Preview
Crystal Palace welcome Chelsea to Selhurst Park in the two clubs first match in 2016.
Crystal Palace have started the season very well and currently sit in 7th place in the league. Alan Pardew has got the Eagles playing extremely well this season with pace and power down the wings in Yannick Bolasie and Wilfred Zaha. They also have a good spine down the middle including the likes of Yohan Cabaye and James MacArthur with Scott Dann behind them.
Today’s game will certainly be tough and Chelsea will have to improve on our game with Man United earlier this week to get anything from the match.
Guus Hiddink now has Diego Costa to choose from after completing his suspension which is a big boost for Chelsea after he scored 2 goals vs Watford on Boxing Day. Eden Hazard struggled in his place on Monday and will hopefully return to his preferred position today.
To get anything from today’s game Chelsea will need a disciplined performance and will have to defend well against a strong Palace attack.
Come on Chelsea!
Match details
Sunday, 3rd January, kick off at 1:30pm (UK Time) at Selhurst Park on Sky Sports 1.
Recent form
Crystal Palace are currently unbeaten in 6 matches. They have won 2 (Stoke and Southampton) of their last 5 games and drawn the other 3 (Everton, Bournemouth and Swansea).
Chelsea have only lost once in our last 5 matches which came against Leicester. We have won 2 (Porto and Sunderland) and drawn the other 2 (Watford and Manchester United).
Team news
Damian Delaney is a doubt for Crystal Palace today while Dwight Gayle, Connor Wickham, Yannick Bolasie and Bakary Sako will all miss the game. Yohan Cabaye is also suspended.
Radamel Falcao had an injury setback this week and won’t be fit to play until the back end of January. Loic Remy and Gary Cahill are two doubts for the game with their respective calf and foot injuries.
My prediction
Unfortunately I don’t think Guus Hiddink will get his first win in charge during his second spell today and Palace despite injuries and suspensions will be too strong for us.
Crystal Palace 2-1 Chelsea.
