Crystal Palace vs Chelsea Preview

• Draw or Chelsea win
• Over 2.5 goals

Selhurst Park sets the stage for an intriguing London derby as Crystal Palace host Chelsea in their 2025 Premier League opener.

Both sides are looking to bounce back from challenging spells, with Palace aiming to extend their solid form and Chelsea seeking to recover from a disappointing end to 2024.

Crystal Palace: Aiming for Consistency at Home

Crystal Palace’s steady improvement under Oliver Glasner has seen them lose just two of their last 11 Premier League matches (W4, D5), a run that has provided much-needed stability.

However, their Achilles’ heel has been London derbies, with both recent defeats coming against capital rivals. Facing Chelsea—a side they have not beaten since October 2017 (D1, L14)—presents another daunting challenge.

Selhurst Park has not been the fortress Palace would have hoped for this season. With just two wins at home in the league (D4, L4), they have one of the poorest home records, ahead of only Wolverhampton Wanderers and the promoted sides.

If they are to reverse their fortunes, they’ll need key players like Ismaïla Sarr and Eberechi Eze to step up, especially against a Chelsea side that has historically been their nemesis.

Palace can take some encouragement from the reverse fixture earlier this season, a 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge that ended a 14-match losing streak against Chelsea. However, converting such performances into a win at home remains the bigger challenge.

Chelsea: A Must-Win Scenario

Chelsea ended 2024 on a sour note, failing to win any of their final three fixtures (D1, L2). Their most recent outing, a 2-0 defeat at Ipswich Town, was a stark reminder of their inconsistencies, as the Blues became the first Premier League team to lose at Portman Road in over two decades.

Despite dominating possession and registering 20 shots, Chelsea’s inability to convert chances cost them dearly.

Under Enzo Maresca, Chelsea have oscillated between promise and frustration. Their away form has been particularly concerning, failing to score in their last two road games (D1, L1).

Should they fail to find the net again, it will mark their first three-game scoreless streak away from home since February 2019.

Maresca, who downplayed title ambitions earlier in the season, now faces the reality of Chelsea potentially dropping out of the top four if results do not improve. The pressure will be on players like Raheem Sterling, Nicolas Jackson, and Enzo Fernández to deliver in a high-stakes match.

Key Players to Watch

Ismaïla Sarr (Crystal Palace)

Sarr has been a bright spot for Palace this season, with three of his four league goals coming before half-time. However, only one of those strikes was at home, and it came in a heavy defeat to Arsenal. Palace will look to Sarr’s pace and directness to unsettle Chelsea’s defence.

Nicolas Jackson (Chelsea)

After being dropped to the bench in the loss to Ipswich, Nicolas Jackson could return to the starting XI.

He scored the opener in the reverse fixture against Palace and has been a consistent threat in the first half, with seven of his nine league goals coming in that period. Chelsea will hope his clinical finishing can end their recent scoring drought.

Tactical Analysis and Key Battles

Palace’s Defence vs Chelsea’s Attack

Palace’s defensive organisation will be tested by Chelsea’s attacking talent. Despite their struggles, the Blues have shown they can create chances, as evidenced by their 20 shots against Ipswich. Palace’s centre-backs Marc Guéhi and Joachim Andersen will need to be at their best to contain Chelsea’s forwards.

Midfield Control

The midfield battle between Palace’s Eberechi Eze and Chelsea’s Enzo Fernández could dictate the game’s tempo. Eze’s creativity and ability to drive forward will be key for Palace, while Fernández’s vision and passing range could unlock Palace’s defence.

Set-Pieces and Aerial Duels

Both sides have shown vulnerabilities from set-pieces this season. With towering players like Chalobah and Disasi, set-pieces could prove decisive in what is expected to be a closely fought game.

Predicted Outcome

Chelsea’s historical dominance in this fixture and their superior quality on paper make them favourites, but their recent struggles cannot be overlooked. Palace’s home form has been underwhelming, but their resilience in recent matches suggests they could make this a tough contest.

Prediction: Crystal Palace 1-2 Chelsea

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Crystal Palace v Chelsea, 2024/25 | Premier League