Chelsea are set to host Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge this Sunday, aiming to build on their impressive 6-2 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers. Under the guidance of new manager Enzo Maresca, the Blues have experienced a mixed start to the season but will be confident against a Palace side they've beaten in their last 14 meetings. The Eagles, on the other hand, are desperate to secure their first points of the campaign following two straight defeats.
Chelsea's Injury Concerns
Chelsea will be without the services of captain Reece James and midfielder Romeo Lavia, both sidelined due to injuries. The duo is expected to return to action after the international break. New loan signing Jadon Sancho will not be available for this fixture due to eligibility issues.
Chelsea's Predicted Lineup
Maresca is expected to field a line-up similar to the one that showcased their prowess against Wolves. Robert Sanchez is likely to reclaim his spot in goal, with a defensive line consisting of Malo Gusto, Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill, and Marc Cucurella. The midfield will be anchored by Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez, while the attacking trio could feature Noni Madueke, Cole Palmer, and potentially Pedro Neto replacing Mykhailo Mudryk.
Predicted Chelsea XI: Sanchez, Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella, Caicedo, Fernandez, Madueke, Palmer, Neto, Jackson
Crystal Palace's Tactical Approach
Crystal Palace, riding high after their midweek 4-0 EFL Cup triumph over Norwich City, may opt for a similar line-up. Dean Henderson will continue to guard the goal following Sam Johnstone's move to Wolves.
Predicted Crystal Palace XI: Henderson, Clyne, Guehi, Richards, Munoz, Wharton, Hughes, Mitchell, Kamada, Eze, Mateta
Chelsea's Form and Record Against Crystal Palace
Chelsea's season has been a rollercoaster thus far. They suffered a 2-0 home defeat to Manchester City in their opener but quickly rebounded with a resounding 6-2 victory at Molineux. In European competition, they secured a spot in the Conference League group stage despite a narrow 2-1 loss to Servette in the second leg of their play-off.
The Blues boast an impressive record against Palace, having emerged victorious in their last 14 encounters across all competitions, including a league double last season. A win on Sunday would see them equal the English league record for consecutive wins against a single opponent, currently held by Manchester City over Bournemouth.
Crystal Palace's Determination for a Turnaround
Palace, under the guidance of Oliver Glasner, are determined to avoid losing their first three league games for the first time since the 2017-18 season. Their midweek cup success, which saw goals from Eberechi Eze and Jean-Philippe Mateta, has injected a much-needed boost of confidence.
Key Players to Watch
Chelsea's Rising Stars
Noni Madueke and Cole Palmer were the standout performers in Chelsea's victory over Wolves, with Madueke netting a hat-trick assisted by Palmer. Their exceptional displays earned them call-ups to the upcoming England squad, and they will be eager to maintain their fine form.
Crystal Palace's Attacking Threat
For Palace, Eberechi Eze remains a pivotal figure. He found the back of the net in the cup win over Norwich and will be instrumental in the Eagles' hopes of causing an upset at Stamford Bridge.
Score Prediction
Given Chelsea's potent attack, as evidenced by their 6-2 triumph over Wolves, this match has the potential to be another high-scoring affair. However, a 3-1 victory in favour of Chelsea at home seems like a reasonable prediction.
A Look at the Key Players: Madueke and Palmer
The 22-year-old departed Manchester City for London last summer and has not looked back since. He broke through as one of the league’s hottest talents during the last campaign, recording more goals and assists than any other player in the division last term. He netted 22 goals and 11 assists while proving himself to be one of the best penalty takers in the world, scoring all 9 of his attempts from 12 yards. The English man also won the PFA Young Player of the Year award after his stellar first season at Stamford Bridge.
Palmer also earned his first caps for the England senior team last season, and popped up at crucial points during Euro 2024, including scoring the equaliser against Spain in the final, in a heart breaking defeat for the Three Lions.
The Emergence of Adam Wharton
The former Blackburn midfielder has had a speedy rise to the top. After only making his professional debut in August 2022, Wharton completed a move to the Eagles in January 2024, and also impressed enough to feature in Gareth Southgate’s squad for the European Championships this summer.
The 20-year-old has amazing vision to navigate his way out of situations with his amazing passing accuracy. Wharton is also eager to get stuck into duels and tackles. The South London club have placed a £100 million price tag on the midfielder for any club who may want to secure his services, and it is expected there will be plenty of teams queuing up for his signature next summer.
Match Details
The match will be played at Chelsea’s stadium Stamford Bridge. Kick off is at 13:30 BST on Sunday 1st September 2024. The match has not been selected to be televised on Sky Sports or TNT Sports but live updates will be available keep updated on the Sky Sports Website and Premier League app. Highlights of the match, alongside key analysis, will be able to view on BBC One at 22:30 BST on Match of the Day 2.
Paul Merson's Prediction
Paul Merson has predicted that Chelsea will sign off for the two-week international break with a routine win over Palace at Stamford Bridge this weekend. Merson told Sportskeeda: “This is a good game for Chelsea to be playing just before the international break. I just hope they don’t become a flat-track bully. At the end of last season, they beat the likes of Bournemouth, Tottenham and West Ham. The Blues started the new campaign with a loss to City, but beat Wolves 6-2 in the second game. It is going to be the matches against the big teams that define Chelsea’s season.
“They definitely have enough in them to beat Crystal Palace. But consistency is key, it can’t be like in the recent past, where they have a 9/10 display and then follow it up with 4/10 in the following week. Having said that, I expect Chelsea to beat smaller teams.
“With all due respect to Crystal Palace, I think this is going to be a routine victory for Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Prediction: Chelsea 3-0 Crystal Palace.”
The Importance of a Consistent Chelsea
It’s understandable that Chelsea have been a little inconsistent so far under Enzo Maresca as the players adapt to the style of the new head coach. They’ve had conflicting results and performances so far in their two Premier League matches, plus they only just scraped past Servette in their play-off tie to reach the Conference League group stages.
If we’re looking for one big improvement in the Blues’ meeting with Palace, it’s to be more defensively sound. They’ve got the attacking firepower to score goals freely if things click into gear, but the backline looks a little suspect so far this term.
