Good afternoon! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for today's Premier League clash between Chelsea and Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge. The hosts are now on the home straight towards what looks like an inevitable second title in the space of three years, but they welcome a team in good form to the Bridge for today's London derby. We will have an in-depth look at both teams a little later, but first let's check out the team news...

CHELSEA STARTING XI: Courtois; Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Cahill; Pedro, Kante, Matic, Alonso; Fabregas, Diego Costa, Hazard

CHELSEA SUBS: Begovic, Zouma, Terry, Chalobah, Loftus-Cheek, Willian, Batshuayi

CRYSTAL PALACE STARTING XI: Hennessey; Ward, Tomkins, Sakho, Schlupp; Milivojevic, Cabaye, Puncheon, Zaha, Townsend; Benteke

CRYSTAL PALACE SUBS: Speroni, Dann, Delaney, Kelly, Ledley, Kaikai, Sako

The headline news from those selections is that Eden Hazard returns for Chelsea this afternoon having been struggling with a calf injury of late. The Belgian missed the win over Stoke before the international break and was subsequently forced to pull out of international duty, but he returned to training on Thursday and is deemed fit enough to start today. There had been suggestions that he would be rested today with one eye on Wednesday's match against Man City, but Conte has brought the talismanic winger back in for this one.

There is also a start for Diego Costa, who suffered an injury scare of his own on international duty with Spain. The striker was quickly given the all-clear, though, and was always expected to be fit to lead the line today. He will renew his search for his 50th Premier League goal and, should he get it today then he would be only the seventh player to reach that milestone for Chelsea and the fifth-fastest to do so in Premier League history, level with Sergio Aguero and behind only Andy Cole, Alan Shearer, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Fernando Torres.

Chelsea had used the fewest players and made the fewest changes to their starting XI going into this one, but Conte makes three changes from the team that battled past Stoke last time out. It could even be a change of formation, which Conte did do towards the closing stages of that win over Stoke, with Azpilicueta and Alonso as the full-backs in a defensive four and Kante and Matic sitting behind Pedro, Fabregas and Hazard.

Should Conte stick with the 3-4-3 formation as the teamsheet suggests, though, then it looks as though Fabregas will play in the front three alongside Costa and Hazard having replaced Willian in the side, while Pedro will operate as a right wing-back - something he has done previously this season. It is the absence of Victor Moses with a calf injury that seems to have caused the confusion, which perhaps highlights a relative lack of depth in that position for the Blues. Courtois, meanwhile, has overcome a hip injury to start in goal.

Palace, meanwhile, are unchanged from their 1-0 win over Watford last time out, which is no surprise considering their recent upturn in form. Patrick van Aanholt was the only player threatening to break back into the side, but he remains sidelined with an ankle injury which means that Jeffrey Schlupp continues on the left side of defence. The likes of Dann, Delaney and Kelly all must make do with places on the bench once again.

Palace will expect their main goal threat to come via Christian Benteke, although that hasn't been the case recently. The Belgian has scored just once in his last 13 Premier League games having begun his Palace career with eight goals in his first 13 top-flight outings. It has been a drastic tail-off in form, but he does have a decent record against today's opponents having scored in four different Premier League games against Chelsea - a personal best tally against top-flight clubs. That includes netted home and away against the Blues for Liverpool last season, and he has also registered on his last two trips to Stamford Bridge.

Should Benteke find himself misfiring again then Palace will likely turn to Wilfried Zaha, who scored a fine goal on international duty recently and will be looking to keep that form up today. The winger can certainly be a direct threat with his pace and dribbling, but his end product can be lacking at times and against a Chelsea defence that doesn't give up many chances that could prove costly today. The same applies to Townsend, really, who joins Zaha and Puncheon in the trio behind Benteke today.

Palace's improvement, particularly defensively, has come since their January additions, which include Milivojevic and most notably Mamadou Sakho. The Liverpool loanee has made three appearances for the Eagles since joining them and returning to full fitness, and in all three matches Palace have managed to keep a clean sheet. Of course, it is a whole team effort, but the arrival of Sakho has certainly given them a major boost and they will be desperate to secure his services on a permanent basis if they can afford to do so this summer.

Chelsea go into today's match as the overwhelming favourites to take another step towards the title, and with good reason too, but they will need to be wary of Crystal Palace considering their visitors' recent form. Antonio Conte does not seem like the type of manager to allow complacency to slip in, though, and there is very little chance that he will let his side take their foot off the pedal in these closing stages of the campaign. Conte built his name by dealing with the pressure of being favourites ever game at Juventus, and Chelsea have so far conducted themselves in a very professional manner during these types of games.

The way Chelsea have performed, particularly in recent weeks, makes it almost impossible to see them surrendering a 10-point lead with just 10 games of the season remaining. They have not been blowing teams away of late, but they have still been getting the job done and the 2-1 victory over Stoke before the international break was another clear example of that. They were forced to fight for everything at the bet365 Stadium, and fight they did before Gary Cahill popped up with an 87th-minute winner.

That win means that Chelsea are now just 21 points - or seven more victories - away from sealing the title, no matter what the chasing pack can do, and considering their relentless form it wouldn't be wise to back against them achieving above and beyond that total over the final 10 games of the season - even if those below them slip up. Chelsea have won 19 of their last 22 Premier League games, including each of their last three, and have taken a staggering 59 points from the 66 on offer since their back-to-back defeats at the hands of Liverpool and Arsenal in September.

For all of the money and world-class managers amongst the chasing pack, it is so hard to keep up with that sort of pace and very few would argue that Chelsea would be deserving champions this season. No team has conceded fewer goals this season, with Chelsea also keeping a league-high 14 clean sheets, while only Liverpool have scored more too. In all competitions it is now 12 games since Chelsea last loss, winning 10 of those including each of their last five, while that 2-0 defeat to Spurs at the start of January is their only loss in the last 23 games.

If that record is daunting enough then Palace will be even more worried by Chelsea home record this season, which has been almost faultless. Conte's side are currently on a 13-match winning streak at Stamford Bridge in all competitions, and since the Italian took over they have picked up maximum points from 16 of their 17 home games, with a 2-1 defeat to Liverpool in September the only blemish on their copybook.

That includes an ongoing 10-game winning streak at home in the Premier League, and victory today would see Chelsea equal their club record of 11 in a row, set in 2005-06. Tottenham do still have a better home record than Chelsea this season, but the Blues have played two fewer games than Spurs in front of their own fans and have averaged three goals per game during their ongoing 10-match winning run. They have also only conceded five times in that period, helping them to boast the joint-best home defensive record in the league.

One of the key elements of Chelsea's consistency has been their ability to win matches exactly like this one. While most of their title rivals have slipped up against teams they may be expected to beat, Chelsea have won 18 of their 20 games against sides currently outside the top six this season, taking 56 points from a possible 60 in that time. When you compare that to a team like Liverpool, who have a notoriously poor record against the so-called lesser teams, it is clear to see where the difference lies.

The statistics do not look kind for Palace, then, and there is worse to come too. Chelsea have scored the opening goal in games on a league-high 22 occasions this season, whereas only Sunderland have conceded the first goal on more occasions than Palace's 19. The first goal is often crucial against a team with the defensive capabilities of Chelsea, so don't be surprised if Allardyce looks to dig in and prevent the hosts from breaking the deadlock as a first priority today.

The record in London derbies for these two sides does also not make great reading for Palace heading into this one. Chelsea have taken a league-high 15 points from matches against their fellow capital clubs, whereas Palace have lost all five of their London derbies without scoring a single goal. The Eagles still have all of the Premier League's top six to play in their final 10 games of the season too, so they are far from safe just yet.

For now, though, Palace fans will be enjoying a timely upturn in form which has helped to give themselves a bit of a cushion in the relegation battle. Just over a month ago the Eagles sat joint bottom of the table, but they are now 16th, four points clear of the relegation zone, and an unlikely victory today could lift them as high as 14th. Indeed, when you consider that they are four points above the bottom three but only five points away from the top half, their position does not seem quite as perilous.

The prospect of that horrible run-in does cast some shadow over any optimism Palace may be feeling right now, but the confidence among the players must be sky-high following a run of three consecutive victories. Palace have picked up as many points in those last three games as they had in their previous 19, but Allardyce will be in no doubt that they cannot afford to rest on their laurels if he is maintain his proud record of never having been relegated.

The Eagles are one of only four teams in the league to have come into this weekend off the back of three straight wins, but the fact that Leicester are another one of those teams will serve as a reminder that Palace are not the only struggling side to have enjoyed a purple patch of late. Swansea, Hull and the Foxes have all experienced an upturn in form since changing their managers, and Palace's own recent three-match winning streak will be a warning that the four-point gap they currently enjoy can be wiped out in no time at all.

Perhaps the most surprising thing about Palace's recent winning streak is that they have managed to keep clean sheets in all three games, having only kept two all season before that. Indeed, stretching back to last term the Eagles had kept just two clean sheets in their last 30 Premier League outings before this run of three in a row, and another win and clean sheet today - however unlikely it may seem - would see them win four on the bounce without conceding for the first time in their Premier League history. They last time they won four on the bounce, regardless of goals conceded, was in April 2015.

A trip to Stamford Bridge is never one visiting fans hold much hope for, particularly this season, but Palace have generally been better on the road than they have at home in recent years. It is the same again this season, where they have picked up more points on their travels than at Selhurst Park, and in Premier League history they have won 167 of their 323 points away from home - only Blackpool have a higher proportion. Things have not been great at home or away in recent times for Palace, but they have improved of late with two wins from their last three away games - as many as they had managed in their previous 22.

PREDICTION: Right, we're 10 minutes away from kickoff at Stamford Bridge, which means that it is time for a prediction! Chelsea just looked unstoppable at the moment, and even when matches may prove tricky for them - like this one due to Palace's form - they still seem to get the job done. I'm going for a 2-0 home win.

Chelsea have had the better of this fixture down the years, losing just two of their last 18 Premier League meetings with the Eagles, with 12 wins in that time including four in their last five. However, they rarely put their London rivals to the sword and six of the past seven meetings have been decided by a solitary goal, with the exception being Chelsea's 3-0 win at Selhurst Park last season.

Palace did win the corresponding fixture last term, though, claiming their first ever top-flight victory at Stamford Bridge in the early stages of the campaign. They have drawn five and lost eight of their previous visits to the Bridge in the top flight, but goals from Sako and Ward either side of a Falcao strike steered the Eagles to a memorable 2-1 triumph.

The reverse fixture this season was another example of Chelsea doing what they needed to come away with all three points as Diego Costa struck the only goal of the game shortly before half time to seal a 1-0 win at Selhurst Park. It was not one of Chelsea most glittering performances of the campaign, but it was another important step on the path to the title for the champions-elect.

Right, we're just about ready to go at Stamford Bridge! The players are out on the field and all lined up ahead of this London derby which could have major consequences at both ends of the table!

KICKOFF: Here we go, then! Diego Costa gets us underway in the capital!

Chelsea win an early free kick in a good position as Fabregas is on the end of a late challenge from Milivojevic. The hosts try to take it quickly but it is called back and David Luiz is standing over this one now...

SAVE! It is instead Alonso who goes for it, but it is central and easy for Hennessey to collect with minimum fuss.

What a start for Chelsea! They end Crystal Palace's clean sheet run within five minutes at Stamford Bridge, and it is all too easy for them to do so too. Hazard collects the ball on the left channel and is afford the time to wait for support to arrive in the box. One of those coming from deep is Fabregas, and a low ball across the face of goal is easy for the unmarked Spaniard to turn home from close range.

That is a big early setback for Palace, and it leaves them with even more of a mountain to climb here. I mentioned before kickoff that Allardyce would want his side to keep things goalless for as long as possible, but that hope has already gone.

What a response from the visitors! They level things up within four minutes of falling behind, and it is Zaha who has carried his international form into domestic matters! Benteke flicks the ball around the corner for the winger, who carries it into the area before firing a low shot through the legs of Alonso and into the far corner.

Incredible scenes at Stamford Bridge! Just 90 seconds after levelling things up, Palace take the lead against their London rivals and it is Benteke at Stamford Bridge again! It is roles reversed between the Belgian and Zaha, with the ball bouncing kindly for the latter, allowing him to play it square for Benteke. The striker finds himself with only the keeper to beat and shows great composure against his compatriot to dummy a shot before dinking his finish over a sprawling Courtois.

What a blockbuster start to this match! I mentioned the importance of Chelsea getting the first goal today, but that has completely flown out of the window now! Crystal Palace had only scored three first-half away goals all season before today, and now they have two in as many minutes! Madness!

Those Palace fans are enjoying themselves in the away end! They are bouncing and letting off flares having seen their side come roaring back from that early setback.

CHANCE! Big chance for Chelsea to restore parity as a cleverly-worked corner puts Pedro in. He fires it towards the far corner, but Townsend makes a crucial block to prevent it finding the back of the net. Chelsea want a penalty for handball, and the replay shows that it was quite a blatant one too. Townsend has got away with one there as they could well have been a red card as well as a penalty.

It's hard to believe that we've only had 18 minutes of this match! An injury to Pedro allows the players to catch their breath after an incredible start to this match. We have already seen three goals and a blatant penalty that was not given - what else is to come in this one?!

UPDATE: We've been lucky enough to have all of the early Premier League action here, but there has been another goal elsewhere and it is more good news for Palace as West Ham have taken the lead against Hull through Andy Carroll's 50th Premier League goal.

Back to the Bridge, and there is almost another chance for Chelsea from a set piece. This time the ball nearly drops for both Costa and Luiz, but the visitors manage to hack it away before any damage can be done.

CHANCE! The hosts are beginning to knock on the door now, but Hennessey pulls off a remarkable save to deny Chelsea one of the best team goals of the season. Fabregas and Hazard exchange silky passes to leave the Palace defence chasing shadows, with the former eventually dragging a cross into the middle. Costa is there, but the Spain international is denied by a fine stop when he looked certain to score.

CHANCE! Half a chance for Palace at the other end as Schlupp latches on to a header by Benteke, but he fluffs his lines and can't test Courtois.

UPDATE: There has been another goal in the Premier League's 3pm kickoffs, with Ndidi scoring a screamer to put Leicester 1-0 up against Stoke.

SHOT! Another shooting chance for Palace against what is proving to be an unusually sloppy Chelsea defence today. Puncheon is afforded space from around 20 yards out, but he drags his effort comfortably wide.

This game has been completely different from what I expected. Palace's hand was forced somewhat by going a goal down, but they responded brilliantly and have shown signs that they could score more today. Chelsea are on top right now, though, and the game is open enough for them to threaten fairly regularly.

Chelsea have another free kick in a good position here as Puncheon is penalised for a foul on Costa. Good chance to test Hennessey...

SAVE! This time it is Luiz who takes over the free kick duties, but it is the same result. On target, but an easy stop for Hennessey.

This is not a position that Chelsea have been in too often this season, particularly recently, so it will be interesting to see how they respond. They have played some nice football today, but the longer they remain behind the likes of Costa may begin to get more and more frustrated.

The Chelsea fans are not happy as Hazard fails to win a free kick after being levered off the ball by Ward, only to see Milivojevic awarded one moments later.

Important piece of defending from Tomkins as Costa collects the ball on the edge of the box and tries to shoot on the turn, only for the Palace man to make an important block to deny the striker. Moments later Costa collects the ball in a similar position and this time plays it out wide for Alonso, who drills a low cross agonisingly across the face of goal.

SAVE! Hazard has been brilliant in this first half, and he bursts his way into the box here before driving a powerful strike towards goal from a tight angle that Hennessey turns behind for a corner.

SAVE! Hennessey is called into action once again as Matic lets fly with a low strike that the Palace keeper saves. He can only parry it back into the middle, and Tomkins is needed to complete the clearance.

Half a chance for Palace as Tomkins manages to get his head to a corner at the back post and loops an effort over the top. A little less on the header would have caused the hosts some serious problems.

SHOT! Even Azpilicueta is getting in on the act now as the ball drops to him just outside the area. The defender lashes a first-time effort towards goal, but it is always rising and Hennessey sees it over the top.

CHANCE! Another set piece and another chance for Chelsea. This time it is Matic who rises highest inside the area, but he is caught just below the ball and can only loop a header towards goal which Hennessey tips over.

There will be two minutes of added time at the end of this action-packed first half.

The Chelsea fans didn't quite know how to react that the half-time whistle there. It has been an action-packed opening 45 minutes and Chelsea have played some dazzling football, but they find themselves 2-1 behind at the interval. Wayne Hennessey has been by far the busier of the two goalkeepers, facing eight shots on target, but Palace remain in front.

The opening goal arrived after less than five minutes when two players brought back into the starting XI combined, with Hazard playing a low ball into the box that Fabregas was able to sweep home from close range. The Spaniard had kickstarted the move with a long ball forward for Hazard before racing unnoticed into the box to apply the finish.

Palace responded immediately, though, and were level within four minutes when Wilfried Zaha collected a pass from Benteke before picking out the bottom corner with a precise finish. Things got even better for the visitors when they added another just 90 seconds later, though, with Zaha turning the provider for Benteke this time. The Belgian showed a touch of class with his finish too, chipping the ball over Courtois having put the keeper on the floor with a dummy.

KICKOFF: Crystal Palace get us back underway for the second half at Stamford Bridge, and the first thing to tell you about is that the visitors have made a change at the break with Scott Dann replacing Tomkins.

That change is due to a kick on the calf for Tomkins in that first half, and it will be a blow for Allardyce to break up that defensive duo which has been so impressive recently. Still, Dann has plenty of experience and is not a bad replacement.

YELLOW CARD! The first card of the game goes to Costa for a late challenge on Sakho when trying to block the ball.

Half a chance for Chelsea again as Alonso loops a cross to the back post where Fabregas is waiting, but the Spaniard chooses to knock the ball down into the middle rather than going for goal, which probably would have been the better option.

CHANCE! Another hint of a chance for Chelsea as Fabregas slides in to poke the ball through for Costa, who also throws himself at the ball. Hennessey is brave to dive in himself, though, smothering the effort and keeping Chelsea at bay once again.

CHANCE! Yet another chance for Chelsea, who must be wondering how they are still behind in this one! Pedro swings a ball into the box and Costa has peeled off his man. He chests the ball down before going for goal, but Dann throws himself in the way and makes a crucial block.

Dann looks to have seriously hurt himself when making that block, and having only come on at half time it looks like he will need to leave via a stretcher now.

CHELSEA SUB: While Dann continues to receive treatment, Chelsea make a change as Willian comes on for Matic.

CRYSTAL PALACE SUBS: Dann is now carried off on a stretcher with what looks like it could be a season-ending injury. Damien Delaney comes on in his place, and there is a second change from the visitors too as Martin Kelly replaces Townsend. Allardyce has used all three changes now.

Palace have less than half an hour to hold out for what would be a famous victory here. Chelsea have been knocking on the door pretty much since Palace's second goal in the 11th minute, but they haven't been able to find another way through so far.

Willian tries to test Hennessey's angle from the right side of the area having worked space against Sakho, but he drills the ball straight into the arms of he keeper.

Palace have been on the back foot for a long time in this match, but they have a chance to get a priceless third goal as Zaha wins a free kick in a good crossing position...

Cabaya whips it in and an offside Milivojevic is short of connecting with it, but it almost sneaks in at the far post. It would have been interesting to see whether that would have been disallowed for Milivojevic interfering.

YELLOW CARD! Benteke is the first Palace player in the book for a foul on Cahill.

The clock ticks into the final 20 minutes and still Palace hold firm! Chelsea have peppered their box with crosses and shots, but there is no way through!

CHANCE! Almost a killer third goal for Crystal Palace! They win another free kick in a good position and Cabaye floats the ball over to the back post, where Delaney is waiting. He knocks it back down for Benteke but, under pressure from Luiz, the Belgian can't turn the ball home from an awkward height.

YELLOW CARD! Now it is Chelsea's turn to have a free kick in a decent position following a foul from Milivojevic, which earns the Palace midfielder a booking.

Willian fires the free kick well over the top, though.

CHELSEA SUB: Another Chelsea change, and it is another attacking one too. Michy Batshuayi comes on for Alonso - that's the kitchen sink from Conte.

CHANCE! Oh my word, what a chance for Chelsea to get that elusive equaliser! Hazard is again the creator as he stands a cross into the middle and Costa finds himself with a relatively free header, but he puts it wide of the target. You'd expect him to score from there!

YELLOW CARD! Great pace from Zaha has he nicks the ball ahead of Cahill, who has no choice but to bring the winger down in a dangerous position. There are some calls for a red, but it deserves a yellow and nothing more.

Crucial defending from Sakho as he slides in to turn a dangerous low cross behind for a corner. Palace have defended their 18-yard box as though their lives depend on it today.

CHANCE! That Palace goal is leading a charmed life. There are a bundle of bodies in the six-yard box and Costa almost manages to squeeze the ball over the line, but as it bobbles into that area it is Sakho on the end of it to hack it away. Moments later Willian fires a magnificent low ball across the face of goal that goes through untouched. Unbelieveable.

I mentioned in the build-up to this match that Chelsea have found a way to win these games, but they have tried almost everything today to no avail. It just does not look like being their day...

SAVE! Fabregas is the latest to test Hennessey, collecting a Willian pass on the right channel before drilling a low shot towards goal, but the Palace keeper makes a smart save with his feet.

Elsewhere, by the way, Tottenham are beating Burnley which means that Chelsea's lead at the top of the table is set to be cut to seven points. Perhaps this race is not yet over?

CHANCE! Half a chance for Costa as he attacks Fabregas's floated ball forward really well, only to flick his header over the top.

Palace will have been eagerly watching out for the fourth official's board, but it is not good news for the visitors. SEVEN MINUTES added time!

CHANCE! Big chance for Palace to kill the game off as he exchanges passes with Puncheon, collected the return in a very good position inside the box. He probably should score, but he leans back and blazes his finish over the top.

Palace have so far done a good job of keeping Chelsea at arm's length during this stoppage time period - more so than they managed in the closing stages of normal time!

CHELSEA SUB: A third and final change for Chelsea late on as Ruben Loftus-Cheek replaces Fabregas.

We are in the 99th minute here at Stamford Bridge as Craig Pawson adds more time on for treatment to Sakho! Up comes Courtois for a free kick!

Incredible. Just when you think the title race is all said and done, Chelsea slip up and now their gap at the top of the table is cut to seven points. They are still overwhelming favourites to go on and lift the trophy, but this result will be a huge boost to Tottenham Hotspur in particular. It was a dramatic London derby and Chelsea laid siege to the Palace goal for the most part, but two goals inside 90 minutes from Zaha and Benteke shortly after Fabregas had given the hosts an early lead proved decisive. It is also a fourth consecutive win for Palace, who remain four points clear of danger as a result.

Right, that is all we have time for this afternoon! Thank you very much for joining Sports Mole for what was an action-packed an memorable clash between Chelsea and Crystal Palace as the Eagles stall Chelsea's title charge with a 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge. I will leave you with our must-read match report, and be sure to stick around for reaction too. From me, though, it is goodbye for now!