Crystal Palace dropped all three points against Manchester United after taking a 2-0 lead last weekend in what was a disappointing night. They have now lost all of their last three games and they have a tough task this weekend when they travel to Stamford Bridge for a mini-derby in London. Chelsea themselves lost to Manchester City and Manchester United in their last two games and will be desperate to get back to winning ways at home this weekend.
Palace are still 18th place in the points table but a win would propel them up to 13th place in the points table if other results go their way. Chelsea are down on confidence, face Barcelona not long after this game and could be there for the taking. Roy Hodgson will be confident of taking something from this game and here is the predicted lineup he might field for this tie:
Crystal Palace – Team News
The Eagles have a number of players out injured ahead of this weekend. Bakary Sako, Connor Wickham, Julian Speroni, Mamadou Sakho, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Scott Dann and Jason Puncheon are all ruled out for this game with injuries. Joel Ward and Yohan Cabaye have an outside chance of making the bench but Wilfried Zaha is also not expected to be fit in time for this clash.
Crystal Palace – expected lineup (4-4-2)
Defence
Hodgson has stuck with Wayne Hennessey in goal for most of this season. He should keep his place under the bar this weekend for the Eagles. Martin Kelly and James Tomkins wilted under pressure against Manchester United but have done well in general and should keep their place at the back for this game.
Patrick van Aanholt picked up a goal in that game against the Red Devils and should start at left-back while young Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who has put in solid shifts in the last two games, should keep his place at right-back, keeping Joel Ward on the bench.
Midfield
Luke Milivojevic and James McArthur have also been solid in the midfield for Palace and will want to put in a similar shift against Chelsea this weekend. They will be under pressure against the likes of Kante and Fabregas.
Andros Townsend opened the scoring last weekend and will be the danger man for the Blues this weekend. He will start on the right side of the midfield while Jeffery Schlupp could keep his place on the left side of the midfield.
Attack
Christian Benteke has not been at his best but needs to step up for big games like these. He could be partnered with Alexander Sørloth, who put in a decent shift against the Red Devils.
Here is how they might line up:
