Premier League: Chelsea v Crystal Palace match preview

A look ahead to this weekend's fixture at Stamford Bridge

Marouane Chamakh has scored in each of his last two Premier League matches (GETTY IMAGES)

Crystal Palace manager, Tony Pulis, will be hoping to lift his side out of the relegation zone with a victory over London rivals Chelsea.

The two sides haven’t met in the Premier League since 2005 in which Frank Lampard was among the goal scorers in a 4-1 victory for the Blues. Palace go to Stamford Bridge off the back of two straight wins in the Premier League, beating West Ham and Cardiff along the way.

Chelsea go into the fixture after a midweek 1-0 win over Steaua Bucharest in the Champions League, in which they secured top spot in the group. However, Jose Mourinho will be looking for a reaction from his players in the Premier League after having seen his side defeated 3-2 away at Stoke last weekend. Chelsea will take hope from the fact that they have only dropped two points at home all season, whereas Crystal Palace have lost six of their last seven league games away from home.

Chelsea Goalkeeper, Petr Cech, is likely to return to the starting line-up after Mark Schwarzer was handed his Champions League debut in midweek. Midfielder Marco Van Ginkel (knee) is currently Chelsea's only absentee. For Palace, Dean Moxey will undergo a fitness test after sustaining a hamstring injury against Cardiff, but Jerome Thomas (groin), Jack Hunt (ankle), Adlene Guedioura (ribs) and Glenn Murray (knee) are all side-lined.

KICK-OFF: Saturday, 3pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS…

Chelsea 4 (Lampard, J.Cole, Kezman 2) Crystal Palace 1 (Riihilahti), Premier League, March 2005

Crystal Palace 0 Chelsea 2 (Drogba, Tiago), Premier League, August 2004

Chelsea 6 (Vialli 2, Zola, Wise, Tore-Andre Flo) Crystal Palace 2 (Hreidarsson, Bent), Premier League, March 1998

STATS...

None of the teams in the bottom six have more than Palace's four wins.

Eden Hazard is Chelsea’s top scorer in the Premier League this season with six goals.

Marouane Chamakh is Palace’s top scorer this season with three Premier League goals.

TV: Highlights on BBC1 MOTD at 10.25pm