Chelsea kickstart 2025 this weekend with an important trip to Selhurst Park to face London rivals Crystal Palace.
Chelsea make the short trip on Saturday afternoon to face Palace in a Premier League match.
The first half of the season was largely a big success for the Blues, but a dip over the festive schedule has seen them drop down to fourth in the league table. Enzo Maresca’s side has been beaten by Ipswich Town and Fulham in the previous two matches, plus they drew with Everton before that to make it one point out of a possible nine.
Chelsea are now three league games without a win for the first time since Maresca took charge as the head coach in the summer. Therefore, all eyes will be on Selhurst Park to see how the Blues respond.
Chelsea predicted XI vs Crystal Palace
Here is a look at the Chelsea line-up we’re predicting to see away to Palace this weekend…
The first of five changes that Maresca could make to his side is in-between the sticks, where number one goalkeeper Robert Sanchez regains his starting position at the expense of Filip Jorgensen.
Malo Gusto could return to the XI at right-back in the second change as Axel Disasi drops out. Jason Cundy labelled Chelsea’s Disasi as “passive” versus Ipswich, so it would be a surprise to see him keep his place.
It’s the same combination of Tosin Adarabioyo and Levi Colwill starting again as the centre-halves.
Marc Cucurella keeps his spot and completes the back four at left-back. However, Cucurella was a main culprit of Chelsea’s yellow card issue in 2024, so he needs to try keep a lid on his behaviour away to Palace.
Yet again, Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo start as the central midfielders. It’s going to be a massive boost for everyone when Romeo Lavia is fit again, so there can be some rotation in the middle.
The third change could see Pedro Neto recalled to the starting line-up on the right wing, which would mean Noni Madueke dropping out. Similarly, the fourth change on the left wing may be Jadon Sancho back into the team at the expense of Joao Felix.
Cole Palmer is most likely to maintain his record of starting every league match this season as he continues in the creative No 10 role.
Finally, the fifth and final alteration is Christopher Nkunku being dropped to allow for the return of Nicolas Jackson in the striker position.
Predicted Chelsea line-up
Sanchez
Gusto, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella
Caicedo, Fernandez
Neto, Palmer, Sancho
Jackson
IN: Robert Sanchez, Malo Gusto, Pedro Neto, Jadon Sancho, Nicolas Jackson
OUT: Filip Jorgensen, Axel Disasi, Noni Madueke, Joao Felix, Christopher Nkunku
Christopher Nkunku blew big chance
Even though Christopher Nkunku is a more natural No 10 than striker, he got a big opportunity when he started as the centre-forward earlier this week versus Ipswich. Unfortunately, he wasted his chance to prove he should be playing more.
Nkunku was a big loser from Chelsea’s defeat at Ipswich because he offered little goal threat and was substituted off during the second half. In just his third league start of the season, the Frenchman was barely involved in the attacking phases and looked quiet when leading the line.
Jackson had drawn a blank in his previous two appearances to open up a small window for Nkunku, but the latter failed to prove a point to the manager.
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