Strongest Chelsea Line-up To Face Crystal Palace: Start Mazacar, Torres Up Front

Chelsea Strongest Line up to face Crystal Palace

After booking their place in the last sixteen of this year’s Champions league, en route a 1-0 win over Steaua Bucharest, Chelsea now turn attention to better their Premier League form, when they take on Crystal Palace at home this Saturday. Jose Mourinho’s second homecoming hasn’t gone according to plan and the Portuguese is yet to strike a balance in his Chelsea side. At times, Chelsea have looked as flat like a stone chip bulldozed by a truck, this campaign, it certainly doesn’t augur well  for the Blues who are aspiring to lift the Premier League Crown come next May.

In the Premier league, they sit third in the table, five points adrift of pacesetters and leaders Arsenal, their inconsistency has been utterly glaring. Last weekend’s loss to Stoke City at the Britannia might away claims that Mourinho is yet to find his best starting eleven, the Portuguese manager however remains adamant. Coming to the encounter both Palace and Chelsea have identical win loss record in their past six matches. New Palace boss Tony Pulis will have to keep his motivational skills up to the highest of margins if his side are to get anything from Stamford Bridge.

Palace have only managed to win just once in their last seven away encounters, which gives a further claim that a Chelsea victory looks imminent. However is there is anything to motivate the away side it would of course be Chelsea’s unspectacular defence who have conceded goals time and again in the past few weeks.

So what would be Chelsea’s strongest line up to face Crystal Palace at home this weekend?

Goalkeeping:

Mark Schwarzer fulfilled his lifelong ambition as the Australian Goalkeeper lived his dream to become the oldest debutant in Champions League history. Schwarzer, 41 who was elated at the final whistle as he kept a clean sheet very well knows he has to warm the sidelines yet again as Peter Cech will definitely be the number one choice for Chelsea this Saturday at Stamford Bridge.

Defence:

Chelsea’s back four will be a cause of concern for Jose Mourinho and he is expected to field Ashley Cole or Azpilicueta alongside Ivanovic in the wing-backs role with Gary Cahill and John Terry in the centre backs position. The Chelsea defence will have to up against a fit looking former Arsenal man Maroune Chamakh when they take the field to aim for nothing less than three points.

Midfield:

While Ramires and Frank Lampard will perhaps play as the double pivot, Mourinho will perhaps start the Mazacar triumvirate opting to drop German Andre Schurrle on the bench. Mata will perhaps play on the right alongside Hazard in the left as the Brazilian Oscar will play in his preferred number ten role, aiming to barge into the pockets of space behind the lone striker up front.

Forward

Fernando Torres will perhaps start up front and look to get his touch back against a side who are certain to leak goals away from home. As far as predictions are concerned, I feel Chelsea have too much quality to see the game out by a 3-0 margin.

Predicted lineup

Peter Cech

Ivanovic    Gary Cahill    John Terry     Ashley Cole

  Ramires           Frank Lampard

Mata                                                      Hazard

Oscar

Torres