Crystal Palace vs Chelsea – Preview, H2H, Line-ups, Prediction | EPL 2022-23

Jorginho of Chelsea against Crystal Palace-Premier League

Chelsea will travel across London this Saturday to face Patrick Vieira’s well-rested Crystal Palace side. 

Venue: Selhurst Park (London) 

Key Statistics

Crystal Palace have only lost one of their previous 11 competitive home games (W6, D4).

The hosts have lost their last ten head-to-head meetings with Chelsea.

They have failed to score twice in their last 12 competitive games. 

Chelsea have only won two of their last six EPL road games (D1, L3). 

The Blues have lost three of their last six competitive games (W2, D1).

New manager Graham Potter never beat Palace when he was at Brighton (D4, L2). 

Head to head

In 26 Premier League meetings between both sides, Chelsea have 20 wins while Crystal Palace have just four wins (D2). 

Latest performances in all competitions

Crystal Palace: D-D-L-W-W

Chelsea: D-L-W-L-W

Crystal Palace

After a month without football action, Crystal Palace will return to action, looking to record their first win over London rivals, Chelsea, in five years.

The hosts have been out of action for almost a month due to the Queen’s passing, train strikes and the international break, so they must be eager to resume their Premier League campaign with a win.

So far, they have recorded just one win from six games (D3, L2) and are currently sitting in 16th place. Despite sitting just above the relegation zone after making an identical six-game start to last term, Palace have scored one more goal and boast a game in hand over the sides around them. 

And so, they come into this tie, not as a relegation contender, but more of a team looking to prove that they belong to the top after impressive outings against Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City this season despite taking just one point from these games. 

Given that the Eagles have only lost one of their previous eleven competitive home games (W6, D4) the Selhurst Park faithful will expect their side to at least make life difficult for their visitors – as they did last term when they held out until the 89th minute before eventually losing 1-0.

Possible Crystal Palace starting line-up

Vicente Guaita; Joel Ward, Joachim Andersen, Marc Guehi, Tyrick Mitchell; Cheick Doucoure, Jeffrey Schlupp, Eberechi Eze; Jordan Ayew, Wilfried Zaha, jean-Phillipe Mateta.

Injured: Jack Butland, Nathan Ferguson, James McArthur, James Tomkins, Tyrick Mitchell, Wilfried Zaha

Doubtful: None 

Suspended: None 

Chelsea 

For Chelsea and Graham Potter, this game will be about proving that they are still a force to reckon with in the Premier League.

The Blues are playing their first league game under Potter, who replaced Thomas Tuchel following an uninspiring start to the league campaign with Chelsea (W3, D1, L2).

The former Brighton coach has already overseen a game for Chelsea, but that was a 1-1 draw with RB Salzburg in the UEFA Champions League. Having overseen Brighton to four wins (D1, L1) in six PL games while leaving them sitting in fourth place after six games, Potter will hope he can achieve a similar feat at Stamford Bridge. 

But to take them closer to the top four places where they are expected to finish this season, the Englishman must improve his side’s poor away form as the Blues have only won two of their last six PL road games (D1, L3). 

But after winning four London derbies away from home last term (L1), the hosts have performed well in the capital so this should be a good chance for Potter to finally get one over a Palace side he failed to beat in six tries as Brighton coach (D2, L4).

Possible Chelsea starting line-up

Kepa Arizzabalga; Reece James, Kalidou Koulibaly, Thiago Silva, Marc Cucurella; Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic, Mason Mount; Raheem Sterling, Kai Havertz, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Injured: N’Golo Kante, Edouard Mendy

Doubtful: None  

Suspended: None 

Prediction

Crystal Palace 1-2 Chelsea