How Crystal Palace could line up against Chelsea

By Ben Knapton | 08 Apr 2021 10:05, Last updated: 04 Jun 2025 23:31

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson must work around the absence of Michy Batshuayi for the visit of Chelsea in Saturday's Premier League London derby at Selhurst Park.

The Belgian forward came off the bench to rescue a point for his side against Everton on Monday, but he is ineligible to face his parent club, meaning that Wilfried Zaha and Christian Benteke ought to continue up top for now.

Jean-Philippe Mateta is pushing for inclusion, but the Mainz 05 loanee is unlikely to displace Benteke, who has amassed six goals and two assists from his last 10 Premier League appearances against Chelsea.

Jeffrey Schlupp also came off the bench to assist his fellow substitute Batshuayi at Goodison Park, but Eberechi Eze's spot on the left should be safe, although Andros Townsend will hope to come into Hodgson's thinking for a place on the right over Andre Ayew.

The hosting manager has no need to fix what is not broken, though, as Luka Milivojevic and Jairo Riedewald man the engine room ahead of James McCarthy and James McArthur, although the former is available for this contest.

Hodgson has several concerns in defence though, as James Tomkins, Nathaniel Clyne and Mamadou Sakho all occupy spots in the treatment room, so Palace should name an unchanged back four as they seek a fourth home clean sheet on the bounce.

Crystal Palace possible starting lineup: Guaita; Ward, Cahill, Kouyate, Van Aanholt; Ayew, Milivojevic, Riedewald, Eze; Zaha, Benteke

> Click here to see how Chelsea could line up for this clash