Chelsea welcome Crystal Palace to Stamford Bridge on Sunday, with the Blues looking to avoid a fourth straight defeat in all competitions.
Graham Potter’s Blues are under real pressure as their slide down the Premier League continues, with Chelsea sitting on just one league victory – a 2-0 win over Bournemouth – since October 16.
They’re currently three points clear of a Palace side who have played one game fewer than their hosts. The Eagles could climb level on points with a victory that is by no means as unlikely as it would have seemed a few months ago.
Here’s all you need to know about this one.
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Chelsea team news
Denis Zakaria became the latest occupant of Chelsea’s treatment room as he appeared to tweak a muscle in the 2-1 defeat to Fulham.
The midfielder joins Edouard Mendy, Wesley Fofana, Ben Chilwell, Reece James, N’Golo Kante, Raheem Sterling, Christian Pulisic and Armando Broja on the sidelines, but Ruben Loftus-Cheek has finally returned to training to reduce the overcrowding.
New signing Joao Felix begins his three-game suspension.
Chelsea predicted lineup (3-5-2): Kepa; Koulibaly, Silva, Badiashile; Azpilicueta, Kovacic, Chukwuemeka, Mount, Cucurella; Havertz, Ziyech
Crystal Palace team news
Left-back Tyrick Mitchell is back from suspension and will likely return to the starting lineup at the expense of Nathaniel Clyne.
James McArthur and Nathan Ferguson are long-term absentees.
Crystal Palace predicted lineup (4-2-3-1): Guaita; Ward, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell; Doucoure, Schlupp; Olise, Eze, Zaha; Ayew
Chelsea actually looked a little better against Fulham, but most of that was down to the now-suspended Felix, so the Blues are right back to where they were beforehand.
They’re still better than Palace, but whether Chelsea will actually play that way remains to be seen. Potter’s side have been largely shocking in recent weeks and there’s been little evidence to suggest they’ll be any better here.
Palace have been pretty abject themselves, but do have excellent, high-tempo forwards at their disposal that could cause Chelsea problems. It’ll be tight but the hosts could edge the odd goal in three.
Prediction: Chelsea 2-1 Crystal Palace
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