Crystal Palace v Chelsea – Preview, Predictions, and Best Bets

Crystal Palace host Chelsea The Eagles have won their last two matches but have lost 13 successive matches to the Blues in all competitions. Palace are missing four key players due to injury.

Palace Form

Palace sit 14th in the table, just five points above the drop zone. Their last 14 matches in all competitions have yielded just two wins. After an eight-match winless run, they beat Brentford 3-1 at home with Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze on fire. An FA Cup exit followed after a 0-0 home draw and then a 1-0 away loss in the replay to Everton.

Hodgson’s team were then thrashed 5-0 at Arsenal with 3.21 xG conceded and 21 shots allowed. With Eze and Olise fit, they beat Sheffield United 3-2 at home. Last time out, the duo were absent and Palace were thrashed 4-1 away at Brighton.

Palace Team News

Roy Hodgson is without perhaps his four most important players for this match. Marc Guehi is absent in defence so Chris Richards could drop into the backline, with James Tomkins as another option. Cheick Doucoure remains out long-term in midfield.

Michael Olise has suffered a long-term injury and Eberechi Eze also missed this match. Joel Ward is doubtful, and Rob Holding is ruled out.

Palace Motivation

Considering their horrendous injury woes, Hodgson could set up very defensively in this one.

The veteran coach may use a back-five to grind out a draw. A point would be a great result in the circumstances.

Chelsea Form

The Blues are in a cycle of ‘one step forward, two steps back’ right now. A run of one loss in seven seemed to indicate an improvement especially as they progressed to the Carabao Cup final by beating Middlesbrough 6-1, went through in the FA Cup, and won three league matches.

Two awful displays followed – firstly losing 4-1 at Liverpool with 28 shots allowed to their opponents. A 4-2 home loss followed to Wolves as the defence were horribly exposed. In midweek, they put up a great performance to win 3-1 at Villa Park in an FA Cup replay vs Aston Villa. They conceded a late consolation goal after dominating the match.

Chelsea Team News

The Blues are without Reece James and Benoit Badiashile in defence and Levi Colwill is a major doubt. Trevor Chalobah is back in full training and could make the bench.

Christopher Nkunku will hope for a start, but Cole Palmer may play as a false nine again instead. Nicolas Jackson could play wide again and keep Raheem Sterling on the bench. Romeo Lavia and Lesley Ugochukwu are both injured in midfield.

Chelsea Motivation

The Blues are in desperate need of a league win. With Man City away in the following match, this one has to be a three-point haul.

Chelsea will see a Palace team with key absentees and perhaps play a more attacking style. Complacency is also possible from this group of players, though.

Key Stats

Crystal Palace have won their last 2 home EPL matches

Crystal Palace have won just 2 of their last 14 matches in all competitions

Chelsea have won the last 13 meetings between these teams (all competitions)

Chelsea have lost 6 of their last 8 away fixtures (1 win)

Chelsea have conceded 9 goals in their last 3 matches

Verdict

Palace have shown two faces this season: one with Eze and Olise available and then some poor displays without them. Chelsea should have enough quality to beat a depleted Palace team.

Best Bet: Chelsea win at 1.76
Value Bet: Chelsea win (-1 handicap) at 3.00