Chelsea will in the last away match and game of the 2018 take on Crystal Palace in a London derby. Crystal palace has been a torn in the flesh on many big teams than they have been to smaller teams under their coach Roy Hodgson who has lost just once in his last four matches against Chelsea at home.
Chelsea has had a bad run of games in month of November and December with three defeats. This will be a big worry to head coach Maurizio Sarri as to where his team is getting it wrong as the fight for top four intensifies.
Chelsea must be at their very best to get all three point away to Palace who in their last match had to come from behind to defeat Manchester City at Etihad stadium in a 3-2 score line thriller that saw Pep Guradiola’s men drop to third on the premier league log. So, any team that can get maximum points at Etihad stadium should be feared.
Crystal palace is known to play a compact football waiting for any given opportunity to strike by counter attack and Chelsea must avoid any error that will lead this by ensuring David Luiz maintain possession of the ball while surging out most of the time. Hazard on the other hand having made it 100 goals on the blue shirt with his goal against Watford mid week should be at his best once again to give Chelsea attack that re-enforcement to win matches. Palace defender must be conscious of the Chelsea player maker especially his runs with the ball at the final third of the pitch.
The back four of Sarri must be very weary of Palace play maker Wilfred Zaha even though he has not being in fine this season with only one assist in 12 matches, 3 goal this season but can take on any defender on a good day with his dribbling prowees.
Possible lineup
Injury Worries
Chelsea will be without the duo of Pedro and Callum Hudson-Odoi who both picked up a hamstring injury against Watford on Boxing Day football.
Crystal palace will miss their chief striker Christian Benteke who is still nursing and injury but will welcome Martin Kelly back to the squad after being out for two weeks.
Basic Facts
Chelsea has not lost their last away match of the year since 2002 and will be hoping to break the spell of having not won three consecutive away games under Sarri
Crystal palace has scored an average 0.94 goals per match and conceded 1.39 goals with was at their home. They have more clean sheets this season aside the top four teams on the table now and are looking forward to make it four consecutive to plight home clean sheet for the first time since 1992
Chelsea on the other hand has scored an average 1.94 goals per match this season while letting in 0.83 goals per game as well as away goals at 0.4 goal per match scoring 16 goals in the last 15 minutes of their games.
Prediction
Over 1.5
Under 2.5
Both teams to score
Chelsea to score last
Chelsea win at 1.73 odds
Contest
Predict the final score line of the match to win 5scr
Which team will score last(in case of a tie)
Crystal Palace X-X Chelsea
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