Romeo Lavia decision made as £54m ace comes back in: Chelsea predicted XI v Crystal Palace

01/04/2025 04:15 AM

Chelsea will be desperate to get back to winning ways in the Premier League when they head to Crystal Palace in Saturday’s 3pm kick-off.

The Blues have enjoyed a solid season so far under new manager Enzo Maresca, but their form has taken a turn for the worse in recent weeks.

Chelsea drew 0-0 with Everton just before Christmas before suffering defeats against Fulham and Ipswich Town at the end of December.

The Blues will be taking on a Crystal Palace side buoyed by four points from their last two games and a win over Southampton last time out.

TBR Football now looks at who Maresca could pick in the Chelsea starting XI for the game at Selhurst Park.

READ MORE: Chelsea have already made an exciting January signing which has gone completely under the radar

Chelsea team news v Crystal Palace

Maresca confirmed at his pre-match press conference that Romeo Lavia is “very close” to a return after missing the last four league games with a hamstring problem.

However, Wesley Fofana is set to be out for a “very long time” due to a hamstring injury, while Benoit Badiashile is likely to be sidelined until February.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall remains out injured, but Reece James is available again after making the Chelsea matchday squad for the loss at Ipswich.

Romeo Lavia unlikely to start as Pedro Neto comes back in

Chelsea’s injury crisis at the back means Maresca won’t have much wiggle room in terms of changes.

The Blues boss is likely to stick with Tosin Adarabioyo and Levi Colwill at centre-back, with Marc Cucurella at left-back.

One change could come in the form of Malo Gusto replacing Axel Disasi at right-back after his poor display at Portman Road.

Even if Lavia is available for the game, Maresca seems unlikely to start him, instead sticking with Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo in midfield.

Two more changes could come further up, with Jadon Sancho replacing Joao Felix on the left side of attack and £54million ace Pedro Neto coming in for Noni Madueke.

Paul Merson has urged Maresca to start Nicolas Jackson in away games and the Chelsea boss is likely to do just that against Palace.

"It was a bad mistake playing Christopher Nkunku at Ipswich,” said Merson. “Jackson gives you the energy up front in such games and holds the ball up really well.”

Chelsea predicted XI v Crystal Palace (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Gusto, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Neto, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson