MX23RW : Friday, December 29 06:48:01| >> :120:22016:22016:
[monks data]
Chelsea logo
Premier League | Gameweek 19
Dec 27, 2023 at 7.30pm UK
Stamford Bridge
Crystal Palace logo
Chelsea
2 - 1
Crystal Palace
Mudryk (13'), Madueke (89' pen.)
Caicedo (52'), Pochettino (53'), Madueke (80'), Gallagher (90+5')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Olise (45+1')
Richards (73'), Mitchell (80')

Team News: Christopher Nkunku handed first Chelsea start against Crystal Palace

Team News: Nkunku handed first Chelsea start against Palace
© Reuters
Christopher Nkunku starts for Chelsea in Wednesday's Premier League game versus Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge.

Christopher Nkunku is handed his first start for Chelsea in Wednesday's Premier League fixture against Crystal Palace.

Since recovering from a knee injury, the playmaker has made two substitute appearances in the space of a week, scoring against Wolverhampton Wanderers at the weekend.

With Chelsea suffering selection issues in the final third, the France international has been drafted into the starting lineup in one of five changes to the team.

Benoit Badiashile starts in defence, Moises Caicedo has recovered from illness to feature in midfield, and Ian Maatsen and Mykhaylo Mudryk have both been handed opportunities in the final third.

Lesley Ugochukwu misses out through injury, Cole Palmer and Raheem Sterling are suspended, and Thiago Silva and Armando Broja drop to the substitutes' bench.

As many as three academy players are included among the replacements, as is Romeo Lavia who will expect to receive some minutes given that Caicedo is returning from a virus.

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson pictured on October 7, 2023© Reuters

Meanwhile, Roy Hodgson has made just the one alteration to the Palace starting lineup from the game against Brighton & Hove Albion last Thursday.

Eberechi Eze is brought back into the team after successfully coming through 20 minutes on his return from a hamstring injury, with Will Hughes dropping down to the bench.

Chelsea: Petrovic; Gusto, Disasi, Badiashile, Colwill; Caicedo, Gallagher; Maatsen, Nkunku, Mudryk; Jackson
Subs: Bettinelli, Bergstrom, Silva, Gilchrist, Lavia, Matos, Castledine, Madueke, Broja

Crystal Palace: Henderson; Clyne, Anderson, Guehi, Mitchell; Richards, Lerma, Eze; Olise, Mateta, Ayew
Subs: Matthews, Tomkins, Adaramola, Riedeweld, Ozoh, Hughes, Schlupp, Ahamada, Franca

ID:532260:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:collect4224:No Data Analysis info
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How you voted: Chelsea vs Crystal Palace

Chelsea
61.9%
Draw
20.6%
Crystal Palace
17.5%
63
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