Chelsea have been easily the best team in the English Premier League this season, winning six out of their first seven matches, and in some style too, and looking well on course for the title.
Where to Watch Live
The match is set for a 7.30 pm IST (10 am ET, 3 pm BST) start with live coverage on Star Sports 4. The game can also be watched via live streaming online in India on Star Sports online. There will be no TV coverage in the UK, but audience in the UK can listen to the match via radio on BBC Radio 5 Live or on the website. Catch the action in the US on TV on NBC Sports, while the game can also be Live Streamed online NBC Sports Extra.
Australia viewers can Live Stream the action Fox Sports On Demand, while viewers in Canada can do the same TSN Go. Viewers in the Middle East and North Africa can watch the match via Live Streaming online courtesy Bein Sports Connect, while South Africa and Sub Saharan Africa viewers can do so via SuperSport online.
However, come Saturday, they will have to overcome the ghosts of Crystal Palace past and present when they visit Selhurst Park for what promises to be an intriguing EPL game.
The 1-0 loss to Crystal Palace at the end of March last season, courtesy a John Terry own goal, dented Chelsea's chances of having a run at the Premier League title, and that particular loss was symptomatic of the troubles endured by Jose Mourinho's men last campaign.
"When they scored their goal there was still a long time to play but since that moment I never really felt we had the game in our hands," said Mourinho recalling that 1-0 loss. "We had a couple of chances -- the keeper made a couple of great saves -- but really we never had control of the game.
"I think they were expecting a very difficult match and in the end they were very comfortable.
"I know clearly why we lost last season. If I know then the players know, and if they know then we have to try not to repeat the same bad performance we had last season. Hopefully we can do better [this time]."
Chelsea's inability to break down smaller teams, who sit back and invite pressure, eventually cost them the title, and signs have certainly pointed towards a considerable improvement this season.
"This season we have more personality to impose our game," added Jose Mourinho. "Sometimes you want to impose your style and sometimes you want to adapt to the opponents' style. In their style, Palace are better than us so we have to play our own game."
With the inclusion of Cesc Fabregas, Chelsea have found the master at unlocking tight defences, while in Diego Costa they have the hottest striker in the Premier League at the moment.
However, Costa, who has already scored nine goals this season, is a major doubt with a hamstring problem, while Mourinho also has a few worries in the shape of Ramires (groin), Didier Drogba (ankle), Andre Schurrle (illness) and John Obi Mikel (match fitness).
Chelsea are five points clear at the moment, but could find that lead cut to just two points if Manchester City top Tottenham in the early game. The Blues will know the importance of maintaining their momentum in this season, after that impressive 2-0 win over Arsenal, but in Palace they will be up against a team with a very tight defence and lethal counter-attacking option.
Crystal Palace manager Neil Warnock only has one player ruled out against Chelsea, with central defender Scott Dann missing with a knee injury. The rest are all fit and ready to go, and Warnock will certainly hope for a similar result from last season, when Tony Pulis was at the helm.
Expected lineups: Crystal Palace: Speroni; Kelly, Hangeland, Delaney, Ward; McArthur, Jedinak, Ledley; Puncheon, Campbell, Zaha.
Chelsea: Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Matic, Fabregas; Willian, Oscar, Hazard; Remy.
Prediction: 2-0 to Chelsea
