Chelsea will take on Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Sunday afternoon hoping to build on their win over Watford in midweek. The Pensioners are still well in contention to qualify for the UEFA Champions League next season, but they would need to fend off stiff competition from Arsenal in order to do that.
Anything other than a win will disappoint the Pensioners supporters, so Maurizio Sarri’s men need to put in a strong performance if they are serious about claiming maximum points from this contest. The Italian manager could opt for a 4-3-3 formation and might make a few changes for this clash.
4-3-3 Chelsea Predicted Lineup To Face Crystal Palace
Defence
Kepa Arrizabalaga will take his place in goal for the Pensioners against Roy Hodgson’s men on Sunday. The Spanish keeper has made 25 appearances for Chelsea this season and has conceded 17 goals at the back while keeping 13 clean sheets.
Maurizio Sarri is expected to opt for his first-choice central defensive pairing of Antonio Rudiger and David Luiz as his side cannot afford to drop any points in the race to secure a top 4 spot at the end of this season. Cesar Azpilicueta is expected to start at right-back while Marcos Alonso would operate on the other side as the left-back.
The West London outfit failed to keep a clean sheet against Watford so Sarri would demand a much-improved showing from his defenders for this weekend’s trip to Selhurst Park.
Midfield
Jorginho will operate as a deep-lying holding midfielder looking to spray some passes in the Eagles half. Both N’Golo Kante and Ruben Loftus-Cheek might feature alongside the Italian international at the middle of the park. Loftus-Cheek has scored six goals in 15 matches for the West London outfit this term, so he would be a great weapon for Sarri’s side going forward.
Attack
The trio of Eden Hazard, Olivier Giroud and Willian could line up for Chelsea against Palace as Sarri looks to freshen things up on the final third of the pitch. Hazard managed to score a brace which was enough to give his side all three points against the Cherries in midweek. So the Belgian sensation will look to replicate a similar performance versus the Eagles this weekend.
