Chelsea looking to avoid 42-year-old losing record against Crystal Palace

Chelsea host Crystal Palace this afternoon hoping to avoid a fate which last befell them during the 1978-79 campaign.

The Blues were beaten by Liverpool in their first home outing of the season and could now lose their opening two league games on home turf for the first time in 42 years.

Chelsea went on to be relegated from the top flight that year, and defeat this afternoon would leave them with only four points from four games so far this term.

Frank Lampard's side have not suffered back-to-back home league defeats since December 2019, but they did lose eight games at Stamford Bridge across all competitions last season.

Palace, meanwhile, are bidding to win their opening two away games of a Premier League campaign for the third time after coming away from Old Trafford with victory in their last such match.

Indeed, another win at Stamford Bridge would see the Eagles become only the second team to win at Manchester United and Chelsea in successive Premier League away games - repeating the feat achieved by Sunderland in 2014.