Sabasports Match Preview
Premier League: Crystal Palace vs Chelsea
Kickoff Time: 2024-02-13 04:00 (HKT)
Source:REUTERS/JASON CAIRNDUFF
Crystal Palace suffered a 1-4 defeat away to Brighton in the last
round of Premier League. This loss adds to their challenges as they strive to
avoid relegation. Furthermore, during the match, Crystal Palace winger Michael
Olise sustained a hamstring injury that will keep him out of action for at
least 6-8 weeks. This injury is undoubtedly a significant setback for them.
Crystal Palace typically employ a 4-3-3 formation, and under the guidance of
manager Roy Hodgson, their tactics are known to be conservative. When facing
stronger opponents, they often adopt a defensive strategy commonly referred to
as “parking the bus.” On the offensive end, they tend to rely on
quick counterattacks and set pieces to create scoring opportunities. The
defense approach has become synonymous with Crystal Palace in the minds of
fans. However, the effectiveness of Crystal Palace’s defensive strategy has
been questionable. They have already conceded a considerable number of goals,
with 40 in the league thus far. This highlights their defensive vulnerabilities
and weaknesses that need to be addressed.
In the midweek FA Cup match, Chelsea secured a 3-1 victory over Aston
Villa on the road. This win not only marked the end of their three-game
win-less streak in all competitions but also provided a significant morale
boost to them. Over the past two seasons, Chelsea have made significant
investments in the transfer market, totaling up to 1.08 billion euros. However,
the impact of their signings has not been as impressive as expected,
particularly in the center-forward position. Despite this, in the last game,
manager Mauricio Pochettino chose to deploy Cole Palmer as a makeshift
center-forward and positioned Nicolas Jackson on the left wing, capitalizing on
his speed and impact. This tactical adjustment aimed to compensate for
Jackson’s rough skill, which proved to be effective. After the match,
Pochettino openly stated, “I believe this is one of our best performances
this season. Perhaps it is the best game we have played so far.”
Indeed, Chelsea’s performance this season may not have met the high
expectations set for them, but they still possess a higher overall strength
compared to Crystal Palace. Chelsea’s recent 3-1 victory over Aston Villa in
the FA Cup demonstrates an improvement in their form and suggests that they are
on an upward trajectory. When considering the head-to-head record between
Chelsea and Crystal Palace, Chelsea hold a clear advantage. So, Chelsea, with
their recent improved form and superior head-to-head record, can be seen as the
favorite to win in this match.
Crystal Palace’s Last 5 Games: LWLLD
24-02-03 Brighton 4-1 Crystal Palace
24-01-31 Crystal Palace 3-2 Sheffield United
24-01-20 Arsenal 5-0 Crystal Palace
24-01-18 Everton 1-0 Crystal Palace
24-01-05 Crystal Palace 0-0 Everton
Chelsea’s Last 5 Games: WLLDW
24-02-08 Aston Villa 1-3 Chelsea
24-02-04 Chelsea 2-4 Wolves
24-02-01 Liverpool 4-1 Chelsea
24-01-27 Chelsea 0-0 Aston Villa
24-01-24 Chelsea 6-1 Middlesbrough
Head To Head Record:
23-12-28 Chelsea 2-1 Crystal Palace
23-01-15 Chelsea 1-0 Crystal Palace
22-10-01 Crystal Palace 1-2 Chelsea
22-04-17 Chelsea 2-0 Crystal Palace
22-02-19 Crystal Palace 0-1 Chelsea
Prediction: Chelsea to win