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Big Match Preview: Chelsea vs. Crystal Palace

By Kevin Kelly

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  • Stamford Bridge
  • 13.30
  • Sunday, 3rd of May 2015
  • TV: Sky Sports 1

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The Teams

Chelsea (Possible 4-2-3-1) Peter Cech, Branislav Ivanovic, Gary Cahill, John Terry, Cesar Azpiliceuta; Nemanja Matic, Cesc Fabregas; Willian, Oscar, Eden Hazard; Didier Drogba.

Out: Diego Costa (hamstring), Loic Remy (calf).

Crystal Palace (Possible 4-3-3) Julian Speroni, Martin Kelly, Scott Dann, Damien Delaney, Pape Souare; Jason Puncheon, Mile Jedinak, James McArthur; Wilfred Zaha, Glenn Murray, Yannick Bolasie.

Out: Joel Ward (calf), Fraizer Campbell (hamstring), Marouane Chamakh (hamstring), Jerome Thomas (ankle).

Team news

Chelsea

During his Friday afternoon press conference Jose Mourinho confirmed that be would be once again without the services of star striker Diego Costa, again suffering from a hamstring injury. With Loic Remy also out with an ankle problem is means 37 year-old Didier Drogba will likely feature in the key clash as the Blues look to lift their first Premier League title in five years.

Crystal Palace

Alan Pardew will likely be glad to see Fraizer Campbell and Joel Ward who look set to return to action following spells out with hamstring and calf injuries. Maroune Chamakh meanwhile looks to be out of action until at least next weekend, exacerbating the need for Glenn Murray to continue his form.

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Insight

Chelsea go into the game knowing three points will provide the Blues with The Premier League title for the first time since 2010. The Blues last won The Premier League in a dazzling fashion under the tutelage of Carlo Ancelotti, but in 2015 the road to victory this time has been different, if albeit by the way of some skewed perception.

Indeed, the tagline of ‘Boring Boring Chelsea’ may be apt, but only to a point. Chelsea have scored the second most goals in The Premier League this season, only two les (68) than Manchester City. If we take a quick look at the 2009/10 table, the Blues ended with 103 goals, a record breaking return.

Mourinho though remains unperturbed in light of such accusations, portraying a man of focus, in his own peculiar mannerisms, during his press conference on Friday. Crystal Palace lay in wait for Chelsea on Sunday, with the Eagles safe from relegation with 42 points and sitting in 12th place with four games remaining in this league season; Pardew will certainly be effort with his efforts since becoming Palace boss earlier in the season.

Key Battle:

John Terry and Glenn Murray face up in what looks set to be the key battle of interest in Saturday’s massive Premier League clash. Murray has come into an impressive run of form in recent weeks, while Terry’s form resulted in Mourinho saying last week’s performance against Arsenal as ‘the best ever’ of his illustrious career.

“He (Murray) really was outstanding. I don’t know if he’s got a bionic knee, but he’s got an extra spring from somewhere.” Alan Pardew

Murray though, has been in a considerable purple patch lately, scoring six Premier League goals in 13 appearances since returning from loan from Reading. Murray received effusive praise from boss Alan Pardew recently with Pardew saying: Pardew said: “What he did surprise me with on Monday night is his aerial ability. He really was outstanding. I don’t know if he’s got a bionic knee, but he’s got an extra spring from somewhere.”

Pardew says the Cumbrian has many qualities – pace is not among them – and may have had to adapt his game, like Alan Shearer did, after serious injuries. Glenn has had to change his game a little bit and he goes to Sunderland, goals per minute, as the best striker in the Premier League,’ Pardew added.

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“That is great for him, it really is. It is a great tag for him and he can try and keep it for as long as he can.”

Murray will certainly need to play like Alan Shearer though when he comes up against the titan John Terry, who at age 34, is playing arguably the best football of his career. Terry has played 34 (3060 minutes) Premier League games this season, scoring four goals and equalling David Unsworth as the all-time Premier League top scorer for a defender.

Interesting Stat: Chelsea have lost just one of their last 14 league matches against Crystal Palace (W9 D4 L1).

Prediction: Chelsea 2-0 Crystal Palace

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