Chelsea v Crystal Palace preview: Eden Hazard expected to be fit

Image: Chelsea's Eden Hazard is back in contention

Chelsea can move closer to winning the Premier League title with a win over Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Antonio Conte's men go into the game 10 points clear of Tottenham in second and have been top of the table since November 5.

Conte knows at least another 21 points from their remaining 10 games will guarantee a first Premier League crown for the Italian, who took over in the summer.

The Blues have won their last 10 league home games, scoring 30 goals and conceding just five.

Crystal Palace are currently 16th in the Premier League with a four-point gap between them and the drop zone.

Advertisement

Palace come into the game as one of four teams that have won their last three Premier League games, along with Chelsea, Tottenham and Leicester.

Watch a preview of Saturday’s Premier League games, including Liverpool v Everton, Chelsea v Crystal Palace and Leicester v Stoke

Team news

Eden Hazard is expected to recover from a calf injury but Chelsea could opt to leave him out of Saturday's clash.

Also See:

Conte says he has a number of fitness issues to assess ahead of kick-off and goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois (hip) returned to training on Thursday.

Striker Diego Costa shrugged off a foot and ankle problem when on international duty with Spain, while Victor Moses (calf) is a doubt, but John Terry is back in contention.

Image: Diego Costa is closing in on a Premier League goalscoring milestone

Crystal Palace remain without Patrick van Aanholt.

The Dutchman is recovering from an ankle injury and could be joined as an absentee by Fraizer Campbell, who has a knock, and James McArthur, who is suffering from back spasms.

Mathieu Flamini could again be available having returned to training. Connor Wickham and Pape Souare, meanwhile, remain long-term absentees.

Opta stats

Chelsea have won four of their last five Premier League games against the Eagles, losing the other at Stamford Bridge last season. Crystal Palace's away win at Chelsea in August 2015 is their only top-flight away win at Stamford Bridge (D5 L8).

Chelsea have won the most points in London derbies this season in the Premier League (15), while Palace have lost all five they've been involved in.

Chelsea have used the fewest players (21) and made the fewest changes to their starting XI overall (26) in the Premier League this season. In 2015-16, the champions Leicester City also topped these categories (33 changes to starting XI and 23 players used).

Costa's next Premier League goal will be his 50th in the competition and would be the seventh Chelsea player to reach that milestone for the club.

If Costa does score in this game, he will have reached 50 goals in 81 Premier League appearances. The only players to do this in fewer games were Andrew Cole (65), Alan Shearer (66), Ruud van Nistelrooy (68) and Fernando Torres (72) and he would equal Sergio Aguero's record (81 games).

This game could see the top three most fouled players in the 2016-17 Premier League season on the pitch - Wilfried Zaha (78 fouls won), Eden Hazard (75) and Costa (68).

Chelsea have scored the first goal of a Premier League game on a league-high 22 occasions this season, while only Sunderland (20) have conceded the first goal more often than Palace (19).

Christian Benteke has scored in four different Premier League games against Chelsea; against no side has he scored in more games in the competition (also four games v Sunderland and Swansea).

Image: Christian Benteke has a strong record against Chelsea

In Premier League history, Crystal Palace have won 48.3% of their points away from home (167/323). The team to have won a higher proportion of their total points away in the competition are Blackpool (48.7%).

Merson's prediction

Nothing but a Chelsea win here. I just don't see how Crystal Palace can hold them, despite regaining some good form.

They won a football match without having a shot on target against Watford, but there's no way they'll be able to stop Chelsea. It's Chelsea's title, too. There aren't enough games left to catch them in my opinion.

For me, N'Golo Kante is the player of the season. He's been a massive, massive difference to them.

PAUL PREDICTS: 3-0, 6/1 with Sky Bet

Betting

Leaders Chelsea are hot favourites with Sky Bet at 30/100 to make it six wins on the trot in all competitions and stretch an unbeaten run that goes all the way back to January 4. Their resurgent London rivals have won their last three games in the Premier League as they look to climb clear of relegation danger and are 10/1 for another three points at Stamford Bridge. Those three successes for Palace have come to nil and they are 18/1 for another here while the draw can be backed at 4/1.

Sky customers can now upgrade to Sky Sports and get 12 months for just £18 per month. Upgrade now!

Outbrain