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As it happenedended

Chelsea vs Crystal Palace, Premier League live!

Follow all of the action from Stamford Bridge

Peter Rutzler
Friday 09 March 2018 13:09 EST
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Willian gave Chelsea the lead
Willian gave Chelsea the lead (Getty)

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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.

The pressure is on for Antonio Conte
The pressure is on for Antonio Conte (AFP/Getty Images)

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.

Benteke needs to deliver for Palace this weekend
Benteke needs to deliver for Palace this weekend (Getty)

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

Jack Austin10 March 2018 17:13

Right we are turning our attention to the evening kick-off Stamford Bridge!

Key team news:

  • NGolo Kante returns for Chelsea in midfield, while Olivier Giroud starts up front
  • Wilfried Zaha is back, but he is only the bench for Crystal Palace.
Jack Austin10 March 2018 17:16
Jack Austin10 March 2018 17:19

Reminder of the line-ups at the Bridge:

Jack Austin10 March 2018 17:20

The teams are out!

Jack Austin10 March 2018 17:25

Crystal Palace are unchanged from the side who were undone at Selhurst Park by a nauseatingly offensive Manchester United side on Monday night. Wilfried Zaha returns ahead of schedule on the bench, what a huge boost he could be in their fight against relegation. 

Chelsea meanwhile opt to field Olivier Giroud to get back to winning ways following their 'Not sure if we can be asked' performance against Manchester City. They need a win to keep their dwindling top four hopes alive.

The referee for this one is Anthony Taylor.

Jack Austin10 March 2018 17:29

1: We're underway!

Jack Austin10 March 2018 17:30

3: Crystal Palace enjoying a spell of possession, resulting in a throw-in in the Chelsea right-back area. Palace are without a win in six, although their fixtures during that time have not been kind, facing Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur along the way.

Jack Austin10 March 2018 17:34

5: Chelsea work the ball well down the right hand side through Davide Zappacosta. His cross finds the head of Giroud, but his looping header travels up, over and wide of Hennessey's goal. That's the kind of service the French forward will be desperate for more of this evening.

Jack Austin10 March 2018 17:35

7: Christian Benteke finds himself completely unmarked at the far post from a Palace corner, but the Belgian can't get any power or direction on the header, which is comfortably grasped by Courtois. A really well rehearsed set-piece routine caught the Blues flat-footed. Will they get another chance as good as that using the same routine?

Jack Austin10 March 2018 17:38

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