Sports Mole looks at how Crystal Palace could line up for Sunday’s Premier League clash against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner is facing a crisis in defence following injuries and departures in the past few weeks ahead of their trip to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea on Sunday.
Looking for their first Premier League points of the season, Glasner may only be able to call upon two recognised central defenders to slot into his preferred system of three-at-the-back.
Joachim Andersen recently left for Fulham, seemingly giving the opportunity for new signing Chadi Riad to come straight into the side, but an early injury against Norwich City in midweek has scuppered those plans.
Natural right-back Nathaniel Clyne is now the likeliest candidate to come into the side as a makeshift centre-half to play alongside Chris Richards and Marc Guehi, who has stayed at the club following interest from Newcastle United.
There is not likely to be many other changes from the side that beat Norwich 4-0 in the EFL Cup on Tuesday, as Glasner picked a very strong side despite the inferior opposition.
Eberechi Eze was the man of the match in midweek, scoring his first of the season after being mightily unlikely not to notch in either of their opening league games.
Jean-Philippe Mateta‘s Olympic adventure does not seem to be affecting him fitness-wise either, as he scored twice against the Canaries and is set to start again.
New recruit Daichi Kamada got his first goal in Palace colours in midweek, and could replace Odsonne Edouard from the side that was beaten by West Ham United last Saturday.
Late transfer activity was at a premium for Palace, with Guehi staying, but Sam Johnstone did leave for Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Matt Turner is to arrive on loan from Nottingham Forest to provide competition and cover to Dean Henderson.
Crystal Palace possible starting lineup:
Henderson; Clyne, Guehi, Richards; Munoz, Wharton, Hughes, Mitchell; Kamada, Eze, Mateta
Click here to see how Chelsea could lineup for this encounter.
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