Crystal Palace vs Chelsea: team news, lineups, prediction

Graham Potter will take charge of his first Premier League game for Chelsea on Saturday afternoon, when Crystal Palace host their capital rivals in a London derby at Selhurst Park.

The Blues began the international break in seventh place in the table, while the Eagles are nine places and four points worse off than their opponents, as the Eagles seek just their second league win of the season in Saturday’s derby.

Prior to the international break, Newcastle United and Crystal Palace played to a thrilling 0-0 draw, yet the PGMOL have subsequently acknowledged that a mistake was made in not disallowing the Magpies goal in the closing seconds.

Although Tyrick Mitchell actually pushed the former Arsenal player into Guaita, Newcastle’s goal was disallowed because of a perceived foul by Joe Willock on the Spaniard. Palace supporters would have been grateful to have earned a point at St. James’ Park.

In contrast to Palace, who finished the 2021–22 Premier League season with five straight clean sheets at Selhurst Park, Chelsea and their new manager will look to capitalize on Palace’s defensive weakness by winning their three home games this season.

The death and state burial of Queen Elizabeth II caused a wave of postponements across the British Isles, so it has taken a while, but Potter will finally be in charge of a Premier League game against Chelsea this weekend.

The successor to Thomas Tuchel has had plenty of time to get to know his superstar lineup because he has only been in charge of one match since his appointment was officially announced. The Blues drew 1-1 with Red Bull Salzburg in the Champions League, continuing their winless European campaign.

Potter has taken over at a Chelsea team that has only managed two victories in their last seven games overall. With 10 points from six Premier League games, the West London club is mired in seventh place in the standings, eight points behind league leaders Arsenal despite having played one fewer match.

Obviously, there are some worries that Potter might be a tiny fish in a big pond, and the former Brighton & Hove Albion manager is immediately under pressure to break a trend in which Chelsea has lost each of their previous three road games in all competitions.

The visitors have only scored two goals while traveling during the 2022–23 season, but they can find solace in the fact that they have triumphed in each of their last nine league meetings with Crystal Palace. They also have a clear preference for London derbies, having won eight of their previous nine away games in the capital.