Team News: Christian Pulisic starts for Chelsea, Cesar Azpilicueta misses out

Christian Pulisic will deputise for Chelsea wing-back Cesar Azpilicueta for Saturday's Premier League fixture at Crystal Palace.

Azpilicueta, the Blues skipper, misses out entirely, and it has led to Thomas Tuchel opting for winger Pulisic in a more defensive position.

The United States international has netted five goals against Palace in the past, but it is Hakim Ziyech, Kai Havertz and Romelu Lukaku who make up the front three.

At left wing-back, Malang Sarr is preferred to Marcos Alonso, while Mateo Kovacic misses out to Jorginho and N'Golo Kante in midfield.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek returns to the substitutes' bench after an Achilles problem, while there is also a spot for youngster Harvey Vale.

Palace are unable to select Chelsea loanee Conor Gallagher in their starting lineup, which features Wilfried Zaha in attack with three centre-forwards all being kept in reserve.

Crystal Palace: Guaita; Clyne, Andersen, Guehi, Mitchell; Kouyate, McArthur; Ayew, Olise, Schlupp; Zaha Subs: Butland, Kelly, Adaramola, Milivojevic, Hughes, Eze, Mateta, Edouard, Benteke

Chelsea: Mendy; Christensen, Thiago Silva, Rudiger; Pulisic, Kante, Jorginho, Sarr; Ziyech, Lukaku, Havertz Subs: Arrizabalaga, Alonso, Chalobah, Kovacic, Loftus-Cheek, Saul, Kenedy, Vale, Werner