Chelsea will be looking to stretch their lead at the top of the Premier League table with a win against Crystal Palace on Saturday.
With none of Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal playing until tomorrow at the earliest, Antonio Conte’s side can go nine points clear should they pick up their eleventh straight league victory against Alan Pardew’s struggling side.
For today’s game, Crystal Palace are facing something of an injury crisis with just over a dozen fit senior players for Pardew to choose from.
Here’s the #CPFC team to take on @ChelseaFC this afternoon. #CRYCHE pic.twitter.com/UDhIn3InUN
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) December 17, 2016
Mathieu Flamini picked up a groin injury against Manchester United in midweek so he’s out, replaced by Joe Ledley. Wednesday’s goalscorer James McArthur has been passed fit to play having previously been a doubt.
Jason Puncheon also returns to the starting eleven, coming in from Lee Chung-yong.
However, with Steve Mandanda, James Tomkins and Bakary Sako all out until next month (and more out for even longer) Pardew will be up aginst it to stop the Chelsea juggernaut.
Chelsea meanwhile, keep the changes to as few as possible normally, and indeed that is the case this afternoon. Eden Hazard, however, returns having missed the win against Sunderland in midweek.
Chelsea team: Courtois; Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Cahill (c); Moses, Kante, Matic, Alonso; Willian, Diego Costa, Hazard. #CRYCHE
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 17, 2016
Chelsea subs: Begovic, Ivanovic, Zouma, Chalobah, Fabregas, Pedro, Batshuayi. #CFC
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) December 17, 2016
The Belgian international comes in for Pedro, with Willian retaining his place in the starting lineup.
Despite scoring the winner on Wednesday, Cesc Fabregas finds himself on the bench once again with Nemanja Matic coming back into the team. It is too soon for John Terry to return to the matchday squad, while China-bound Oscar is also not part of the 18-man panel this afternoon.
Read More About: alan pardew, antonio conte, Cesc Fabregas, Chelsea, crystal palace, eden hazard, joe ledley, mathieu flamini, nemanja matic, Premier League
