Prediction: Chelsea win
Best Odds: 4/15
Bookmaker: 888sport
The Premier League is back in our lives this weekend with 10 fixtures to get us underway on a brand new campaign for English football. The international football rollercoaster that was the summer has been and gone and now, there are 20 clubs hoping to make an immediate statement right out of the gate over the next few days. Two such examples of that are Chelsea and Crystal Palace who will meet in an all-London affair at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
Chelsea
The European champions now have their sights set on reclaiming the English title and while that’s going to be the definition of a tall order, they’ve certainly got the squad and manager to do it. Thomas Tuchel hasn’t exactly been in charge for very long but he’s already giving off the impression that he wants to transform this Chelsea side and cement their place as one of the best teams in the world – and getting off to a winning PL start would be a great way to prove that.
Team News
Lukaku is officially a Chelsea player once again but isn’t likely to be available in time for this game. Ziyech picked up a shoulder injury in the Super Cup and will miss out but aside from that, there are no other concerns for the Blues.
Crystal Palace
The addition of Patrick Vieira as Crystal Palace’s new manager is certainly going to seem like a risk in the eyes of many, and rightly so given his lack of managerial experience in the Premier League. Still, many Eagles fans had been calling out for a change of real significance in the wake of Roy Hodgson’s departure from the club, and Vieira seems to have injected new life into proceedings at Selhurst Park which can only be a good thing.
Team News
Gallagher will have to wait for his Palace debut as he can’t face his parent club Chelsea. Ferguson and Eze are the only players officially ruled out through injury with Olise being a fitness doubt.
Conclusion
Crystal Palace have definitely made improvements during the summer transfer window but we don’t think it’s going to be enough for them to overcome Chelsea on the opening day. The benefit to Palace is that the Blues may be tired as a result of their exploits in Belfast for the Super Cup, and for that reason, we aren’t expecting a high-scoring spectacle – and we instead, we think Tuchel’s men will edge out a narrow 1-0 win.
Prediction: Chelsea win
Best Odds: 4/15
Bookmaker: 888sport
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