Chelsea FC At Crystal Palace: Confirmed Line-Ups And Analysis
As we close in on kick-off, the teams for Chelsea FC’s Premier League clash with Crystal Palace have been confirmed.
Chelsea FC travel to Crystal Palace this afternoon and with under one hour until kick-off, the respective teams have been confirmed by Guus Hiddink and Alan Pardew.
Chelsea FC
Thibaut Courtois;
Branislav Ivanovic, Kurt Zouma, John Terry (C), Cesar Azpilicueta;
John Obi Mikel, Cesc Fabregas;
Willian, Oscar, Eden Hazard;
Diego Costa
Bench: Begovic, Baba, Matic, Loftus-Cheek, Ramires, Traore, Pedro
Crystal Palace
Wayne Hennessey;
Joel Ward, Scott Dann, Damien Delaney, Pape Souare;
Lee Chung-Yong, Mile Jedinak (C), James McArthur, Jason Puncheon;
Wilfried Zaha, Fraizer Campbell;
Bench: McCarthy, Kelly, Ledley, Mutch, Williams, Sako, Chamakh
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Hiddink makes two changes to his starting line-up from the team that managed to scrape a goalless draw against Manchester United on Monday. As expected, Diego Costa returns to the striking role after missing the Old Trafford game through suspension. This moves Eden Hazard back to his spot on the wing while Pedro is the casualty who drops to the bench.
After being laid low by illness a week ago, Cesc Fabregas has evidently made a full recovery and is reinstated to the starting eleven. Nemanja Matic is the one who is somewhat surprisingly sacrificed for the returning Spaniard as John Obi Mikel partners Fabregas in the middle of the park.
Branislav Ivanovic continues at right-back despite being turned inside and out by Anthony Martial on Monday evening. Oscar, too, keeps his place on the back of another thoroughly underwhelming outing. Perhaps the lack of a recognised striker the other day has saved him.
This team will undoubtedly frustrate a multitude of Chelsea fans who had hoped for the interim boss to change things up. With the likes of Kenedy and Bertrand Traore languishing on the sidelines, there have been calls for their utilisation in order to provide the spark that the Blues so desperately need. Kenedy does not even feature in the 18.
Furthermore, reports claiming that Patrick Bamford may find his way into the squad have been debunked as the returning striker does not even make the bench.
From Crystal Palace’s point of view, they appear to be setting up in a 4-4-2 formation with Fraizer Campbell set to play furthest up the field. Injuries have meant that the Eagles are missing players who account for about half of the goals that they have scored in the Premier League so far.
Pardew makes three changes from the team that were held to a scoreless draw with Swansea City. Damien Delaney comes in for Brede Hangeland, Campbell comes in for Marouane Chamakh while Lee Chung-Yong replaces Yohan Cabaye. The Frenchman misses out with a suspension resulting from his fifth caution of the season.
The Blues will need to be wary of the likes of Wilfried Zaha on the counter attack. Furthermore, with Sako returning to the bench, the Eagles possess talent capable of changing the game late on.
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What do you think of the teams? How do you see the game playing out? Let us know in the comments below!