Graham Potter faces a must-win Premier League London derby at Stamford Bridge this afternoon. Chelsea are expected to present new signing Mykhaylo Mudryk to fans ahead of today’s game against Crystal Palace after beating Arsenal to a sensational £89million transfer on Saturday, with heartfelt tributes also set to be paid to Gianluca Vialli in their first home match since the Blues legend’s sad passing from cancer earlier this month.
Potter is already battling to save his job after a 2-1 defeat at rivals Fulham on Thursday in which Joao Felix was sent off on his debut made it just one win in nine matches amid their worst top-flight run since 1996, with Chelsea sitting 10th and fully 10 points adrift of the top four. Crystal Palace could be ideal opponents today though, with the Eagles having lost three of their last four league games under Patrick Vieira.
The Blues have won all of the last 11 meetings between these capital rivals and will be desperate for another triumph today with Mudryk watching on from the stands. Follow Chelsea vs Crystal Palace live below, with expert analysis from Nizaar Kinsella at the ground.
Live updates
More images from the touching Gianluca Vialli tributes outside the ground at Stamford Bridge:
Gianluca Vialli tributes
Plenty of tributes already paid to Vialli outside Stamford Bridge today, including from members of the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust (CST).
Chelsea to pay tribute to Gianluca Vialli
Today will be an emotional day at Stamford Bridge.
This is Chelsea’s first home match since the sad passing of legendary former player and manager Gianluca Vialli aged just 58 in a London hospital on January 6 following a long fight with pancreatic cancer.
Fans paid tribute to the Italian icon before last week’s FA Cup defeat at Manchester City and again before the derby against Fulham, but there is far more planned for today on home soil.
Chelsea have asked fans to be in their seats early, with the current Blues and Palace squads to be joined on the pitch by players who previously lined up alongside or who were coached by Vialli for a minute’s applause before kick-off.
Chelsea’s players wore special warm-up t-shirts at the Etihad Stadium last week and today will don black armbands.
There is also a special edition of the matchday programme remembering Vialli, while a book of condolence is available for fans to sign in the museum building behind the Matthew Harding Stand.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace prediction
It’s hard to see where a win is coming from for Chelsea right now. Frail at the back and toothless in attack, Palace’s energy could be too much for them.
Palace to win, 2-1.
Crystal Palace team news
While Chelsea have already lost Joao Felix to a ban, opponents Crystal Palace get a key player back from suspension this afternoon with Tyrick Mitchell available again.
The left-back was sent off along with James Tomkins during the wretched 3-0 home defeat by Fulham on Boxing Day, missing the subsequent Premier League meetings with Bournemouth and Tottenham and the FA Cup loss against Southampton.
Patrick Vieira remains without both James McArthur and Nathan Ferguson due to injury today, however.
Chelsea team news
Joao Felix begins a costly three-match ban for Chelsea today after his straight red card at Fulham for a terrible challenge on Kenny Tete that marred an otherwise promising debut.
Graham Potter’s injury crisis shows no signs of abating, with his absentee list still in double figures after Denis Zakaria limped off at Craven Cottage with a quad issue.
He joins the likes of Edouard Mendy, Reece James, Wesley Fofana, N’Golo Kante, Raheem Sterling, Armando Broja and Christian Pulisic on the sidelines.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek could be involved today after returning to training at Cobham this week, with Ben Chilwell next in line for a comeback.
How to watch Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
TV channel and live stream: Today’s game will not be broadcast live on TV in the UK. Highlights are available on Match of the Day 2 tonight from 10:30pm on BBC One.
Welcome to Chelsea vs Crystal Palace LIVE coverage!
Hello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Chelsea vs Crystal Palace in the Premier League.
Today’s London derby is surely a must-win affair for Blues boss Graham Potter, who is already battling to save his job amid the club’s worst run of Premier League form since 1996, with Thursday’s loss at Fulham in which Joao Felix was sent off on his debut making it just one win in nine matches either side of the World Cup break to leave them 10th and 10 points adrift of the top four.
However, a key boost arrived on Saturday with Chelsea sensationally beating Arsenal to a blockbuster £89million deal for Shakhtar Donetsk winger Mykhaylo Mudryk.
Palace could do with a decent result here as well, having lost three of their last four and not beaten a top-half team yet this season.
The Eagles have lost all of their last 11 meetings with Chelsea, but they will never have a better chance to end that run.
Kick-off is at 2pm GMT, so stay tuned for build-up, team news and live updates, with expert analysis from Standard Sport’s Chelsea correspondent Nizaar Kinsella at Stamford Bridge.
