Palace remain unbeaten in six games after a second consecutive goalless draw against Swansea City on Boxing Day. The Eagles sit in fifth as they welcome struggling London neighbours Chelsea to SE25.
Guus Hiddink is in the dugout for his second interim spell as Chelsea manager and like Palace are coming off the back of two draws but a poor season has seen them drop to fifteenth place.
As his one year anniversary as Palace gaffer approaches, Alan Pardew will look to celebrate with a win at home. With the transfer window opening for business he looks to address the lack of goals quickly if Palace are to reach their target.
Team News
Crystal Palace – Yohan Cabaye is suspended for this one after accumulating five yellow cards. Jonny Williams has been recalled from his loan spell at Nottingham Forest and is likely to join Sullay KaiKai in the squad as Palace deal with growing list of injuries.
Chelsea – Diego Costa returns from suspension having missed 0-0 draw with Manchester United. It is a boost to the Blues as strikers Radamel Falcao and Löic Remy are doubts as are midfielder Cesc Fabregas and Gary Cahill.
Action Replay
The last two games between these two sides have both been at Stamford Bridge. Earlier in the season goals from Bakary Sako and Joel Ward cancelled out Falcao’s equaliser in what was Jose Mourinho’s 100th home game in charge of Chelsea. Three months beforehand, a 1-0 win secured the Premier League title for Chelsea courtesy of a late dubiously awarded penalty which was converted by Belgian Eden Hazard.
Form Guide
In the last six games between these two sides it is Chelsea who have the upper hand with four wins to Palace’s two. Of these six three have been at Selhurst Park with Chelsea winning two and Palace one. That last win for Palace at home was in March 2014 with an own goal from John Terry securing the points for the Eagles.
Current form in the Premier League favours Palace who are unbeaten in their last six with three wins and three draws. Chelsea have managed one win, three draws and two losses.
Form players heading into this match up are Yohan Cabaye (7.39) and Pedro (7.13).
One To Watch
Diego Costa – Who Scored rating 6.78
The former Brazilian turned Spanish international has started to once again find the form that led Chelsea to the title last season. His goals shows signs of the form that won Chelsea the title last season and will want to prove himself ahead of the European Championships in the summer.
Predictions
Final league position – 7th
No team has managed top four from the points total Chelsea currently have at this point in the season. Even with a a new manager it will be more of a rebuilding job for the Dutchman Guus Hiddink and eventually for the man who replaces him in the summer. Chelsea will look to become a real force in the League again but with the form of the likes of Palace, Stoke and Leicester, it is hard to see them break into the top six.
- TEB prediction – home win
- Chelsea Stats prediction (see link below) – draw
- Who Scored prediction – draw
Betting Odds (courtesy of Paddy Power)
- Home 14/5
- Draw 5/2
- Away Evens
Find our what the team at Chelsea Stats told TEB this week in The Chelsea View.
