Crystal Palace vs Chelsea 30/12/18

30 December 2018

An improving Crystal Palace side will host Chelsea to the Selhurst Park hoping to extend a three-game Premier League lossless run.

Unbeaten in their last three league outings (W2, D1), the Glaziers currently sit 14th in the table, seven points albeit the relegation zone. However, the hosts come into this encounter following a disappointing goalless draw with Cardiff City at home in midweek that has seen Crystal Palace failing to hit the back of the net sixth time in nine home meetings this campaign. Only Huddersfield (4) scored fewer goals at home than Crystal Palace (5) this season, with Roy Hodgson’s men scoring more than one goal per match just two times so far. Goals have been in short supply in all of Eagles’ nine home games in the Premier League so far, with 89% of them producing under 2.5 goals. The Glaziers have conceded eight goals at Selhurst Park this term, keeping a clean sheet four times in the run.

Meanwhile, the visitors come into this meeting after a 2-1 road win over Watford that has seen them bouncing back from a frustrating 1-0 home loss to Leicester City. The Blues are going through a turbulent period as they’ve lost two out of their last five Premier League clashes, with two of them coming away from home. However, the Pensioners have secured back-to-back road wins, beating Brighton and Watford with the identical 2-1 scoreline. A potential worry for Maurizio Sarri could be that his players have failed to keep a clean sheet on their last four road trips, conceding at least two goals per match twice in the process. Still, Chelsea have scored a minimum of two goals in four out of last six road games, with the London-based outfit failing to hit the back of the net just once in nine road clashes this campaign.

Provisional line-up – Crystal Palace:

Gk: Guaita Defense: Patrick van Aanholt – Sakho – Tomkins – Kouyate – Wan-Bissaka Midfield: Milivojevic – McArthur – Max Meyer Attack: Townsend – Zaha

Provisional line-up – Chelsea:

Gk: Arrizabalaga Defense: Alonso – Rudiger – David Luiz – Azpilicueta Midfield: Jorginho – Kovacic – Kante – Barkley Attack: Eden Hazard