Heading into the game at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, many Chelsea fans are expecting to be able to say one word after 90 minutes of football against Crystal Palace. Champions.
However, let’s take a look at the reality and realise that beating Alan Pardew’s men won’t be as easy as we all want it to be. The South London club won’t come to West London to roll over and give Chelsea a win. They’ll be looking to bounce back from their 2 recent losses, and grab three points at a stadium that the hosts haven’t tasted defeat in the league in this season.
Chelsea’s form at home in the Premier League has been immaculate this season. The only team in English football not to have lost on their own patch. But, Crystal Palace have many threats to their advantage, and players they’ll be looking to exploit. Yannick Bolasie has been a name on the lips of many, after impressing since the arrival of Alan Pardew to SE25. Alongside Bolaise, Palace have a striker in Glenn Murray who knows where the goal is and academy product Wilfried Zaha. The trio have been really impressive for the Eagles. Goals from this trio haven’t been a problem, and they’ll be looking to test the ever-impressive Chelsea defence as soon as they can.
Another man who may have an important part to play for Palace is Julian Speroni. Although he plays inbetween the posts, he has been spectacular this season, and the years gone by. His ability to keep his side in the games when it matters is vital. He’s an all-rounder. Chelsea will find it tough to beat the Argentine and it may take something spectacular.
A win at Stamford Bridge for Palace would be a morale booster. Coming into this game following defeats to West Brom and Hull, Pardew will want his men to come into this game without fear, and show they aren’t pushovers. Glenn Murray has constantly shown that he can battle well in the air, so you can expect the dual between himself and Terry or Cahill to appear regularly. Both Bolaisie and Zaha will want to attack Chelsea’s full-backs when they can, especially Ivanovic. The Serbian is lacking pace on the DR Congo international, and this is something Pardew may want to exploit. If they can get the ball into the wingers, they’ll provide chances.
What Palace won’t want to do is let Chelsea start on the front foot. If they do, sparks may fly and Chelsea could grab an early lead and Palace may not get themselves back in the game, through no fault of their own.
Chelsea: The Threats
As many neutrals would say, Eden Hazard has been a world beater this season for the Blues. You could also say that the Belgian magician pulled Chelsea through their lack of form around Christmas time. His ability to skip past players, find his team-mates or the net is consistent. If Palace want to keep him out of the game, they’ll need to mark him and they’ll need to mark him tightly. There wouldn’t be any point giving him time and space as an opponent, because he’ll pounce.
Palace would have found out in the reverse fixture at Selhust Park that Chelsea don’t mind not having the football. It may be that Palace have the ball, and Chelsea pounce. Whether you agree with that or not, it’s Mourinho’s football and it obviously works.
Chelsea’s season this year has been one that we have been expecting since Mourinho took the reigns at the club again. Him and his sides are winners. Although it didn’t happen last season because of squad issues, he has made up for it this time round. We’ve had that ‘complete’ feeling around the club.
Our squad, our management, our fans. The party could well and truly get underway after the game, but Palace will be there to make sure this doesn’t happen. It’s enevitable that Chelsea will be crowned Champions, but Pardew won’t want it to be official vs. his side.
Let’s look at the bright side, Liverpool would have to give Chelsea a Guard of Honour if the leaders beat Palace.
