Crystal Palace-Chelsea is a match on the 24th day of the Premier League and is played Monday at 9 p.m.: live TV, probable formations, predictions.
The domestic cups, for the moment, are keeping Mauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea afloat, “distracting” them from the very disappointing performance in the Premier League. The Blues after yet another defeat suffered in the league – Wolverhampton got the better of them 4-2 at Stamford Bridge a week ago – made up for it (only partially) by going on to win on the very difficult Aston Villa pitch in the FA Cup, qualifying for the fifth round of the event. It was a truly convincing performance by the Londoners, who were able to conquer the Villa Park fortress 3-1 thanks to goals from Gallagher, Nicolas Jackson and Enzo Fernandez.
Pochettino, who in a few weeks will take on Liverpool in the League Cup final, hopes that the success achieved against the Villans will give his side the right charge to do well in the derby with Crystal Palace as well, a match that sends the 24th day into the archives. The feeling, however, is that in the league Chelsea now has little chance of getting close again to the Europe that counts, especially after the latest defeats against Liverpool and Wolverhampton, which made Chilwell and his teammates slip even to -16 from fourth place. More accessible, for now, the minor competitions but between now and May it will be necessary to gallop to hope to regain at least seventh place and thus avoid missing out on Europe for the second consecutive year.
How many absences in the Palace
Victory with Roy Hodgson’s Eagles, in any case, appears largely within reach.Crystal Palace is not doing well, and since November they have only triumphed over Burnley, Brentford and Sheffield United.
After the heavy 4-1 loss in the ever-so-felt challenge with Brighton, Palace find themselves -5 from the red zone: barring a turnaround, they will have to suffer until the end of the season to bring home salvation. On the performance of Hodgson’s men – by the way, his bench has started to wobble as well – injuries are also affecting: against Chelsea Eze and Olise will be absent, absences that add to those of Guéhi and Doucouré. Chelsea’s infirmary is also full, with Pochettino unable to count on Cucurella, Lavia, James, Fofana and Badiashile at Selhurst Park.
The Prediction
Chelsea showed signs of recovery in the FA Cup against Aston Villa and should be able to return with the three points in their pockets from the nearby Selhurst Park trip against a Crystal Palace side lacking its key men.
Crystal Palace-Chelsea’s likely lineups
CRYSTAL PALACE (4-3-3): Henderson; Munoz, Richards, Andersen, Mitchell; Hughes, Wharton, Lerma; Ayew, Mateta, Schlupp.
CHELSEA (4-2-3-1): Petrovic; Malo Gusto, Disasi, Thiago Silva, Chilwell; Enzo Fernandez, Caicedo; Madueke, Gallagher, Palmer; Jackson.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 1-2
