Chelsea will face Crystal Palace on Wednesday in a crucial Premier League match at Stamford Bridge. The game is crucial for Chelsea to solidify their place in the top half of the league table, as they currently sit just four points ahead of Crystal Palace.
In their latest Premier League fixture, Chelsea faced defeat against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Despite leading in the first half, the team failed to capitalize on opportunities and eventually succumbed to a loss. The defeat has put the team’s European qualification hopes in doubt. Chelsea currently trail by eight points from the top six, and they need to embark on a winning streak to secure their position in the league.
Chelsea will have to make some changes to their lineup due to injuries and suspensions. Players like Lesley Ugochukwu, Cole Palmer, and Raheem Sterling will be missing, while there’s a possibility that Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez could return. Mauricio Pochettino might also refrain from starting Christopher Nkunku after his recent debut, opting for other attacking options like Noni Madueke and Mykhaylo Mudryk instead.
Crystal Palace, on the other hand, have been facing pressure to improve their performance as they have secured just one victory in their last 11 matches. Despite consecutive draws against Manchester City and Brighton & Hove Albion, the team’s overall performance has been lackluster. They have struggled in terms of their attacking prowess, but have shown consistency in scoring in their recent fixtures.
Manager Roy Hodgson might consider reintroducing Eberechi Eze into the starting lineup after his recent injury recovery. However, the team has several injured players who are unlikely to feature in the upcoming match against Chelsea, including Cheick Doucoure, Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, Joel Ward, Sam Johnstone, Rob Holding, and Odsonne Edouard.
With both teams beset with injuries, the forthcoming match between Chelsea and Crystal Palace is highly anticipated. Given both teams’ injury concerns and recent poor form, a draw seems to be the most likely outcome for this fixture. Bookmakers have the best odds for a draw currently set at 27/10. Whether fans will bet on the outcome of the match remains to be seen, but it is likely to be an interesting and closely fought battle.
