Ranieri out to prove a point against Lazio

CLAUDIO RANIERI has left himself open to accusations of having at least one eye firmly on next Tuesday’s Champions League clash with Lazio in his native Rome as he sends Chelsea into action at Everton today.

Chelsea are second to Arsenal by just one point at the top of the table but Ranieri, despite Blues' £112 million outlay on new stars, has already written off the new-look Blues' title chances this term.

So far they have emerged with only one league defeat at Arsenal despite a string of barely convincing performances.