Crystal Palace vs Chelsea Prediction, Preview, Team News and Betting Tips
Crystal Palace vs Chelsea Premier League
Crystal Palace have made themselves difficult to beat across the last six rounds (W2, D3, L1), but after being thrashed 4-0 by Chelsea in the reverse fixture, they’re also enduring their longest H2H league losing streak in their history (L6). The odds aren’t in their favour to end that run here, and with nine of Palace’s 12 league defeats this season witnessing them trail at HT, this game may be decided early.
One positive is their current three-game run of clean sheets at home (W1, D2), Palace’s best such run in the top-flight since a streak of four that ended back in April 1992. That, coupled with a 66.67% unbeaten rate as a home outsider this Premier League (PL) campaign (W3, D5, L4), will have Palace believing they can pick up a H2H result at home for just the fourth time in the PL-era (W2, D1, L8).
Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea beat Porto 2-0 in midweek, helping to soothe the wounds of a 5-2 hammering at the hands of West Brom in the last PL round, in what was the only match across the Blues’ last nine in which they failed to keep a clean sheet (W6, D2, L1).
They’re favoured for victory here though, and have netted exactly one goal either side of HT in their previous four wins. However, their 46.15% win-rate as a PL away favourite this campaign needs improvement (W6, D3, L4).
Key battle: Wilfried Zaha scored before HT in the last H2H held here, whilst his last two PL goals have been match openers at home. However he’s up against Chelsea keeper Édouard Mendy who’s secured ten clean sheets in all competitions since Thomas Tuchel took charge – no goalkeeper across Europe’s top five divisions has registered more during that period.
Hot stat: There’s already been 83 penalties scored in the PL this season ahead of the round – only three PL campaigns have featured more penalty goals.
Prediction: Crystal Palace [0] vs [1] Chelsea