In their first game back following the three-month hiatus, Roy Hodgson’s side strode of the pitch in high spirits and talk of Europe was in full force.<\/p>\n
Now, however, spirits could not be more different, as Crystal Palace<\/a> prepare to host a Chelsea<\/a> side battling for their place in the top four.<\/p>\n Palace began the restart by extending their run of without conceding a goal to four games, the first time they had reached such a feat in their top-flight history.<\/p>\n However, fate was perhaps jinxed, as it has been downhill since then. A 4-0 defeat to Liverpool<\/a>, then came defeats to Burnley<\/a> and Leicester City.<\/a> Palace, in all three games, had noticeable weaknesses and did not look like a side who could find the back of the net.<\/p>\n Most recently, against Leicester, Roy Hodgson’s side could only muster one shot on target. They could barely breach the Foxes’ back-line, spending much of the game holding off the Champions League chasing side.<\/p>\n Against Chelsea, another side looking to qualify for the 2020\/21 Champions League, it could be a similar story for the Eagles.<\/p>\n Palace boss Hodgson hinted at one or two injury doubts ahead of the visit of Chelsea.<\/p>\n Speaking in his pre-match press conference, the 72-year-old said<\/a>: “With these very quick turnovers you\u2019ve always got to sort of give players as long as possible.<\/p>\n “We\u2019re still monitoring one or two from the game at the weekend [v Leicester City].”<\/p>\n Frank Lampard will be without three players for their trip across London. Speaking to the official Chelsea website<\/a>, the Blues boss confirmed that N’Golo Kante<\/a>, Mateo Kovacic<\/a> and Fikayo Tomori<\/a> are all sidelined through injury.<\/p>\n Despite his future at Stamford Bridge remaining undecided, Willian<\/a> has been in excellent form for the Blues since the Premier League restart.<\/p>\n The Brazilian has four goals in five games, including a brace in their 3-2 defeat to West Ham United.<\/p>\n The 31-year-old has showed no signs of slowing up, and up against a left-back who can leave spaces open when going forward, the Brazilian could have yet another successful evening.<\/p>\n Chelsea should prove too much to handle for a Palace side lacking in confidence.<\/p>\n Crystal Palace 1-3 Chelsea<\/strong><\/p>\n Main PhotoCrystal Palace Host Chelsea at Selhurst Park<\/h2>\n
Error-Prone Palace<\/h3>\n
Team News<\/h3>\n
Key Match-Up: Willian vs Patrick van Aanholt<\/a><\/h3>\n
Crystal Palace v Chelsea Prediction<\/h3>\n
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>