Chelsea vs Crystal Palace: Predicted lineups, team news, and score prediction

Chelsea are set to host Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge this Sunday, aiming to build on their impressive 6-2 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers. Under the guidance of new manager Enzo Maresca, the Blues have experienced a mixed start to the season but will be confident against a Palace side they've beaten in their last 14 meetings. The Eagles, on the other hand, are desperate to secure their first points of the campaign following two straight defeats.

Team news and predicted lineups

Chelsea will be without the services of captain Reece James and midfielder Romeo Lavia, both sidelined due to injuries. The duo is expected to return to action after the international break. New loan signing Jadon Sancho will not be available for this fixture due to eligibility issues.

Maresca is expected to field a line-up similar to the one that showcased their prowess against Wolves. Robert Sanchez is likely to reclaim his spot in goal, with a defensive line consisting of Malo Gusto, Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill, and Marc Cucurella. The midfield will be anchored by Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez, while the attacking trio could feature Noni Madueke, Cole Palmer, and potentially Pedro Neto replacing Mykhailo Mudryk.

Predicted Chelsea XI: Sanchez, Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella, Caicedo, Fernandez, Madueke, Palmer, Neto, Jackson

Crystal Palace, riding high after their midweek 4-0 EFL Cup triumph over Norwich City, may opt for a similar line-up. Dean Henderson will continue to guard the goal following Sam Johnstone's move to Wolves.

Predicted Crystal Palace XI: Henderson, Clyne, Guehi, Richards, Munoz, Wharton, Hughes, Mitchell, Kamada, Eze, Mateta

Form and historical context

Chelsea's season has been a rollercoaster thus far. They suffered a 2-0 home defeat to Manchester City in their opener but quickly rebounded with a resounding 6-2 victory at Molineux. In European competition, they secured a spot in the Conference League group stage despite a narrow 2-1 loss to Servette in the second leg of their play-off.

The Blues boast an impressive record against Palace, having emerged victorious in their last 14 encounters across all competitions, including a league double last season. A win on Sunday would see them equal the English league record for consecutive wins against a single opponent, currently held by Manchester City over Bournemouth.

Palace, under the guidance of Oliver Glasner, are determined to avoid losing their first three league games for the first time since the 2017-18 season. Their midweek cup success, which saw goals from Eberechi Eze and Jean-Philippe Mateta, has injected a much-needed boost of confidence.

Key players to watch

Noni Madueke and Cole Palmer were the standout performers in Chelsea's victory over Wolves, with Madueke netting a hat-trick assisted by Palmer. Their exceptional displays earned them call-ups to the upcoming England squad, and they will be eager to maintain their fine form.

For Palace, Eberechi Eze remains a pivotal figure. He found the back of the net in the cup win over Norwich and will be instrumental in the Eagles' hopes of causing an upset at Stamford Bridge.

Score prediction: Given Chelsea's potent attack, as evidenced by their 6-2 triumph over Wolves, this match has the potential to be another high-scoring affair. However, a 3-1 victory in favour of Chelsea at home seems like a reasonable prediction.