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Chelsea versus Crystal Palace will come down to who is more desperate

By Travis Tyler

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 25: Eden Hazard of Chelsea and Scott McTominay of Manchester United compete for the ball during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Chelsea at Old Trafford on February 25, 2018 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 25: Eden Hazard of Chelsea and Scott McTominay of Manchester United compete for the ball during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Chelsea at Old Trafford on February 25, 2018 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) /
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Chelsea is outside the top four looking in. Crystal Palace is in the drop zone looking towards safety. The match will come down to who is most desperate.

Crystal Palace were already relegated by pundits when Roy Hodgson took charge. When his Palace team hosted Chelsea in October, they were winless in the league and coming off a 9-0 aggregate loss to the two Manchester clubs.

Then, they comfortably beat Chelsea to take their first three points of the season. Since then Hodgson rocketed them back into safety. Unfortunately for the Eagles, a mass of injuries has put them back into danger as they travel to Stamford Bridge.

Meanwhile, Chelsea are also coming off two straight losses away in Manchester. Top four is barely in reach. They will host Crystal Palace in a battle of who is more desperate.

When a club has their back against the wall, they can do amazing things. Palace nearly did that against Manchester United. They were 2-0 up and comfortably so. But the first conceded goal rocked them and former Blue Nemanja Matic saved Jose Mourinho’s side the three points.

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That makes Palace winless since January 13th. They are no closer to seeing their stars return from injury as they hobble over to Stamford Bridge. Chelsea, meanwhile are in their own rut.

Chelsea started the new year in second. Two league wins since has dropped them into fifth. Injuries have played a small part but it has mostly come down to a lack of form. Champions League is a must for the club and they are desperate to start a winning run.

So when Palace come to the Bridge, they will do so with relegation on the line. They must turn things around soon to ensure their safety.

Chelsea, meanwhile, host with Champions League on the line. Any further losses will be a gut punch to their campaign. They too must turn things around and start a run if they are to compete in Europe next season.

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As a result, the match is likely to be scrappy and hotly contested. Neither club can afford to drop many more points. The winner of the match will come down to who is the most desperate to achieve their goals.

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