Crystal Palace Lineup vs Chelsea: Predicted XI for Premier League Opener

The highly anticipated match between Crystal Palace and Chelsea is set to kick off the Premier League season on August 17, 2025. Here’s a breakdown of the predicted lineup for Crystal Palace:

Predicted Lineup

– Goalkeeper: Dean Henderson
– Defenders:
– Right-wing back: Daniel Muñoz
– Center-back: Marc Guéhi
– Center-back: Chris Richards
– Left-wing back: Tyrick Mitchell
– Midfielders:
– Central midfielder: Jefferson Lerma
– Central midfielder: Will Hughes
– Attacking midfielders:
– Right: Ismaïla Sarr
– Left: Eberechi Eze
– Striker: Jean-Philippe Mateta

Key Players

– Eberechi Eze: A creative force on the left wing, Eze’s pace and skill will be crucial in breaking down Chelsea’s defense.
– Ismaïla Sarr: The right winger’s speed and agility will be key in exploiting Chelsea’s left flank.
– Jean-Philippe Mateta: The striker’s hold-up play and finishing ability will be vital in converting Crystal Palace’s chances into goals.

Injury Concerns

Crystal Palace faces several injury concerns, including:
– Chadi Riad: Out with a knee injury
– Cheick Doucoure: Out with a knee injury
– Daichi Kamada: Doubtful with a knee injury
– Eddie Nketiah: Sidelined with a hamstring injury
– Adam Wharton: Sidelined with a groin injury

Tactics

Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace is expected to employ a 3-4-2-1 formation, prioritizing defensive solidity and rapid counter-attacks. The team will look to exploit Chelsea’s defensive vulnerabilities and capitalize on any mistakes.

Head-to-Head Statistics

Chelsea dominates the head-to-head record against Crystal Palace, with 20 wins in 26 meetings. Crystal Palace have only one victory in their last 15 encounters against Chelsea, and they’ve not won at Stamford Bridge since 2015.

Prediction

Given Chelsea’s strong squad and home advantage, they are likely to win the match. However, Crystal Palace’s attacking talent and defensive solidity make them a formidable opponent. A predicted scoreline could be Chelsea 2-1 Crystal Palace, with Cole Palmer and João Pedro scoring for Chelsea and Eberechi Eze or Jean-Philippe Mateta scoring for Palace [14].