Chelsea vs Crystal Palace predictions and tips: Premier League preview and odds

Chelsea will hope to get back to winning ways when they host London rivals Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge in the early kick-off on Saturday in English Premier League action.

Chelsea come into this game on the back of a 3-3 draw against West Bromwich Albion last Saturday in their most recent Premier League game.

Crystal Palace, meanwhile, have made a quietly impressive start to their campaign having collected six points from a possible nine thus far. Palace won their opening two league games against Southampton and Manchester United, but saw their 100 per cent start ended by Everton last time out.

Crystal Palace, on the other hand, lost 2-1 to Everton last Saturday at Selhurst Park Stadium.

Chelsea are still looking for their first home league win of the season after losing to Liverpool in their opener – only the third time they have ever lost their opening home match of a Premier League campaign and a result which puts them in danger of losing their first two home games of a top-flight season for the first time since 1978-79.

Reason for Chelsea vs. Crystal Palace predictions:

  • Over 2.5 goals were scored in five of the last seven meetings between Chelsea and Palace.
  • Chelsea beat Crystal Palace in each of the clubs’ last five Premier League meetings.
  • Chelsea’s league matches have averaged 3.66 goals per 90 minutes this term.
  • Chelsea scored three times in two of their three league matches so far this term.
  • The last time the Eagles beat the Blues was in October 2017 to give manager Roy Hodgson his first league victory with the club.
  • Palace have won just two of their 11 top-flight away games against Chelsea.

In 14 previous head-to-head encounters between the two sides, Chelsea hold the clear advantage. They have won 10 games and lost four. Their most recent match was in July, and ended in a 3-2 win for Chelsea.

Chelsea have been extremely busy in the transfer market, with goalkeeper Edouard Mendy their most recent acquisition.

Frank Lampard’s side could suffer back-to-back home defeats in the league for the first time since December 2019, when they were beaten by Bournemouth and Southampton. They have conceded at least three goals in four of their past 10 league games, as many times as in their previous 56 matches.

Chelsea have ended the last two seasons with the best record in Premier League London derbies, and took 16 points from eight such matches in 2019-20.

However, they are yet to impress this season under Frank Lampard, and there will be scrutiny on him if results are not satisfactory.

Crystal Palace are looking to win their first two away matches in a Premier League season for the third time. They could become just the second team to win at Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford in consecutive Premier League away games, emulating Sunderland in 2014.

The Eagles have won eight Premier League fixtures away to sides from the established top six since August 2015, including two at Chelsea.

Chelsea have an extremely talented squad, and should beat Crystal Palace in this game, but it remains to be seen whether Lampard is the right man for the job.

This is a difficult to match to call given Chelsea’s defensive struggles already this season, but Mendy’s arrival should help them to tighten things up at the back a bit more.

Prediction: Chelsea 2-1 Crystal Palace

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