Crystal Palace welcome the league leaders and title favourites Chelsea to Selhurst Park who will be looking to avenge last season’s result
The Eagles inflicted a single goal defeat on the travelling Blues courtesy of an own goal by experienced defender John Terry which earned a much needed three points in the fight for Premier League survival.
Jose Mourinho’s side are quite different this season and are so far living up to expectations with performances meriting their top of the table position. Brazilian striker Diego Costa who has adopted Spain as his home country has bagged a sensational nine goals in seven games and looks to keep up the form as he returns from international duty.
Another summer signing Cesc Fabregas has also started the season well and is a real upgrade in the Chelsea midfield. Even though the side from Stamford Bridge claimed maximum points over the two sides who finished above them last season, Liverpool and eventual champions Manchester City, they only managed a lack lustre third placed finish as they dropped points against the likes of West Bromwich Albion, Sunderland and Palace.
Chelsea’s spending spree topped £100m over the summer as Cesc Fabregas, Diego Costa, Filipe Luis and returning talisman Didier Drogba all came in to South West London whilst misfiring Spanish striker Fernando Torres left on a two year loan deal to AC Milan. Midfielders Michael Essien and Frank Lampard along with defender Ashley Cole all left for pastures new.
Team News
Team news for Saturday’s game makes welcome reading for both managers as the two clubs look to have come through the international break with minimal injury worries.
Chelsea
Chelsea are without experienced striker Didier Drogba who has yet to overcome an ankle injury he sustained since re-joining the London outfit. Brazilian midfielder Ramires is also unlikely to feature after picking up a minor muscle strain against Manchester City last month. Meanwhile, Belgian keeper Thibaout Cortouis is set to feature again after suffering a concussion in the win over Arsenal.
Crystal Palace
Palace look set to recall Norwegian defender Brede Hangeland to the side to replace the injured Scott Dann who is likely to miss a couple more games after sustained a knee injury in the defeat at Hull City. Fan favourite Marouane Chamakh looks to have regained full fitness after a recent hamstring injury.
Analysis and Predictions
Prediction for Chelsea – 1st
Chelsea’s quality will surely secure the Premier League title for them this season. However, in recent season’s they have been their own worst enemy as was clearly evident last season. The bare minimum expectation should be to secure Champions League football for another season but this should be achieved by March if they really hit the heights that many are expecting them to this season.
European success should be in the realm of possibility for them too as they should be more than capable of capitalising on poor form from Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid in a bid to be considered one of the favourites in Europe as well.
EPL Index prediction – away win
Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson prediction – away win
Who Scored prediction – away win
TEB prediction – away win
