Chelsea v Crystal Palace: Preview, Team News & Predictions
Two sides yearning for consistency – Chelsea and Crystal Palace – will lock horns at Stamford Bridge on December 27th.
If 2022 was perceived as a dip from the surreal 2021 under Thomas Tuchel, 2023 hit new lows for Chelsea. No other team in the Premier League has lost more matches than the Blues this calendar year, and Mauricio Pochettino, who is under increasing pressure of late, will hope to end the year with a few smiles.
It was all too familiar a story against Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Molineux: sustained pressure, heaps of possession, indecisiveness in the box, accompanied by static defending and a late knock-out punch to end up with another defeat.
Christopher Nkunku’s league debut goal was arguably the only silver lining in yet another frustrating display from Chelsea, who currently sit 14 points adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur. Given the fees they’ve spent on signings and the work within the club, it’d be a striking paradox if they fail to make European football for next season.
Crystal Palace, meanwhile, are winless since the first week of November. They’ve lost all their previous 11 PL matches against Chelsea.
Having led through Jordan Ayew’s goal in first-half stoppage time, the Eagles conceded late to Danny Welbeck’s header against Brighton and Hove Albion. Roy Hodgson has returning players who would inject creativity to an attack that has fared better than only Sheffield United – with 18 goals in as many matches.
Team News
Chelsea
Ugochukwu, who made his first appearance since the 4-1 defeat to Newcastle United, was taken off in the 58th minute due to a knock. His partners Enzo Fernandez (hernia) and Moises Caicedo (illness) missed out, and their involvement will be determined by a late call given the short turnaround from Sunday to Wednesday.
Attacking duo Raheem Sterling and Cole Palmer will have to watch from the sidelines after having picked up their fifth yellow card of the season. That would put more onus on the shoulders of Nkunku, although Pochettino suggested it might be too early to make hefty demands from the Frenchman.
“I’m very pleased to see Nkunku score, it shows how important he can be for us. We cannot put too much pressure on him but a quality player who can score goals. We are very confident in him to get to his best and be a key player for us,” said Pochettino.
Skipper Reece James is out for the foreseeable future, as is Marc Cucurella. Ben Chilwell, Trevoh Chalobah and Wesley Fofana are ruled out too. Djordje Petrovic should continue between the sticks in Robert Sanchez’s absence.
Crystal Palace
Palace themselves have a goalkeeper concern, with Sam Johnstone out with a calf injury. Odsonne Edouard is doubtful for this one, meaning Jean-Philippe Mateta is set to lead the line.
Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise will boost Crystal Palace’s chances going forward, bringing their dribbling skills as well as dead-ball prowess to the forefront.
Elsewhere, Joel Ward, Rob Holding and Cheick Doucoure are in the medical bay. The latter is expected to not play any part this season.
Predicted XI
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Petrovic; Gusto, Disasi, Silva, Colwill; Caicedo, Gallagher; Madueke, Nkunku, Jackson; Broja
Crystal Palace (4-2-3-1): Henderson; Clyne, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell; Lerma, Richards; Olise, Eze, Ayew; Mateta
Match Prediction
Much of this game should see one-way traffic in Chelsea’s favour, but whether they can make use of the ball is another question. Former Chelsea man Marc Guehi and Joachim Andersen have been sensational this season, so breaching their front will be an uphill task.
The quality of Olise, a player who the Blues were linked with in the summer, should stand out and hand Palace another vital draw.
Predicted score: Chelsea 1-1 Crystal Palace
-Roy Akarshak
Twitter: @RoyAkarshak
Photo: Gareth Williams. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.