Date: Monday 12th
February 2024
Venue: Selhurst Park
Kick-off: 20:00 GMT
Tonight’s game sees us away to Crystal
Palace.
Palace lost 4-1 to Brighton last weekend,
whilst we come into tonight’s game off the back of a really good performance
and result against Villa in the FA Cup midweek but having taken a battering in our
last two games in the Premier League.
Palace sit 15th in the table,
whilst we’re not that far above them in 11th and they haven’t lost
the last 3 at Selhurst Park. Not that I wish injuries on anyone but given
half of Palace’s 26 Premier League goals this season have been scored or
assisted by Eberechi Eze or Michael Olise, I’m not devastated they’re both out.
Take nothing away from our performance against Villa,
we were excellent, but we were equally horrible against Liverpool and Wolves,
and the one thing we know about this Chelsea side is, a decent result does not
mean we’re back on track.
We’re definitely the Jekyll and Hyde of the
Premier League this season and you just don’t know which version you’re going
to get.
MANAGER’S VIEWS
Going into today’s game, Crystal Palace manager, Roy Hodgson, says “It’s been the toughest period of my career for
one reason, and that is that the fans have turned so much against us and they
are the people that we cannot afford to have turned against us, because we need
them. If we’re going to win the games,
and this team is going to do well, they’re not going to be able to do it if the
fans are going to be constantly up in arms about everything that’s happening.
Apart from that, it joins a lot of other periods of my life where I’ve been
happier and more content, of course.”
Chelsea
manager Mauricio Pochettino, meanwhile, says “The way we competed in the Aston Villa game was the way we
need to approach the games. In the games, we need to feel we can perform in
this way. I think it was a good opportunity and a good game for now to try and
be consistent in the next game. I think in the way we are training, the
way the players behave, the attitude we are showing. I think we are improving.
Yes, it’s about to win the next game and get the feelings we build from Aston
Villa.
Nothing to say about Roy. Roy is my friend, I admire him and he is an
unbelievable coach. I think he is working really well. It’s always pressure now
with this football that you lose one or two games in a row, there is always
applied pressure. But no doubt that he is going to be successful with Palace. I
hope after our game. But it is going to be difficult, the game. For us, we
always have players dealing with injuries. You say two names that are very good
players but they have a squad to deal with this situation.”
SQUAD NEWS
For Crystal Palace, Marc Guehi (knee), Cheick Doucoure (Achilles), Rob Holding (ankle), Eberechi Eze, Jesurun Rak-Sakyi and Michael Olise (all hamstring) miss out.
For Chelsea, Wesley Fofana (knee), Trevoh Chalobah (thigh), Robert Sanchez (knee), Marc Cucurella (ankle), Lesley Ugochukwu (hamstring), Romeo Lavia (thigh) and Reece James (hamstring) all remain out. Benoit Badiashile (groin) is a doubt and Levi Colwill (knee) will also be assessed.
TEAMS
CRYSTAL PALACE (Possible line-up): Henderson; Munoz,
Richards, Andersen, Mitchell; Hughes, Wharton, Lerma; Ayew, Mateta, Schlupp
CHELSEA (Possible line-up): Petrovic; Gusto,
Disasi, Silva, Chilwell; Fernandez, Caicedo; Madueke, Gallagher, Palmer;
Jackson
LAST SEASON
Crystal Palace 1-2
Chelsea (1st October 2022)
CURRENT FORM (PL)
CRYSTAL PALACE: DLWLWL
CHELSEA: LWWWLL
OTHER STUFF
- Chelsea have won
the last 12 against Crystal Palace.
- Chelsea have never
won 13 league games in a row against the same opponent.
- There has not been
a draw in 26 meetings March 1995.
- Crystal Palace have
lost three of their last five top-flight fixtures.
- Crystal Palace have
won the last two at home in the League.
- Crystal Palace have
not kept a clean sheet for 12 league games.
- Chelsea have lost
the last two in the Premier League.
- Chelsea have lost
five of their last six away in the Premier League.
PREDICTION
Sportsmole: Crystal Palace 0-2 Chelsea
