After securing his first Premier League win in impressive fashion against Wolverhampton Wanderers, Chelsea's new coach Enzo Maresca will be looking to continue their winning momentum against Crystal Palace. Despite some concerns over their transfer dealings and defensive performances, the Blues have a talented squad and will have their sights set on securing a spot in the knockouts of the Europa Conference League. With fans hoping for a repeat performance, Chelsea will look to dominate once again in their London derby against Crystal Palace.
Preview
Chelsea will be looking to build on their impressive Premier League win over Wolverhampton Wanderers when they host Crystal Palace on Saturday. Enzo Maresca's side, despite early concerns about their defensive performance, secured a comfortable 3-0 victory at Molineux thanks to goals from Mason Mount, Kai Havertz, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
Crystal Palace, on the other hand, have endured a mixed start to the season under Patrick Vieira. After losing their opening two games, they recorded a morale-boosting 3-0 win over struggling Aston Villa before suffering a disappointing 2-1 defeat to West Ham United.
Background
Chelsea and Crystal Palace have a long and storied rivalry dating back to the late 19th century. The two clubs are located in neighboring boroughs of South London and have often been fierce competitors.
In recent years, Chelsea have held an advantage over Palace in the Premier League, winning five of their last six meetings. However, Palace did record a memorable 2-1 victory at Stamford Bridge in 2017.
Team News
Chelsea are expected to be without several key players for the clash with Palace. Reece James, Wesley Fofana, and Ben Chilwell are all sidelined with injuries, while N'Golo Kanté remains a major doubt.
Crystal Palace are also without a number of first-team players, including Nathan Ferguson, Cheick Doucouré, and Joachim Andersen. However, Wilfried Zaha is expected to return to the starting lineup after an injury scare.
Key Battles
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