Chelsea’s trip to Crystal Palace will, in some ways, be a bigger test of the Blues’ title credentials than their previous fixture against Arsenal.
Venue: Selhurst Park Date: October 18 Kick-off: 15:00 GMT
Mourinho’s men slipped to an unlikely defeat in last year’s corresponding fixture – a series of results against the league’s lesser sides that ultimately cost the Portuguese on his return to the Premier League.
His opposite number, Neil Warnock, is under no illusions however, as to how difficult this year’s challenge will be. Having, in like fashion to Pulis before him, brought about a positive change at Selhurst Park, Palace then slipped to a 2-0 defeat away at Hull before going into the international break.
Chelsea’s record of 19 points from their first seven matches is a different beast altogether, and Warnock has said it’ll take a “superhuman effort” to try and topple the big guns this time around.
“It’s a difficult task for anyone that plays them.,” said the Palace boss.
“You say [Diego] Costa, but [Eden] Hazard, Oscar and [Cesc] Fabregas – they’re all top-class players. I worry about our players, not theirs. If you think about theirs you wouldn’t sleep.
“Everyone knows what they can do and you’ve got to hope they have an off day. You can help that by being well organised yourselves and I think we’ve got people who can cause problems for them.
“We’ve got to get our major players into the game as well and that’s what we’re trying to do. Better teams than us tried to beat them and failed so we have to do something special.”
Chelsea’s main man, Diego Costa, has lit the Premier League alight so far this season, setting the record of most goals (7) in four games, previously held by City’s Sergio Aguero.
Having netted another two times since, the Brazilian-born Spaniard will be looking to extend his lead over Ulloa in the goalscoring charts.
The 26 year old’s move from Atlético is proving worth the coin as Chelsea’s long wait for a free-scoring centre forward stretches back to the heyday of club legend Didier Drogba.
“Right now, there is no better number nine than Costa,” said Chelsea’s dazzling Eden Hazard, who feels liberated by the attention the former Madrid man now receives on the pitch.
“He is the type of striker who can unlock a rotten game.”
“He also has a great mentality. He gives everything for the team, perhaps sometimes too much! He is such a dangerous number nine, he inevitably attracts defenders. So there is definitely less attention on me.
“Especially since the opposition also have to keep an eye on Fabregas, who can make the difference with the quality of his passing. So I have a little more space.”
Palace only have to contend with one absentee in Scott Dan, who was removed from the field of play with an ankle injury in their defeat to Hull.
Chelsea however are unsure as to whether Ramires and Drogba are fit enough to play, and will have to assess Andre Schurrle after he missed both international matches due to illness.
