Date: Saturday
3rd October 2020
Venue: Stamford
Bridge
Kick-off: 12:30
BST
We’re a bit like Boris’ broadcasts so
far this season, you want a glimmer of hope but have to search for the silver
lining between the clouds.
It’s early days though. Unlike Boris’
appearances, it’s not like we’ve had to sit through six months plus of
indecision and chaos, we haven’t even had time to lay the foundations of this
side yet. Frank Lampard might be feeling a bit like the Prime Minister right
now though, because despite finding himself in completely unfamiliar
circumstances (new players, short pre-season, injuries) he’s expected to pull everything
together perfectly, without error, or face the public wrath – or at the very
least the impatient supporters and media critics.
Roy Hodgson, in comparison, appears
to have no such sweat on his brow, with a pretty good start to the campaign.
Wins against Southampton and Manchester United and a narrow defeat to a strong
Everton side is nothing to be sniffed at to start a season.
Palace can be a tough side to break
down and Zaha is unlikely to shy away from testing our porous defence, so like
most of Boris’ broadcasts, I have no idea what to expect from this today.
MANAGER’S
VIEWS
Going
into today’s game, Chelsea manager Frank Lampard, says “We’ve gone and won at Brighton, which was a
tough game. Then we lost to the
champions with 10 men for 45 minutes, when it was nil-nil. Then at West Brom
the first 30 minutes three clear mistakes make goals. Normally you lose those
games but we’ve managed to get a point. So
I think there’s certainly some clear perspective that needs to go into our
first three games.
But of course we
want to win the game against Palace, because we want to win games, we want to
find that feeling of win and win and win, which we’re absolutely capable of
with this team. But we’re absolutely
very early on in the season, as a group, with players that are now coming fit,
and new signings that will be getting more settled every day that we train
together and improve together. So I’m
not concerned. We will attack the game
with confidence and a real desire to win, and that’s what we should do with
every game.”
Crystal
Palace manager Roy Hodgson, meanwhile, says “I think three games is too early to assess any
team. It’s when things settle down you
can make judgements, but I’m aware of how much quality they have in their team
and their squad as well.” Whilst on Lampard, he says “I think he’s been excellent,
shown tremendous composure and maturity. He’s not afraid to spend money where
available, his start in management has been really good but I’m not surprised. It doesn’t surprise me one bit – the same
with Steven Gerrard – that they’re making a success of their start in
management.”
SQUAD
NEWS
For Chelsea, Billy Gilmour and Hakim
Ziyech remain out through injury. Timo Werner suffered cramp at the end of the
midweek game but should be available. Antonio Rudiger and Marcos Alonso are
again unlikely to be selected but Edouard Mendy and Ben Chilwell could
make their league debuts. Christian Pulisic makes a return but is likely to
remain on the bench unless we’re up a creek and in dire need of a paddle.
For Crystal Palace, Jeffrey Schlupp, Gary
Cahill, James Tomkins and Patrick van Aanholt are all out and Michy Batshuayi, is
ineligible to play.
TEAMS
CHELSEA (Possible line-up): Mendy; James, Zouma, Thiago Silva, Chilwell;
Kovacic, Kante, Mount; Havertz, Werner, Abraham
CRYSTAL
PALACE (Possible line-up): Guaita; Ward, Sakho, Kouyate, Mitchell; Townsend,
McCarthy, McArthur, Eze; Zaha, Ayew.
LAST
SEASON
Chelsea
2-0 Crystal Palace (9th November 2019)
CURRENT
FORM (PL)
CHELSEA: WLD
CRYSTAL
PALACE: WWL
OTHER
STUFF
- Chelsea have won the
last five games against Crystal Palace.
- The last time Palace
beat Chelsea was October 2017.
- Palace have won
just two of their 11 top-flight away games against Chelsea.
- Chelsea have not
lost their opening two home league matches in a season since the 1978-79
campaign.
- Crystal Palace are
looking to win their first two away matches in a Premier League season for the
third time.
- Chelsea have
conceded at least three goals in four of their past 10 league games.
- Chelsea have ended
the last two seasons with the best record in Premier League London derbies.
- Crystal Palace have
won eight Premier League fixtures away to sides from the established top six
since August 2015, including two at Chelsea.
PREDICTION
BBC Sport: Chelsea 2-0 Crystal Palace
Sportsmole: Chelsea 2-1 Crystal Palace
90min: Chelsea 2-2 Crystal Palace
