Premier League - Crystal Palace vs Chelsea

Premier League Matchday 32 sees Chelsea face off against London neighbours Cyrstal Palace at Selhurst Park, in a match that is sure to provide a stern test for both sides, who are also both desperately in need of 3 points. League-leaders Chelsea have the best defence in the League, both overall and away from home, while Crystal Palace themselves have proved a tough nut to crack since the appointment of Tony Pulis earlier in the season. Nevertheless, both sides come into this match rather more on tenterhooks than either had hoped. Chelsea, not 3 weeks ago in imperious form and 9 points clear at the top of the League, were rocked by a defeat to Aston Villa 2 weekends previous, and, though a 6-0 drubbing of Arsenal last weekend provided a stupendous bounce-back for José Mourinho's men, the Blues are crucially in need of full points from Saturday's affair to stand firm against steaming Manchester City and Liverpool. Palace, themselves, are vitally in need of points - and fast. The Eagles, once in impressive form and relatively clear of the relegation zone, now find themselves just 3 points above it, having played 2 games more than 18th-placed Sunderland. 3 losses and 0 wins in their last 5 is undeniably not the kind of form the manager of a relegation-battling side wants to be seeing his side trending towards going into the season's final inning, and a positive result against high-flying Chelsea will surely be seen by the Welshman as the perfect springboard for a PL status-saving revival.










The reverse fixture in mid-December ended in a 2-1 win for the home side, in a match whose 3 goals were settled within 19 minutes. Fernando Torres opened up the scoring on the night pouncing on a deflection by Eagles keeper Julian Speroni onto the post off a stinging low shot from Willian from outside the box just 16 minutes in, but the visitors struck back 13 minutes later through Marouane Chamakh to level things up. The Blues restored their lead, however, just 6 minutes after that via a superb curler from outside the box into the top corner of Speroni's net from Ramires 10 minutes before halftime, and the score would remain such through to the final whistle.










The sides negotiated differing results the weekend before in their respective gameweek fixtures. Chelsea contended a London derby with rivals Arsenal at Stamford Bridge that resulted in a humiliating 6-0 annihiliation for the Gunners in Arsene Wenger's 1000th game as boss, via goals from Samuel Eto'o, André Schürrle, an Eden Hazard penalty, a brace from Oscar, and a first Chelsea goal from January arrival Mohamed Saleh, while Crystal Palace were sunk 1-0 late, late on in their game against Newcastle United at St. James' Park by a 94th-minute headed winner from Papiss Cissé.











While the home side have no notable absentees, the Blues will be made to wait on the fitness of in-form striker Samuel Eto'o, who's netted 3 goals in his last 3 games (2 of them London derbies) for the West Londoners, after the Cameroonian was taken off injured just minutes after opening the scoring in Chelsea's eventual 6-0 evisceration of Arsenal Saturday.










The Blues will also be without midfield man Ramires, as the Brazilian serves the second of his 3-game ban incurred from his red card against Aston Villa 2 weekends before.

If it's possible, I wouldn't change the lineup, maybe include Lampard for Luiz but hopefully Eto'o returns.

Schurrle should keep his spot as he was so devastating against Arsenal.

It's a game we have to win if we want to win the league. So let's go win it.

Of all our remaining games, apart from Liverpool at Anfield, I honestly see this as our most likely one to drop points in.

And if we beat them, we could run away with the league.

Beat them and Liverpool and we could win all remaining games.

Also, thats why I want Eto'o back, we need him if we're going to win this thing.

We're relying on City dropping points thanks to last weekend's fiasco. Christ if we'd won that match I'd actually be feeling super confident right now

I hate Pulis, this game won't go straight forward.

Shed wrote:We're relying on City dropping points thanks to last weekend's fiasco. Christ if we'd won that match I'd actually be feeling super confident right now

Kick wrote:
City still have to play Everton, Utd, Liverpool and Arsenal away from home, that is 4 games where they can drop points, Compared to our one remaining big game against Liverpool.

http://www.goallegacy.net/t28410p540-chelsea-2013-14#1162114

calma

In matters of uncertainty, I always err on the side of pessimism

I am forever the optimist.

Willful blindness

What am I blind to?

Reality

City will drop points between now and the end of the season. But so will we. And let's not forget Liverpool in all of this.

Eto is apparently out for 10-15 days

Not good, we need him for Palace!

Hopefully he will back to score at Home vs PSG

Yes. I'd love that.

I think luiz should continue in midfield for this game, I really like the pair up with matic against arsenal. Although I would hate to have the exact same looking team in the next game, I would like Shirley to his place too.

Schurrle should play and I think Lamaprd should too as Lampard is mature, a goal threat, and knows how to stay composed and get a win.

Luiz isn't so good at those things.

Hopefully we'll score early just like we've been doing lately and kill the match on the counter, otherwise we will struggle a lot

An Early goal will win it for us.

CHELSEA XI: Cech, Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry (c), Azpilicueta, Lampard, David Luiz, Matic, Schurrle, Torres, Hazard

Intresting