Game Week 19 Predictions: Chelsea to beat Palace

Chelsea vs Crystal Palace preview: Analysis of Chelsea's struggles and Crystal Palace's challenges ahead of their Premier League clash.

Chelsea hosts Crystal Palace on Wednesday with three points on their mind, will Palace hand it to them? (Photo credit: 90Min)

 Chelsea vs. Crystal Palace

Stamford Bridge Stadium

8:30pm

Chelsea’s season is in tatters; they know it, and they know they must find everything they need to get out of the doldrums. Palace won’t be an easy visitor to entertain.

To be honest, the Eagles have endured a torrid season too. It’s been indifferent for Roy Hodgson’s side as well this season, but they got an incredible point against the champions and also managed to stop Brighton from carting away three points from Selhurst Park.

Crystal Palace can do with a win right now because it feels like they can’t buy one. They don’t know what it means to celebrate victory in the league anymore, and, with Chelsea, a struggling side hosting them, they will indeed fancy their chances.

Chelsea must understand that it’s time for them to look within and try hard to change things the right way. The young lads they got need time to gel, and although they may have gotten some that will never fit into their style, they must figure out who is to stay and who is to leave.

Of course, throwing money at the problem is the order of the day for the owners, but as we have seen, it won’t always work. The winter window opens in the next few days, and Chelsea must be looking to buy again. They must be cautious.

Crystal Palace doesn’t have the luxury of funds, but they also need reinforcements. They don’t have a proper number nine that can guarantee goals over a long period of time. Jean Philippe Mateta has been banging in goals of late, but is he the man they want to rely on?

Chelsea will go all out to get a result, but they have to do it without Cole Palmer and Raheem Sterling. The two got their respective fifth yellow cards of the season in their 2-1 loss to the Wolves last weekend; they must do it without the duo.

Michael Olise is the man to watch over the visitors. He is creative and inventive; Ebere Eze is back and available for selection; defensive strength, however, is what Palace would require on days like this; and then, hit on the break.

Christopher Nkunku got a goal on his Premier League debut over the weekend, but it wasn’t enough to earn Chelsea anything at Wolves. He will start this with Chelsea missing two key players. It’s a game the Blues must win, but it won’t be an easy one.

Verdict: Chelsea to win