Chelsea vs Crystal Palace 05/11/18

05 November 2018

Chelsea will host Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge following a tight 3-2 triumph over Championship side Derby County in the EFL Cup.

Along with Manchester City and Liverpool, the Blues are the only Premier League team that is yet to lose a league match after the opening ten fixtures. With a record of seven wins and three draws, the London-based outfit currently trail the aforementioned rivals by two points mainly thanks to an uninspiring scoreless draw with West Ham United. Maurizio Sarri’s players have won three out of five home encounters, having notched at least one goal in each one of them, while keeping a clean sheet just once in the process. Chelsea score an average of 2.40 goals per match, which is the best goalscoring record in the English top flight, with Sarri’s side notching a brace in 80% of their league clashes so far.

On the other hand, the visitors are going through a dreadful period, as they’ve failed to secure a victory in the past five league meetings, having lost three times, while playing out two draws in the process. However, the only two triumphs the Eagles have wrapped up so far arrived on the road although they’ve lost the remaining three games away from the Selhurst Park. The Glaziers have kept a clean sheet three times this season, twice on the road, while they’ve failed to score on five occasions, which puts them on a par with Newcastle United, Cardiff City, and Burnley. Moreover, Roy Hodgson’s players score an average of 0.70 goals per match, having bagged just two braces this season, which is the 2nd-worst conversion rate in the Premier League.

Provisional line-up – Chelsea:

Gk: Kepa Arrizabalaga Defense: Rudiger – David Luiz – Marcos Alonso – Azpilicueta Midfield: Kante – Jorginho – Barkley Attack: Willian – Eden Hazard – Morata

Provisional line-up – Crystal Palace:

Gk: Hennessey Defense: Tomkins – Sakho – Patrick van Aanholt – Kouyate – Wan-Bissaka Midfield: Milivojevic – McArthur – Townsend Attack: Zaha – Jordan Ayew