilling his contract.

Anything less will show that the players rule at Stamford Bridge – and, dare I say, elsewhere in English Premiership dressing rooms. Players get managers sacked – just ask Jose Mourinho (at Chelsea AND Manchester United).

So, for Chelsea, Wednesday’s showdown with third-placed Tottenham will be all-revealing. Either Chelsea will defy logic and win, or Spurs will take advantage of a broken dressing room and batter them. The effect of Kepa’s actions will be watched by millions.

The only other talking point I have for this column is what a week it proved to be for the goalless draw. Two Champions League matches (Liverpool vs Bayern Munich and Lyon vs Barcelona) surprisingly ended 0-0 – as did the big Premiership match at Old Trafford, where Manchester United and Liverpool failed to find the back of the net. The scoreline was 14-1 with the bookies before the match, and although the point for Liverpool edged them a point ahead of Manchester City, in the context of the match it was a further two points lost.

And, in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley, penalties were needed after City and Chelsea were unable to score in two hours of normal play and extra time.

Liverpool would have expected to take home all three points after United were hit by three injuries that resulted in first-half substitutions, meaning Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s hands were tied in terms of playing personnel for the entire second half. That Liverpool were still unable to take advantage was something of a moral victory for United.

However, both face potentially tricky midweek fixtures. Liverpool are home to a Watford side that was rampant at Cardiff, winning 5-1, while United travel to Selhurst Park to play a Crystal Palace team buoyant following a 4-1 away victory at Leicester.

The most common scorelines so far this season are:
48 times: 2-1
40 times: 2-0
37 times: 1-0
29 times: 3-1
24 times: 1-1
19 times: 0-0
16 times: 3-0
11 times: 2-2
10 times: 3-2
8 times: 4-0
6 times: 4-1, 4-2
5 times: 5-1
4 times: 5-0
2 times: 6-1, 4-3
1 time:  3-3, 6-0, 6-2

Here are the SportsClub team’s predictions for this week’s round of fixtures.

Cardiff vs Everton
Dylan Appolis (154/261): 1-1
Gary Lemke (148/261): 1-2
Wade Pretorius: (148/261): 2-1
Juandre Joubert (146/261): 1-1
Dean Workman (141/261): 1-2

Huddersfield vs Wolves
Dylan Appolis: 0-2
Gary Lemke: 0-2
Wade Pretorius: 1-1
Juandre Joubert: 1-2
Dean Workman: 0-2

Leicester vs Brighton
Dylan Appolis: 1-0
Gary Lemke: 2-1
Juandre Joubert: 1-0
Wade Pretorius: 2-0
Dean Workman: 2-1

Newcastle vs Burnley
Dylan Appolis: 0-1
Gary Lemke: 1-1
Juandre Joubert: 1-2
Wade Pretorius: 1-1
Dean Workman: 1-1

Arsenal vs Bournemouth
Dylan Appolis: 2-1
Gary Lemke: 2-0
Juandre Joubert: 2-1
Wade Pretorius: 2-0
Dean Workman: 2-0

Southampton vs Fulham
Dylan Appolis: 2-0
Gary Lemke: 2-1
Juandre Joubert: 1-1
Wade Pretorius: 1-0
Dean Workman: 3-2

Chelsea vs Tottenham
Dylan Appolis: 2-1
Gary Lemke: 1-2
Juandre Joubert:1-1
Wade Pretorius: 1-1
Dean Workman: 1-1

Crystal Palace vs Man United
Dylan Appolis: 0-2
Gary Lemke: 1-1
Juandre Joubert: 1-2
Wade Pretorius: 1-2
Dean Workman: 1-2

Man City vs West Ham
Dylan Appolis: 3-0
Gary Lemke: 3-0
Juandre Joubert: 3-0
Wade Pretorius: 3-0
Dean Workman: 4-0

Liverpool vs Watford
Dylan Appolis: 3-1
Gary Lemke: 2-1
Juandre Joubert: 2-1
Wade Pretorius: 2-0
Dean Workman: 3-1

Lemke is the 2017/18 EPL Superbru Global champion