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Chelsea vs Crystal Palace: 14/08/2021 – match preview and predicted starting XIs

Chelsea vs Crystal Palace

Date: 14/08/2021

K/O: 15:00

Venue: Stamford Bridge

Football’s back. It started last night and continues today, tomorrow and for the next nine months. But football is really back. Supporters are coming home.

No more fake crowd noises, no more plastic cutouts in the stands. For Palace there will also be no more Ray Lewington bellowing from the sidelines or Roy Hodgson at the helm following a tedious changing of the guard over the English summer. This will hopefully bring no more bland, mind-numbing rigid football.

For Chelsea, however, there is more. More embarrassment of riches and more hope; hope that this could be their return to fame and glory after four seasons in the abyss. Romelu Lukaku is back, Thomas Tuchel promises, and Stamford Bridge awaits.

Most importantly for Chelsea, they haven’t lost any key personnel to either injury or the transfer window. Their midfield maestro is coming off the highest of highs following a successful Euro-winning tournament with Italy, while the squad itself will be referred to as “European Champions” until the Champions League crown is decided again next May.

This seems to be the season Chelsea will make a move for the title. They have a trophy-winning coach and an unbelievably deep squad, not only in number but with a plethora of talent, that is only bettered by overwhelming title favourites Manchester City. Contention has seemingly arisen within the ranks at City as internationally acclaimed players, who would be starters in virtually any 11 in world football, are savoured as super subs and for rotation. This could be the case for Chelsea with their incredulous array of forward talent and diverse and equally deep midfield pool. How will Tuchel satisfy them all?

Based on pre-season, and something that was easily pre-empted following an unequivocally successful five-month initiation period under Tuchel to end last season, Chelsea have not veered from the style that made them the best defensive side in the league during Tuchel’s reign.

The major weakness still lies with the defenders. Already in pre-season, we have seen multiple instances of one of the three centre-halves being caught in possession or with a loose pass. This is only a minor insufficiency and can be theoretically attributed to ‘rust and cobwebs’. Otherwise, the test could not be much more difficult for a new, yet still old Palace squad.

Patrick Vieira was definitely not first choice and he acknowledged this without hesitation in his opening interviews with the media. After Nuno Espirito Sanchez became too difficult and Lucien Favre opted for a longer sabbatical, Vieira was approached and hired astutely. This is much like the business Palace have done this summer: see target, get target.

Nothing averse can be said to their approach and efficiency in acquiring Marc Guéhi, Joachim Andersen, Michael Olise, Conor Gallagher and Remi Matthews. Much to the disappointment of fans, only one of the new faces – Guéhi – will be fit to appear, with Gallagher unable to face his parent club on loan and Matthews seemingly signed as a training partner.

Nonetheless, Vieira comes with a lot to offer. Already in pre-season, it has been evident how dear to him the youth are to him and his plans; the time spent with players of all ages in the club is indicative of how he plans to stay here for the long-term.

Palace are also undefeated in pre-season as they have had to re-learn football without becoming too expansive. Albeit victories have come against opposition of lesser class and aptitude.

The Eagles, with Guéhi the star so far, have learned to play from the back with a clear directive to move it quickly rather than patiently like this weekend’s opponents plan to do. With Wilfried Zaha still here defence can become attack with a pass – or a step over – immediately but without the unstructured haste that former coach, Roy Hodgson, oversaw.

No sterner test will the Eagles face this season than the reigning European champions – there’s that phrase – on their home deck in front of a stadium packed with fans for the first time in what seems like an eternity. But, ask any Palace fan and they will tell you that they wouldn’t have it any other way.

Team News

Chelsea

Lukaku’s arrival should bring nothing but greater expectations for this club, however, Chelsea have already confirmed Lukaku has come too late to be involved this weekend. After a long journey with Belgium at the Euros, Lukaku has not been afforded the opportunity to re-acclimate himself with the city or gel with many unfamiliar teammates.

Tuchel continues to impress as a manager – obviously – but also a man-manager; his ability to re-wire Kepa Arrizabalaga’s relationship with the club during the off-season is profound. Despite Kepa’s realignment, Edouard Mendy has shown no indication of relenting his hold on the number one keeper mantle.

After an outstanding pre-season, that ended with a brace in the UEFA Super Cup triumph over Tottenham, Hakim Ziyech could be out for some period after injuring his shoulder in a collision.

Cesar Azpilicueta’s red card on the final day at Villa Park last season was wiped out after appeal and he will be available this weekend.

As for the rest of the squad, many of them had elongated seasons with their international squads, and injuries, over the English summer. Ngolo Kante, Kai Havertz, Ben Chilwell, Antonio Rudiger, Mason Mount, Jorginho and Christian Pulisic all featured in international tournaments. Most of these names should start, but some could be afforded a reprieve for the first week.

Crystal Palace

As mentioned, exciting on-loan midfielder, Conor Gallagher will have to watch his foster club battle his parent club from the stands. But the 21-year-old impressed immensely in pre-season and Vieira will most likely look to start him the following week against unbeaten Brentford.

Marc Guéhi will make his Premier League debut against the club that founded and invested in his development and he will hope to show why his £18 million departure was an erroneous decision from Chelsea.

Joachim Andersen has a slight calf complaint and this week comes too soon. After a season of experience in the Premier League with Fulham, Andersen will fit in well once he returns in the coming weeks.

No time frame has been set for young Championship player of the season, Michael Olise, who’s back complaint will be assessed over the coming weeks, as well.

Joel Ward seems to be the favourite to start at right-back with Nathaniel Clyne his deputy, for the time being, until Nathan Ferguson recovers from an achilles injury. Both he and Eberechi Eze will be undergoing similar rehabilitation routines from the same injury but no timeline has been placed on their return, although it is known to be months away.

Predicted Starting XIs

Chelsea (3-4-2-1): Mendy; Azpilicueta, Silva, Rudiger; James, Kovacic, Jorginho, Chilwell; Mount, Werner; Havertz.

Crystal Palace (4-3-3): Guaita; Ward, Kouyaté, Guéhi, Mitchell; McArthur, Riedewald, Schlupp; Ayew, Benteke, Zaha.

Score Prediction: Chelsea 2–0 Crystal Palace

Palace, at the very least, will be hoping for a more inviting display than their timid and lifeless 1-4 defeat at the hands of Chelsea towards the end of last season. The odds are most definitely with Chelsea; fans are back, they have the momentum, talent and structure to dispatch of Palace.

The Eagles have some form coming into this game from pre-season and Christian Benteke’s still has the ability to out-jump any centre-back in the league. While Zaha has caused Chelsea several problems in the past.

Whatever the result: football’s back.

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