Crystal Palace vs Chelsea Premier League preview, team news and prediction

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Crystal Palace will be looking to reverse their recent struggles as they host Chelsea in the Premier League this weekend. The Eagles come into the match on a disappointing run, averaging just 0.40 points per game over their last five league fixtures and failing to secure a single win during that stretch. Their home form has been similarly underwhelming, with an average of only 0.60 points per game at Selhurst Park this season, scoring 0.75 goals and conceding 1.25 per match. This has contributed to a ten-game winless streak across all competitions and leaves them among the league’s least effective home sides. Off the field, uncertainty has grown with the announcement that Oliver Glasner will depart in the summer and the sale of Marc Guehi to Manchester City, further adding to the sense of instability.

Statistically, Palace have scored 17 and conceded 21 goals in 16 league matches this season, averaging 1.06 goals for and 1.31 against per game. Over 2.5 goals have been scored in 7 of those 16 matches. Their expected goals (xG) stands at 1.30 per game, with an xG against of 1.39, and their both teams to score (BTTS) rate is around 60%, highlighting frequent defensive lapses even in otherwise competitive contests.

Chelsea, meanwhile, make the short trip across London with a more positive outlook, despite some inconsistency in their own campaign. They are averaging 1.50 points per game in the league overall, with their away form particularly impressive—1.60 points per game on the road and an average of 2.40 goals scored per away match, making them one of the league’s most potent attacking sides away from home.

In terms of goal trends, Chelsea’s season has been high-scoring, averaging 2.17 goals for and 1.33 against per game—about 3.5 total goals per match—placing them well above the league average for games with over 2.5 goals. Their attacking strength is even more pronounced away from home, with data showing they have scored at least twice in the majority of their away fixtures this season.

Overall, Palace’s poor form and the growing uncertainty surrounding their managerial situation make them clear underdogs against a Chelsea side that, despite its own ups and downs, enters the match in a far more stable position both on and off the pitch—a notable advantage given recent events at Selhurst Park.

Jefferson Lerma is expected to retain his place in Palace’s back three, having stepped in last week against Sunderland while Marc Guehi awaited the completion of his move to Manchester City. In a significant boost for the hosts, Ismaila Sarr is available for selection after playing a key role in Senegal’s successful Africa Cup of Nations campaign. Sarr is likely to be immediately reinstated to the attack, potentially at the expense of Mateta, who has requested a transfer ahead of the January window deadline.

For Chelsea, Robert Sanchez is set to return in goal after Filip Jorgensen picked up an injury that saw him substituted against Pafos in midweek. The Blues are also expected to welcome back Cole Palmer, who missed the Champions League victory as a precaution, while Reece James’s recent substitution was simply a matter of managing his workload rather than any injury concern. However, Romeo Lavia and Levi Colwill remain long-term absentees, and Tosin Adarabioyo now joins them on the sidelines after suffering a hamstring injury in the win over Brentford.

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