Crystal Palace vs Chelsea: Latest team news, predicted lineup and injuries

01/01/2025 04:00 AM

Chelsea will look to end their three-game winless run in the Premier League when they visit Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday.

After eight wins in a row, Enzo Maresca's side have seen their faint title hopes all-but disappear after a disappointing run of form over the Christmas period.

Having been held to a goalless draw against Everton, the Blues then fell to a late defeat to local rivals Fulham before being stunned by Ipswich Town on Monday.

And they now face a resurgent Crystal Palace side who have lost just one of their last eight league fixtures following a slow start to the campaign.

Having rung the changes for their trip to Portman Road, Maresca is likely to return to his first-choice starting lineup for Saturday’s fixture.

Attackers such as Christopher Nkunku and Joao Felix were given a rare chance to impress from the start but could now make way as Nicolas Jackson and Jadon Sancho return to the fold.

Pedro Neto could also return to the front quartet in place of Noni Madueke.

In midfield, Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo are expected to continue given the injuries to Keirnan Dewsbury-Hall and Romeo Lavia.

The Belgian has not seen since coming off at half-time against Tottenham earlier in December, but will hope to prove his fitness to play a part from the bench against Palace.

Dewsbury-Hall, meanwhile, has featured in the last three matchday squads due to a knock and has not been seen in the league since a cameo appearance against Southampton at the start of December.

Defensively, Malo Gusto could come back into the side for Axel Disasi at right-back, while longer-term injuries to Benoit Badiashille and Wesley Fofana mean that Tosin Adarabioyo and Levi Colwill will likely continue at full-back.

Filip Jorgensen started just his second league game in goal for Chelsea against Ipswich, but first-choice Robert Sanchez may well return in net at the weekend.

Perhaps the only positive news from Chelsea’s loss to Ipswich was the return of Reece James to the matchday squad for the first time since mid-November.

The club captain did not come off the bench as he continues his rehabilitation from his latest hamstring injury but could be in line for some minutes as a substitute against Palace.

Predicted Chelsea XI to face Crystal Palace

Sanchez, Gusto, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella, Caicedo, Fernandez, Neto, Palmer, Sancho, Jackson

Where to watch Chelsea vs Fulham? Kick-off time and TV channel

Chelsea vs Crystal Palace kicks off at 3pm on Saturday, January 4.

Viewers in the United Kingdom will not be able to watch the game live on TV or via a live stream due to the 3pm football blackout rule.

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