The Premier League returns with a London derby as FIFA Club World Cup champions Chelsea open their 2025/26 campaign against FA Cup holders Crystal Palace.
The Blues enter the season with renewed ambition of winning their first league title since 2016/17, but a hectic schedule may test Enzo Maresca’s men early on.
Chelsea’s summer was anything but restful, with their season stretching deep into June as they conquered the Club World Cup in the USA.
Coupled with commitments in the Premier League, Champions League and domestic cups, the squad will need to be carefully rotated.
Still, expectations are high at Stamford Bridge after a strong 2024/25 that saw them finish fourth domestically and lift the UEFA Conference League.
Palace, under Oliver Glasner, arrive brimming with belief after a dream ending to last season.
They secured their first major trophy in 119 years with a 1-0 FA Cup win over Manchester City, then upset Liverpool in the Community Shield.
That momentum offers a stark contrast to their sluggish start last year, when they won just one of their first 13 league matches.
The Eagles are aiming to prove their silverware wasn’t a one-off and that they can be competitive across the entire campaign.
Head-to-Head History
Chelsea have made this fixture one of the most lopsided London derbies in recent memory.
The Blues are unbeaten in their last 16 league games against Palace (W14, D2) since April 2017.
Both meetings last season ended in 1-1 draws, but historically, Chelsea boast:
36 wins in 60 Premier League meetings with Palace.
A record 130 victories in Premier League London derbies (more than any other club).
Palace’s win rate in top-flight London derbies remains poor at 19% (W25, D35, L72).
Palace’s last triumph over Chelsea came at Selhurst Park more than eight years ago, underlining the uphill task they face at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea (Last Season Highlights)
4th place finish (qualified for the Champions League).
UEFA Conference League champions.
FIFA Club World Cup winners.
Home record: One of the strongest in the league (W12, D4, L1 as pre-match favourites).
Derby form: Last four home London derbies decided by one-goal margins (W3, L1).
Crystal Palace (Last Season Highlights)
8th place finish in the Premier League (16 points behind Chelsea).
FA Cup winners.
Community Shield winners (beat Liverpool on penalties).
Away form: Scored in 13 of last 15 away games (W7, D6, L2).
Derby form: Scored exactly twice in each of their last four away London derbies (W3, D1).
Tactical Outlook
Chelsea: Maresca will likely stick to his possession-heavy 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 hybrid, with Cole Palmer as the creative hub.
Fullbacks like Cucurella and James will be key to stretching Palace’s compact midfield. Expect a high press designed to pin Palace back early, especially with Stamford Bridge behind them.
Crystal Palace: Glasner prefers structured defensive blocks with quick transitions through Eberechi Eze and Ismaila Sarr.
Palace may sit deep, frustrate Chelsea, and aim to exploit counter-attacks. Set-pieces could also be a weapon, especially given Chelsea’s occasional vulnerability in defending corners.
Key Players to Watch
Cole Palmer (Chelsea): Ended last season as top scorer with 15 league goals. Loves quick starts, with six of his last seven goals arriving in the first 30 minutes.
Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace): The FA Cup hero and Palace’s talisman. Scored three of the Eagles’ last four goals in away London derbies and is their biggest creative threat.
Team News
Chelsea: Colwill is still out possibly for the rest of the season, Maresca hinted about Fofana being available for selection and also said Lavia and Badiashile are close to full fitness.
Crystal Palace: Full squad available, with Olise and Sarr both fit and firing – a huge boost for Glasner.
Potential lineups
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): – Sanchez; James, Tosin, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, Enzo; Neto, Palmer, Gittens, Pedro
Crystal Palace (3-4-2-1): – Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Kamada, Wharton, Mitchell; Sarr, Eze; Mateta.
Where to watch
United Kingdom: Skysports
United States: USA Network
Canada: Fubo
India: JioHotstar
Australia: Stan Sport
Nigeria: SuperSports
Score Prediction: Chelsea 2-1 Crystal Palace
Conclusion
Chelsea’s superior squad depth and dominant H2H record suggest they will start the season with three points, but Palace’s confidence after their FA Cup and Community Shield triumphs shouldn’t be underestimated.
The Eagles have developed resilience under Glasner and could pose problems on the counter.