Chelsea vs Crystal Palace Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is Chelsea vs Crystal Palace taking place? Chelsea vs Crystal Palace will take place on Saturday 14th August, 2021 at 15:00 (UK)
Where is Chelsea vs Crystal Palace taking place? Chelsea vs Crystal Palace will take place at Stamford Bridge in London
Where can I get tickets for Chelsea vs Crystal Palace? Ticket information for Chelsea vs Crystal Palace can be found on each club’s official website
What TV channel is Chelsea vs Crystal Palace on in the UK? Chelsea vs Crystal Palace will not be televised live in the UK
Where can I stream Chelsea vs Crystal Palace in the UK? Chelsea vs Crystal Palace cannot be streamed live in the UK
THE LOWDOWN
CHELSEA
- Thomas Tuchel’s European champions come into this campaign knowing there are some key areas to improve upon if they are to last the distance of a league season competing against Manchester City: goals. The signing of Romelu Lukaku looks like it could be the catalyst for a genuine title challenge this season.
- Tuchel deployed a relatively conservative 3-4-2-1 last season as Chelsea went all the way in Europe but that style of play did still continue to produce and create chances that went unfinished by the likes of Tammy Abraham and Timo Werner as well as the supporting cast in the two attacking roles behind the striker.
CRYSTAL PALACE
- Comparisons between the appointment of Patrick Vieira and that of Frank de Boer at Crystal Palace have been made since the Frenchman got the job but that remains a harsh judgement. De Boer tried to impose a complete revolution upon a group of players that remained the same from the previous regime whereas Vieira has the ability to implement his presumably more progressive style of play with the benefit of some useful additions.
- Those useful additions did include Conor Gallagher on loan from Chelsea but he will be unavailable as he is ineligible against his parent club. Michael Olise is also unavailable due to an injury but the new defensive partnership of Joachim Andersen and Marc Guehi is likely to start.
THE TEAM NEWS
CHELSEA
PREDICTED XI (3-4-2-1): Mendy; Azpilicueta, Thiago Silva, Rudiger; James, Jorginho, Kovacic, Chilwell; Mount, Havertz; Werner
UNAVAILABLE: Ziyech (Injured), Lukaku (Ineligible)
QUESTIONABLE: Kante (Injured)
CRYSTAL PALACE
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Guaita; Clyne, Guehi, Kouyate, Mitchell; McArthur, Riedewald, Schlupp; Ayew, Benteke, Zaha
UNAVAILABLE: Ferguson (Injured), Olise (Injured), Eze (Injured), Gallagher (Ineligible), Milivojevic (Personal reasons)
QUESTIONABLE:
THE PREDICTION
The apparently new-look Crystal Palace side that is meant to be revolutionised by Vieira is set to feature nine of the starting 11 that played last season with just the centre-back partnership being new and fresh. The staleness of Palace was a concern and criticism and that does not yet look to have been addressed; circumstances involving injury, ineligibility and the transfer window still being open have contributed to that. Chelsea should win this game relatively comfortably but given that Romelu Lukaku is unlikely to feature in this game, at least from the start, a 1-0 or 2-0 home victory seems a very likely outcome.
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