Chelsea will be looking to continue their good start to the new Premier League season when they face Crystal Palace on Sunday.
The Blues are currently unbeaten in the Premier League under Maurizio Sarri, winning seven and drawing three of their opening 10 games. Meanwhile, Crystal Palace have been slightly underwhelming with just two wins and six defeats.
Read on for Chelsea v Palace live stream options, team news, predicted XIs, stats and TV channel info.
When is Chelsea vs Crystal Palace?
Competition: Premier League
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Date: Sunday, 4 November
Kick-off: 4:00 PM BST
Match preview
Maurizio Sarri is one game away from levelling the record for the best unbeaten start to management in the Premier League – 11 set by Frank Clark in charge of Nottingham Forest during the 1994/95 season.
Sarri has started better than many expected at Chelsea given the circumstances over the summer with Antonio Conte, meaning the former Napoli boss arrived later than he would have liked, and the implementation of a new system on players accustomed to Conte’s 3-4-3 formation.
The Blues are currently unbeaten after 10 games in the league, including draws against Liverpool and Manchester United and a win over Arsenal – amid other confident wins. And with Liverpool facing the Gunners on Saturday evening, this could present a chance for Chelsea to overtake the Reds if things go their way.
Meanwhile, Crystal Palace are enduring a tough second season under Roy Hodgson and are currently 14th in the Premier League, winless in their last five.
But when these two have come up against each other in the past, form goes out of the window, with Palace winning three of the last six matches, including beating the Blues side that won the Premier League title in 2017.
Where can I watch live?
Chelsea’s game against Crystal Palace can be viewed by UK residents on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, channels 401 and 402 respectively on Sky and channels 501 and 502 respectively for Virgin Media users.
The game is also available to watch on fuboTV.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about fuboTV
What has gone wrong with Crystal Palace this season?
Roy Hodgson did a good job in keeping Palace up last season after the debacle of Frank de Boer but did nothing to truly improve the club over the summer. Too few players were brought in to bolster the squad, leaving them relying on a poor Christian Benteke for their goals, something they can’t even do now with the Belgian currently out injured. The Eagles are over-reliant on Zaha to get them out of trouble on most occasions, which is never a good thing.
Can Chelsea continue their fine start?
Last week against Burnley, Chelsea proved they can manage without Eden Hazard, scoring four goals with four different goalscorers and will have to do so again for at least a half with the Belgian not fully fit.
But Crystal Palace will look to learn from the Clarets’ mistakes with a more defensive approach at Stamford Bridge, focusing on stopping Jorginho from dictating play in the middle of the pitch. If Jorginho can play his game, Chelsea will come out on top.
Is Wilfried Zaha unfairly labelled a diver?
Wilfried Zaha has garnered a reputation for going down a bit too easily when up against an opposing defender and has been very vocal this season about requiring protection from the referees. This season, the Ivorian (29) has been fouled more times than any other player in the Premier League but is yet to be booked for simulation. However, since 2015/16, Zaha has been booked four times for diving in the Premier League, more than any other player.
Head-to-head
Chelsea go into the match on Sunday off the back of a Carabao Cup win over Derby County at Stamford Bridge, their 12th win of the season in all competitions. Meanwhile, Crystal Palace were beaten by Championship side Middlesbrough in the same competition, their fifth consecutive game without a win.
Despite Palace recently having the upper hand over Chelsea, the Blues have historically been in control of this fixture. Chelsea have won 25 games against the Eagles in all competitions including to win the Premier League title in 2014/15, while Palace have come out on top 12 times with 15 draws.
Chelsea wins: 25 Draws: 15 Crystal Palace wins: 12
Team news
Chelsea manager Sarri has confirmed Hazard will feature in the game against Palace on Sunday but will only manage 40 or 45 minutes, meaning the Belgian is likely to be a second-half substitute.
Wilfried Zaha missed Palace’s defeat to Middlesbrough in midweek due to a shoulder injury but is expected to return for the game at Stamford Bridge, though Connor Wickham, Christian Benteke, Scott Dann and Joel Ward are all out.
Predicted Chelsea XI: Arrizabalaga; Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Luiz, Alonso; Jorginho; Kante, Barkley; Pedro, Morata, Willian.
Predicted Crystal Palace XI: Hennessey; Wan-Bissaka, Tomkins, Sakho, van Aanholt; Milivojevic; McArthur, Kouyate; Townsend, Ayew, Zaha.
Squawka Prediction
Crystal Palace have had Chelsea’s number recently, winning two of the past three matches, but Sarri’s side should be too much on Sunday. 3-1 to Chelsea.
Predictions & Betting Tips
Get the BetBull sign-up offer HERE – Ts&Cs apply. +18 only. BeGambleAware.org
1. Ross Barkley to score anytime @ 7/4
Ross Barkley is in the form of his life in a Chelsea shirt, scoring in the Blues’ past three league games.
The midfielder was rested in midweek against Derby with Mateo Kovacic starting so should be in line to start against Palace on Sunday.
And with Eden Hazard also likely to miss out on the full match, Barkley will be required to get involved in attacking the Palace goal, testing Wayne Hennessey.
Key Stat: Ross Barkley is the first Englishman to score in three consecutive Premier League games for Chelsea since Frank Lampard in 2013.
Tip: Ross Barkley to score anytime @ 7/4 with BetBull – bet here
Odds correct at time of publishing (02/11/2018, 17:45)
18+ only. Ts&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org
2. Chelsea to win and both teams to score @ 7/4
Crystal Palace have become somewhat of a bogey team for Chelsea, winning two of the past three games at Stamford Bridge.
And though it looks unlikely the Eagles will make it three from four at Stamford Bridge, with Zaha getting at the Chelsea defence Palace are practically a sure bet to score.
But it should be Chelsea’s game if the Sarri system continues to roll on, with another performance from the Blues similar to the one they showed against Burnley last time out.
Key Stat: Both teams have scored in the past three meetings between Chelsea and Crystal Palace.
Tip: Chelsea to win and both teams to score @ 7/4 with William Hill – bet here
Odds correct at time of publishing (02/11/2018, 17:45)
18+ only. Ts&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org
3. A goal to be scored between the 76:00 and full time YES @ 8/11
Chelsea have been in formidable goalscoring form in the Premier League this season, scoring 24 goals in their 10 games so far. Only top of the league Manchester City (27) have managed more.
As Sarrismo has Chelsea applying constant pressure on opposition defences, the Blues have almost always managed to get at tired opponents as the game goes on – as shown with Barkley’s 96th-minute equaliser against Manchester United.
And should Hazard be able to come on later in the game, the Belgian can add pace to Chelsea’s attack as he did at the start of the season against Huddersfield – setting up goals.
Key Stat: Chelsea have scored more goals in the final 15 minutes of Premier League games this season than any other side (10).
Tip: Goal scored 76:00 to full time YES @ 8/11 with William Hill – bet here
Odds correct at time of publishing (02/11/2018, 17:45)
18+ only. Ts&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org
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