Following a whirlwind summer of transfer dealings, Chelsea can now turn their full attention to the pitch as they prepare to take on Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge.
With £200 million spent on new signings and over 20 players leaving, Chelsea's summer has been marked by significant upheaval, a trend that has become typical under Todd Boehly's ownership.
Amidst off-field controversies and criticism over the club’s management, Chelsea's opening 2-0 home defeat to Manchester City highlighted the gap between them and the top teams, despite their heavy investment.
However, new manager Enzo Maresca began to quiet some of the dissenting voices last Sunday with a resounding 6-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers. Noni Madueke and Cole Palmer played pivotal roles, with Madueke netting a hat-trick—all assisted by Palmer—and both players earning spots in the upcoming England squad. This win marked Chelsea’s first six-goal haul on the road in over two-and-a-half years.
Last weekend, however, Chelsea showed no signs of a European hangover, and Maresca will be keen for a similar performance against Crystal Palace. Chelsea boasts an impressive recent record against the Eagles, having won 14 consecutive matches, including 13 in the Premier League. Another win would equal the record for consecutive victories over a single opponent in the English league, currently held by Manchester City against Bournemouth.
A relegation battle was not anticipated for the Eagles before the season began, especially after the positive impact made by manager Oliver Glasner since his arrival in February.
In an effort to boost morale after the two defeats, Glasner fielded a strong lineup in their EFL Cup match against Norwich City, which proved successful with a 4-0 win. Eze scored his first goal of the season, Daichi Kamada also found the net for his first Palace goal, and Jean-Philippe Mateta added a brace, including a stunning acrobatic volley.
Prediction: Chelsea
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace stream and TV listing
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