Reece James return, brutal Joao Felix decision – Predicted Chelsea line-up vs Crystal Palace

by

Chelsea kick off their 2025 this afternoon as they make the short trip to south London to take on Crystal Palace.

The Blues will be hoping to start this year off in the best possible fashion after ending 2024 in a bit of a slump. Back-to-back defeats to Fulham and Ipswich Town all but ended Chelsea’s faint hopes of challenging for this season’s Premier League title.However, the Blues remain in a race to finish in this term’s top four as they look to bring Champions League football back to Stamford Bridge after a two-year absence from Europe’s top competition. Palace stand in their way today, though, as they look to inflict even more pain on Enzo Maresca, who will be desperate for his side to produce a much improved display at Selhurst Park.What sort of side will Maresca field down in south London, though? Bobby Vincent does his best at reading the Chelsea head coach’s mind…

We saw Filip Jorgensen in goal at Ipswich but it felt very much like what we saw against Southampton last month. Perhaps one game for Jorgensen and then back to Sanchez.

Reece James is back with the squad but a start for the captain comes too early. Gusto should replace Axel Disasi, who was awful at Ipswich, in the XI.

Not spoiled for choice in the centre-back position. Tosin is likely to keep his place in the team with Wesley Fofana potentially missing for the rest of the season.

Colwill should partner Tosin. Benoit Badiashile remains sidelined with a hamstring problem. Maresca confirmed on Friday that the Frenchman will be out until at least February.

(Image: Ryan Pierse)

Cucurella to continue at left-back. Seems one of the most no-brainer decisions in the whole line-up.

Leave a Comment