Crystal Palace vs Chelsea is the centre stage on Sunday as the London rivals face off against each other in the Premier League at Selhurst Park in Round 23 of the 2025/26 season. The time is on the visitors, and the pressure builds on the hosts as both sides arrive in contrasting form.
Premier League action returns with Crystal Palace sitting 13th on c.28 points with 22 games played in what was a tough spell with little attacking output. The Eagles have only scored three goals in their last five games and are still settling after captain Marc Guéhi finalised his move to Manchester City earlier this season.
Defensive stability has been an issue since that departure, leaving Palace scrambling for structural adjustments, with recent previews hinting at a harried 3-4-2-1 shape. Despite the struggles, there is a belief from within that home support and a derby setting can help to spark a response.
Chelsea comes in sixth with about 34 points and is trying to improve on their third consecutive win across competitions after a flying spell of scoring. They have registered the net 11 times in their last five games and have not lost in their last 16 Premier League games against Palace.
The pattern of history adds weight to the visitor’s confidence as Palace have not won in this fixture since a long run of defeats ended in draws. Chelsea’s management sees the derby as just another opportunity to further cement progress and continue upward momentum in the table.
Team news is also important on both sides as Palace welcome back Isma’il Sarr from international duty, as Jean-Philippe Mateta leads the line. Mateta has only scored six goals for Palace in their last seven home games, so they can’t beat home without him, if they hope to turn recent trends around.
Chelsea continues without long-term absentees Romeo Lavia, Levi Colwill, and Tosin Adarabioyo. There is a boost to come for elsewhere as Robert Sanchez returns in goal and Cole Palmer returns after being held back for precautionary reasons.
One of the season’s key attacking players, since the start of the season, Joan Pedro has already scored more match-winning goals than any other Chelsea player. His continued influence is seen internally as being vital in maintaining balance between control and cutting-edge.
Crystal Palace vs Chelsea will be telecast live by the major Premier League broadcasters with a kick-off time of 2:00 PM GMT. What happens next may determine Palace’s battle for stability and Chelsea’s drive to the top four as the season moves into a crunch phase.
