English Premier League is scheduled to continue this weekend with a number of games on the cards. Our focus will be on Chelsea welcoming London rivals Crystal Palace to Stamford Bridge Saturday to early kickoff.
Palace are aiming to bounce back from Everton 2-1 defeat. The Blues showed real fight as they came from a goal down to force a 3-3 draw with newly promoted side West Brom. This was followed by a weekday’s disappointment as they were knocked out of the EFL Cup by Tottenham through penalties.
Meanwhile, Chelsea; big-spending during pre-season brought a buzz of excitement which seems to fade away after an underwhelming start to the new season campaign.
Match preview
The Blues defence was exposed last weekend against West Brom terming it a big issue, for the title challenge was put on hold when they were a distant second-best to Liverpool during their opening home league game of the season last month.
Chelsea boss Frank Lampard was furious watching his men making reckless mistakes, which saw them concede three goals in a span of 27 minutes.
Timo Werner’s first competitive goal for the club was one positive to take from that match and he is hoping to open the streak of scoring, despite his relatively slow start to life in the Premier League as for now.
Chelsea are currently hunting for their first home league win of the season after losing to Liverpool in their opening match – only the third time they have ever lost their opening home match of a Premier League campaign and a result which puts them in danger of losing their first two home games of a top-flight season for the first time for 21-years since 1978-79.
The Eagles’ disastrous thrash to Manchester United at their own playground (Theatre of Dreams) this season, having lost their final four away games of last season without scoring, and go into the match sitting in sixth – three places and two points above their hosts.
Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson will feel as having upper-hand, though, and the world of football seems to agree; his grim assessment of the handball law after last weekend’s defeat to Everton has been held up as the most succinct and cutting criticism of it yet.
The controversially-awarded penalty given against Joel Ward, who could do nothing to prevent Lucas Digne’s header from hitting his hand in the area – an incident which allowed Everton to dispatch the winning goal from the spot, this cost Palace their unbeaten start to the leagues’ season, having back-to-back victories over Southampton and Manchester United in 2019-20.
The Everton defeat may be painful for a while, Hodgson will still take belief from the fact that it took an unpopular decision to put down his side and, on the hand, they have been impressive this term.
Palace will therefore travel across to London full of confidence that they can take something home from Stamford Bridge despite losing their last 5 meetings with the Blues.
Teams News
Having taken a full part in training this week, Hakim Ziyech is in contention to make his Premier League debut against Crystal Palace tomorrow afternoon, while Christian Pulisic is also close to a return which will significantly boost for the host.
The 27-year- old Morocco star has fully recovered from the knee injury he sustained in the club’s only pre-season friendly away to Brighton on August 29, and he could be named on the bench on Saturday.
Timo Werner was suffering from cramp late on in the cup having been carrying a minor injury for the last two games and could be due a rest after a busy start to life at the Blues.
On other news Thiago Silva will keep his place at the back despite a disastrous debut last week, while both Edouard Mendy and Ben Chilwell are expected to make their league debuts for the club.
Palace, having many injury problems to kick off the campaign, made a commendable start to the season and have very little opportunity to rotate their squad, despite defeat last time out.
Still having a number of players in the treatment chamber, Hodgson will not be able to call upon Michy Batshuayi putting in mind that he is on loan from their hosts this weekend.
It may well be as you were then, with Cheikhou Kouyate continuing to fill in at the back in the absence of Cahill, Tomkins and Dann, while Wilfred Zaha may continue up front to orientate the new signing Ebere Eze on the left, with Jeff Schlupp expected to come back into contention for that spot.
Alonso, Antonio Rudiger and Ruben Loftus-Cheek have all been linked with moves away in the coming days, so all three could be overlooked again here
Match Facts
• In the last 6 EPL matches between these teams 2 goals have been produced.
• Chelsea have won 5 of the 6-game they have played against Palace.
• Chelsea have kept 2 clean sheets in their last 6 EPL home and away matches.
• Chelsea have won all matches as host to the Palace.
• Chelsea have won 2 away matches and lost 1 in the last 6 matches.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace win for the host and over 2.5 goals
Chelsea’s defense is struggling this season, therefore is a difficult match but Mendy’s arrival should help them to tighten things up at the back a bit.
The desperate Palace unfortunate lose last weekend, will put up a good fight, but their away record against Chelsea is poor and we expect the hosts to keep the history, it will be an entertaining game with numerous goals. Our experts are predicting win for the host and more than 2 goals. Win 1.47 odds and over 2.5 goals 1.59 odds 1Xbet is giving 1.456 odds for the win and 1.67 odds for over 2.5 goals.
All time Goal Scorer-
Goals are expected to rain for this duo, the players to be watched in the match.
Werner, Timo 1.94 odds Betway.
Giroud, Olivier 2.08 odds Betway.
Football analyst! Biggest fan of local and international football. Mostly, loves keeping an eye on the upcoming players, always trying to bring debate on youngsters’ potential of becoming the next big thing in the world of football and of, course writing some pieces about them.
