Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea are starting to find rhythm after a 6-2 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers last weekend.
The win marked a significant turnaround following a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Manchester City in their opening match.
Chelsea, tying 2-2 at half-time at Molineux, came alive in the second half, showcasing their attacking prowess by scoring six goals for the first time since April 2022.
Chelsea’s resurgence is no accident. The Blues, under Maresca’s leadership, have undergone a substantial transformation, investing over £200 million in ten new signings this transfer window.
With the player in flux, Maresca is eager to build on this momentum and secure a 14th consecutive Premier League victory against Crystal Palace.
Achieving this would equal the longest winning streak against a single opponent in English Football League history.
For Crystal Palace, the start to the season has been challenging. They’ve suffered defeats in their first two league matches, losing 2-1 to Brentford and 2-0 to West Ham United.
This is the first time since the 2017/18 season that Palace have lost their opening two fixtures, a season in which they ended up losing their first three. Another defeat would match that unwanted record.
Palace did find some relief with a 4-0 Carabao Cup win over Championship side Norwich City, but the victory came at a cost.
New signing Chadi Riad picked up a knee injury, adding to manager Oliver Glasner’s problems, especially with key departures including Michael Olise and Joachim Andersen.
– Noni Madueke (Chelsea): The winger was the star of Chelsea’s recent triumph, scoring a second-half hat-trick against Wolves. Madueke has been instrumental in Chelsea’s recent successes, with a strong record in games where he has scored.
– Ismaïla Sarr (Crystal Palace): Palace’s new signing has made an impact with 11 of his last 13 goals being either the first or last of the match. Sarr will be crucial if Palace hope to challenge Chelsea’s dominance.
