Premier League leaders Chelsea know that victory over Middlesbrough tonight (8pm kick-off) will put them to within three points of the title.

Antonio Conte’s men saw second place Tottenham suffer a surprise 1-0 defeat to West Ham on Friday night to remain four points clear at the top, but with the Blues playing twice before Mauricio Pochettino’s men return to the field, the title could be wrapped up come Friday at 10pm.

That’s because the West London outfit know that victories over Boro tonight and then West Brom at the end of the week would seal the title, while it’s also an important game for Steve Agnew’s Middlesbrough, who will be relegated with defeat at Stamford Bridge this evening.

The North East outfit are seven points behind 17th place Hull with three games of the season remaining, so they need at least a draw this evening to keep their fading survival hopes alive going into the final fortnight of the campaign.

So, with the build-up well underway ahead of this evening’s vital clash in West London, we at Shoot! have identified the THREE key battles that will ultimately decide the outcome of tonight’s encounter…

David Luiz vs Alvaro Negredo

It’s not certain that Chelsea defender David Luiz will start this evening, given that he picked up a slight knock in their 3-0 win over Everton last weekend.

However, if he is indeed passed fit to start, then the Brazil international will have to be near top form to keep Boro’s Alvaro Negredo quiet.

The 31-year-old striker was back near his best form in their 2-2 draw with Manchester City last weekend, firing home their opener, and added to the goal he netted against Arsenal last month, he clearly enjoys the big occasion against the best sides.

Negredo is good aerially and also makes intelligent runs in behind, so if Luiz is even slightly less than 100%, Middlesbrough could sense an opportunity at Stamford Bridge tonight.

N’Golo Kante vs Adam Clayton

The battle for midfield supremacy is always hugely significant in the Premier League, and it’s something Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante and Boro’s Adam Clayton will go head-to-head for this evening.

The PFA Player of the Year Kante has been in outstanding form for the league leaders this season, starting all but two of their Premier League matches this term, and helping the side to a four-point lead over Tottenham following a series of match-winning displays.

He is well on his way to securing a second league title in just two years in England, yet his opposite number Clayton will have something to say about that as only a positive result will keep Middlesbrough in the top-flight.

The 28-year-old has been a consistent performer in the Boro midfield this term, featuring in 31 of their Premier League games, and how well he is able to match Kante and keep things moving for his side in the middle will be crucial to their chances.

It’s goes without saying that Kante is arguably the best central midfielder in the division, yet Clayton’s own energy and tenacity could cause the Chelsea midfield some problems on a huge night in West London.

Eden Hazard vs Fabio

If Middlesbrough are to get anything from this evening’s game, they will have to find a way of keeping Chelsea’s Eden Hazard quiet.

The 26-year-old has been at his sparkling best for the majority of this campaign, netting 15 goals and laying on five assists in 32 Premier League games to help Conte’s side close in on a fifth title in 12 years.

The Belgian forward has at times produced form better than that we saw in the 2014/15 campaign, in which he won the PFA Player of the Year award and indeed the title under Jose Mourinho, and if he is near that level again tonight, Middlesbrough’s Fabio will be in for a long evening.

The 26-year-old played the full 90 minutes in their 2-2 draw with Manchester City last weekend and did reasonably well, but overall it has been an average season for the former Manchester United defender, who has started just 18 of their 35 league matches this term.

And with three yellow cards in his last five Premier League appearances, Hazard will certainly target Fabio down that Chelsea left, be it by cutting inside or by taking him on out wide, which makes it imperative that the right-sided centre back, likely to be Calum Chambers, provides his teammate with adequate help to stop the Chelsea man.

Ultimately, Hazard is a match-winner, and given that Boro cannot afford to lose, Fabio will have to be at his very best to thwart the Belgian this evening.