Chelsea vs Crystal Palace, Premier League live!
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Your support makes all the difference.Chelsea host Crystal Palace in the late kick-off on Saturday, with Antonio Conte’s side looking to avoid their fifth defeat in six Premier League games. Pressure has been mounting on Conte and his Chelsea side after a string of disappointing results, and with the Blues in fifth in the Premier League table and five points behind fourth-placed Tottenham, there is a genuine risk of failing to qualify for the 2018/19 Champions League.
Conte’s side will come up against a Crystal Palace team who have been blighted by an injury epidemic, and fresh off the back of their last-gasp defeat to Manchester United on Monday night, the game at Stamford Bridge takes on an added dimension of importance for Roy Hodgson’s side, who remain 18th in the Premier League table.
Palace under Hogdson had looked to be steering clear of relegation, though a recent barren run has seen relegation resurface as a serious possibility. The Eagles have won their last two encounters with Chelsea in the Premier League, and Palace will be hoping to replicate their form from this fixture last year when they travel to Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Follow all of the action below!
What time does it start?
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace kicks off at 17.30pm on 10 Saturday at Stamford Bridge.
Where can I watch it?
The match will be shown live on BT Sport 1. Coverage starts at 17.00pm. Highlights will be shown at 22.30pm on BBC1.
It’s a big game for…
Antonio Conte. Chelsea’s title-winning manager has endured a serious case of second-season syndrome, and Saturday’s game at Palace is unquestionably a must win for Conte. Three points would go some way to getting Chelsea back on track, though they have lost their last two games against Palace in the Premier League – both of which were 2-1 defeats.
Best stat:
If Chelsea lose at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, their run of five defeats in six will match their worst ever run in the Premier League, equaling that of Jose Mourinho’s final season in 2015/16.
Remember when…
Last time out in this fixture, Crystal Palace emerged as the victors in a 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge. Re-live the goals here.
Player to watch…
Christian Benteke. Given Palace’s severe injury crisis, Hodgson will be looking to his big name players to deliver, and club-record signing Christian Benteke certainly falls under that bracket. The Belgian forward has been in disappointing form throughout the 2017/18 campaign, though Saturday’s game against Chelsea, who were rumoured to have held an interest in Benteke, could be a chance for the striker to redeem himself with a crucial contribution.
Past three meetings…
Crystal Palace 2 Chelsea 1, Premier League, October 2017
Chelsea 1 Crystal Palace 2, Premier League, April 2017
Crystal Palace 0 Chelsea 1, Premier League, December 2016
Form guide…
Chelsea: LWWDLL
Crystal Palace: LLDLLL
Odds…
Chelsea to win: 7/25
Draw: 23/5
Crystal Palace to win: 11/1
47: CHANCE! Instant reaction from Palace as Alexander Sorloth smashes the ball against the post from seven yards out - he should have scored!
48: Andreas Christensen the man at fault for that glorious Palace chance. He gifted the ball to the young Norwegian forward, who after taking a couple of touches, decided to smash the ball rather than place it. Would Benteke have taken that chance?
51: BLOCKED! JAMES TOMKINS AGAIN! He's giving his body up for the cause here. Willian glides through the Palace midfield lines, before playing a one-two on the edge of the box, but he is denied a brilliant goal by a careering Tomkins who throws himself in front of it. He has blocked two clear cut chances now for the Eagles. What a man.
54: Palace look far more assured with Zaha in the side.The 4-4-2 they set up with has been thrown out the window, and the extra body in the middle - Zaha is floating across the midfield line - is giving them more time on the ball. A far more even second half so far.
55: VITAL STOP! Wayne Hennessey is called into action as Hazard bursts in behind on the inside-left channel. The Welsh stopper made himself big and repelled the Belgian. One more goal for Chelsea you feel would kill any Palace resurgence.
James Tomkins, blocker extraordinaire, denies Giroud in the first half:
58: SAVE! A clean hit from Patrick van Aanholt forces a save from Thibaut Courtois. He caught it well did the former Sunderland full-back, but it was straight down the throat of the Chelsea goalkeeper.
59: Patrick van Aanholt - He trips Hazard, gifting Chelsea a free-kick 25 yards from goal.
60: Willian sends the free-kick swirling to Hennessey's left, but he fumbles it away
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