By Alex Roberts
Liam Delap and Omari Hutchinson made positive Chelsea’s stunning Christmas kind continued, leaving them winless of their final three video games over the hectic festive interval. A lot for good will to all males.
Palace, alternatively, weren’t gifted their win over Southampton and needed to come again from 1-0 down after Tyler Dibling’s 14th minute opener to safe all three factors and put a ways between themselves and the relegation zone.
Bah humbug
Chelsea’s poor run of kind over Christmas has seen them fall all the way down to fourth and discuss of a possible title cost grow to be nought however a whisper.
Sean Dyche was their very personal ghost of Christmas previous, warning Maresca’s facet of what was to return as they didn’t beat his struggling facet, drawing 0-0 within the first recreation of their three-game winless streak.
Then there was Marco Silva, the ghost of Christmas current. Chelsea went 1-0 up, and every little thing appeared proper on this planet for the Stamford Bridge crowd, nevertheless it quickly soured, and two late targets secured Fulham’s first win at Stamford Bridge in 45 years.
Liam Delap acted because the ghost of Christmas future. The person Chelsea see as a possible new striker tore them aside, later displaying them a grave that had “Chelsea’s 2024-25 title hopes” engraved upon it.
It’s not all dangerous for the eagles
Oliver Glasner’s lads had a tough begin to the season after trying so promising on the again finish of 2023-24, failing to safe a Premier League win of their first eight, together with a 1-1 draw with Chelsea within the reverse fixture.
They’ve since picked up some kind, shedding simply two of their final 11 league video games, profitable 4 and drawing 5 within the others. With video games towards Leicester Metropolis and West Ham, golf equipment in related sorts of positions as Palace, arising in January, they’ve each alternative to begin 2025 with a bang.
Eberechi Eze additionally appears to be again to his greatest, scoring a belter to beat Southampton after fighting a couple of little accidents within the first half of the season.
A well timed Reece James return
Axel Disasi severely struggled within the defeat to Ipswich, failing to win a single sort out and finally being accountable for their second purpose. It’s not totally his fault; he merely isn’t a right-back.
Reece James is again from damage, making the bench in each defeats to Fulham and Ipswich however Maresca is airing on the facet of warning in the case of giving him critical recreation time once more.
The correct-back nonetheless has the power to be a key participant for Chelsea, the sport towards Palace could be his rebirth.
Trevoh Chalobah might be missed
The lanky centre-back received’t be allowed to characteristic towards his guardian membership on Saturday and he might be an enormous miss for Palace after scoring the equaliser of their win over Southampton.
As a matter of reality, Chalobah is their third highest Premier League purpose scorer to this point this season on three targets, only one behind Ismaïla Sarr and the second highest scoring defender within the competitions all collectively.
His presence at each ends of the pitch might be an enormous miss for Palace.
Prediction
Whereas Chelsea haven’t been incredible, Palace’s struggles in entrance of purpose will doubtless be an element. We’re going to go together with a 1-1 attract South London.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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