League-leaders
Chelsea will be aiming to extend their unbeaten Premier League run into
double figures when they visit Crystal Palace on Saturday.
The Blues are the top-flight's form team, having dropped just two points to
take an already commanding lead at the top of the table.
They currently hold a five-point advantage over their nearest rivals,
Manchester City, who host Tottenham in the early kick-off on Saturday.
Jose Mourinho's side will be hoping for a better outcome to this weekend's
game than their last visit to Selhurst Park, when John Terry scored an own
goal as the Blues suffered a 1-0 defeat that dented their title aspirations.
After his error in that game, Chelsea captain Terry will be aiming for an
error-free display on what will be his 500th match as skipper.
Palace's victory last season was the first of five successive wins under
then manager Tony Pulis - a run that played a major part in helping them
achieve an unexpected 11th-place finish.
They have been less consistent in the early reign of Pulis' successor Neil
Warnock (in his second spell in charge), although they did secure
back-to-back league wins against Everton and Leicester prior to a 2-0 defeat
at Hull in their last match before the break.
Opta stats
Crystal Palace defeated Chelsea in their last league meeting. They haven’t
won back to back league games against the Blues since March 1982.
Diego Costa already has more goals this season (9) than any player has for
Crystal Palace in the Premier League since their return to the top-flight at
the start of last season.
Cesc Fabregas already has more assists this season (7) than any player has
for Crystal Palace in the Premier League since their re-promotion to the
top-flight at the start of last term.
Team news
Chelsea's hopes of making it 10 league games without defeat will be boosted
by the presence of the division's leading scorer Diego Costa, who has been
carrying a hamstring injury since arriving in England but came through the
international break unscathed.
Mourinho had suggested the Spaniard should sit out his country’s games
against Slovenia and Luxembourg in order not to aggravate the problem, but
the 26-year-old played both matches, scoring his first international goal in
the latter.
However, this does not appear to have come at the cost of this weekend’s
fixture at Selhurst Park, with the striker fit to train all week.
Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois should also be fit for the Premier League
leaders after recovering from a head injury he suffered against Arsenal.
The 22-year-old represented Belgium in both of their fixtures during the
international break, keeping a clean sheet in the 6-0 win over Andorra
before helping his country to a 1-1 draw at Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Germany midfielder Andre Schurrle will be assessed ahead of the game after
missing his country’s 1-1 draw with the Republic of Ireland with a virus.
Forward Didier Drogba and midfielder Ramires are both back in training
following ankle and groin injuries respectively.
Palace will be without defender Scott Dann, who has a knee injury.
The 27-year-old, who is expected to return against West Brom a week later,
is likely to be replaced by Adrian Mariappa, who came on for him in Palace’s
last game at Hull.
Other than Dann, Palace manager Neil Warnock has a fully-fit squad to select
from.
Paul Merson's prediction
This is a real test for Chelsea, especially when you consider what happened
last year when John Terry scored an own goal and they lost 1-0. That was
probably where they lost the title last year. People think Chelsea should
beat Crystal Palace - and they should - but it is a hard place to go.
Palace have pace on the flanks and the Chelsea full-backs like to bomb
forward, so a lot depends on who has the most bottle. Will Branislav
Ivanovic and César Azpilicueta be forced to track back all day long? I
expect Chelsea to narrowly win it - but the atmosphere will be absolutely
rocking there!
PAUL PREDICTS: 1-2
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