Date: Saturday 9th November 2019
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Kick-off: 12:30 GMT
After one of the maddest games of football we’re ever likely to see Chelsea feature in against Ajax midweek, today’s early kick-off sees us welcome back Gary Cahill, as we take on Crystal Palace in the Premier League.
This will be the 55th competitive meeting between the two clubs, with Chelsea winning 27 compared to Palace’s 12. Palace did record back-to-back wins against us in 2017, although we’ve won the last 3 meetings.
Whilst we’ve won our last five in the league, Palace have had a tough run and today will be their fourth game in a row against one of the current top five. You’d think our young players won’t be making this an easy one for them either, although they did have a battle back from 4-1 down a few days ago. Palace will undoubtedly put a brick wall up and make things as difficult as they can for us, so it’ll be a matter of whether or not we’ve got enough puff left to blow it down.
MANAGER’S VIEWS
Going into today’s game, Chelsea manager Frank Lampard, says “We are looking in the mirror at ourselves. Up or down aren’t always things you can control, what will be will be. They might have their problems or strong points, or whatever. What we have to do is look at ourselves week in and week out. Look at Crystal Palace tomorrow, go away for the international or a little break and then come back and play Manchester City. Every week brings a challenge. At the moment we are pretty happy with what we have done, but I think we can get a lot better. We shouldn’t look too much at anywhere else other than within.”
Meanwhile Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson, says “Lampard has done a very good job, there’s no question about that – the club has done a good job in encouraging the manager and his staff to blood some of the players that had previously been out on loan. Everyone at the club deserves a pat on the back for that. And I’m certain that Frank will be more than happy with how the team has started, the way the team has played and where they find themselves both in the league and the Champions League.”
SQUAD NEWS
For Chelsea, Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Achilles), van Ginkel (ACL), Ross Barkley (ankle), Andreas Christensen (hamstring) and Antonio Rudiger (groin) all remain out injured, whilst Jorginho serves a one-match ban for racking up five bookings. N’Golo Kante (groin) is fit again and Mason Mount (ankle) might be available despite a knock midweek.
For Crystal Palace, Andros Townsend (muscular), Gary Cahill and Cheikhou Kouyate (both head) should all be available, giving Hodgson a fully fit squad to choose from.
TEAMS
CHELSEA (Possible line-up): Kepa; James, Zouma, Tomori, Emerson; Kovacic; Kante; Willian, Mount; Pulisic; Abraham.
CRYSTAL PALACE (Possible line-up): Guaita; Ward, Tomkins, Cahill, Van Aanholt; McCarthy, Kouyate, Milivojevic; Schlupp, Zaha, Ayew
LAST SEASON
Chelsea 3-1 Crystal Palace (4th November 2018)
CURRENT FORM (PL)
CHELSEA: LWWWWW
CRYSTAL PALACE: DWWLDL
OTHER STUFF
- Crystal Palace have only won two of their 17 top-flight away fixtures against Chelsea.
- Crystal Palace have won four of the 12 meetings since returning to the Premier League.
- Chelsea have won in just one of their five fixtures this season against teams in the top half of the table.
- Chelsea’s only defeat in 10 matches in all competitions was against Manchester United in the Carabao Cup last month.
- Chelsea have scored seven goals in five league matches at Stamford Bridge this season (18 away).
- Chelsea won all five Premier League London derbies at Stamford Bridge in 2018-19.
- Crystal Palace are winless in three Premier League matches, conceding six goals.
- Crystal Palace have eight away league victories in 2019.
PREDICTION
BBC Sport: Chelsea 2-0 Crystal Palace
Sky Sports: Chelsea 2-1 Crystal Palace
Sportsmole: Chelsea 2-1 Crystal Palace
Blue is the colour
