Chelsea vs Crystal Palace: Preview, predictions and lineups

Chelsea are aiming to extend Crystal Palace’s losing Premier League run this Sunday when they host the Eagles at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues picked up their first points of the season last weekend when they dismantled Wolverhampton Wanderers on the road. Noni Madueke bagged his first senior hat-trick in an enthralling 6-2 victory at Molineux that also saw the returning Joao Felix get on the scoresheet. However, while a 2-1 defeat to Servette in the Europa Conference League on Thursday didn’t prevent Chelsea progressing, it was another alarming defeat.

Madueke was the match-winner in this fixture last season, netting an 89th-minute penalty in a 2-1 victory. In fact, Chelsea have remarkably won their last 14 matches against the Eagles in all competitions, highlighting the scale of the task facing Oliver Glasner’s side this weekend.

Palace will be searching for their first points of the campaign at Stamford Bridge having lost their opening two games against London clubs Brentford and West Ham United. Pummelling Norwich City in the Carabao Cup midweek offered some much-needed respite.

Here is 90min’s guide to Chelsea vs Crystal Palace in the Premier League.

Chelsea vs Crystal Palace H2H Record (Last Five Games)

Current form (all competitions)

How to watch Chelsea vs Crystal Palace on TV and live stream

Chelsea team news

Chelsea completed the job at Servette to qualify for the Conference League, but there’ll be plenty of change to the XI that started on Thursday night.

Reece James is both injured and suspended ahead of Sunday’s clash but should be fit after the upcoming September international break. Romeo Lavia is also expected to miss out at the weekend as he recovers from a minor hamstring injury and Moises Caicedo is a doubt after suffering an ankle blow at Wolves.

Madueke will certainly have done enough to earn another start at West Ham and will be hopeful of more service from Cole Palmer, who assisted all three of his strikes at Molineux. Pedro Neto should come into the XI at the weekend, replacing Mykhailo Mudryk.

Chelsea predicted lineup vs Crystal Palace (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Madueke, Palmer, Neto; Jackson.

Crystal Palace team news

Glasner was handed an injury blow midweek after Chadi Riad was withdrawn just ten minutes into the 4-0 win over Norwich due to a knee injury. The centre-back and summer signing is unlikely to feature against Chelsea. Youngster Matheus Franca is the only other confirmed absentee for Sunday.

After a goal and assist midweek, Daichi Kamada could be restored to the starting lineup after coming on as a substitute against West Ham. Jean-Philippe Mateta sparkled against Norwich with two goals and an assist, one of which was an excellent acrobatic strike.

Crystal Palace predicted lineup vs Chelsea

Crystal Palace predicted lineup vs Chelsea (5-2-3): Henderson; Munoz, Clyne, Richards, Guehi, Mitchell; Hughes, Wharton; Kamada, Mateta, Eze.

Chelsea vs Crystal Palace score prediction

After their midweek excursions, there may be some tired legs in both camps this weekend. That’s likely to suit Chelsea and their ludicrously large squad, with confidence flowing after their six-goal haul at Wolves.

Chelsea’s defence has been leaky to say the least since Maresca took charge and Crystal Palace will get some joy on the counter attack this weekend. In Eberechi Eze and Mateta, they have game-changers.

However, Chelsea should still prevail and pile more misery on the Eagles at the start of 2024/25, even if it’s not a routine victory.