Chelsea restart their domestic campaign on Saturday with a trip to Selhurst Park as the newly crowned Club World Cup champions go up against Crystal Palace.
Thomas Tuchel’s men shift their focus back to the Premier League with their last outing in the competition coming towards the backend of January in a 2-0 win over city rivals Tottenham Hotspur.
With the race for a top four finish heating up, Chelsea would be looking to claim the three points away at Crystal Palace who have been upbeat of late with just one defeat across their last six games in all competitions.
The Blues are seven points adrift of the second-placed Liverpool and four points clear of fourth-placed Manchester United and a win over the weekend could be the confidence booster required at Stamford Bridge heading into the last leg of the campaign.
WHEN & WHERE?
Date: Saturday 19 February 2022
Time: 3 PM GMT
Venue: Selhurst Park
TEAM NEWS
Up next! 🤝 pic.twitter.com/WMiukDjBTU
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) February 16, 2022
The AFCON-winning Senegalese Edouard Mendy will be in line for a return to the goalposts for the visitors who had to rely upon Kepa during the former’s absence.
Trevoh Chalobah could be poised for a recall back into the XI with Tuchel tipped to give some well-earned rest to the veteran Brazilian Thiago Silva.
MATCH PREDICTION
We expect Chelsea to edge out the home side Crystal Palace in what should be a closely contested affair in the English capital.
Crystal Palace 1-2 Chelsea
