Crystal Palace pulled off the biggest upset of the season last weekend. The Eagles were not given much of a chance against Manchester City, and you could have grabbed Crystal Palace at almost 20-1 at some shops prior to the start of the match. The odds on them rose even higher after Ilkay Gundogan broke open the scoring for City in the 27th minute, but then Jeffrey Schlupp and Andros Townsend found the back of the net going into halftime. A Luka Milivojevic penalty kick sent Palace ahead 3-1, and they held on from their to get a stunning 3-2 victory at the Etihad. That result sent their confidence soaring, and Palace are not the underdog they normally would be against Chelsea this weekend.
Don't miss the English Premier League action from Selhurst Park in London at 7 a.m. ET on Sunday, December 30, 2018. Catch every moment of the match live on NBCSN.
English Premier League Betting at BookMaker.eu
Crystal Palace +382
Chelsea -136
Draw +278
Over/Under 2.5
Odds Analysis
Chelsea are on pace to finish with 80 points in the Premier League this season. In the past, that would put them well within striking distance of the top of the table, but given the strength of the top teams in England this year, they sit in fourth and are just two points ahead of Arsenal for England’s last Champions League spot. The Blues suffered a tough setback last weekend at home, losing to Leicester City 1-0, but they bounced back with captain Eden Hazard leading the way on Boxing Day. He scored both goals in Chelsea’s 2-1 win over Watford.
Crystal Palace have now tallied points in three straight matches. They knocked off Leicester City at Selhurst Park thanks to a Milivojevic strike late in the first half, but they have to be a little disappointed with a home draw against Cardiff City. Cardiff packed the box and didn’t play much offense, but none of Palace’s 31 shots were able to find their way into the back of the net. The Eagles are sitting on 19 points, and they are in 14th place.
Key Injuries
Marco van Ginkel is a long-term injury for the side of Chelsea. He tore his ACL earlier this year, and he has been on the mend for a while. Pedro and Callum Hudson-Odoi are out and will miss an undetermined period of time, while Andreas Christensen is hoping to be ready by the start of the year. Alvaro Morata is questionable to play with a knee injury.
Christian Benteke will be out for the next few matches as he continues to recover from a knee injury. No one else is definitively out for this match on the side of Crystal Palace though. Wayne Hennessey is probable to play with back spasms provided they don’t act up, and Martin Kelly is questionable with a groin injury.
Player to Watch
Eden Hazard has been Johnny on the spot for Chelsea this season. Hazard is known for his wizardry in the midfield more than anything else, and he is responsible for more goals than any other player in the Premier League halfway through the year. He leads the league with nine assists, and he is one of four players to have at least 10 goals.
Prop Bet of the Game – Over 3.5 +208
Following their win over Manchester City, Palace have been unafraid to open things up. They sent wave after wave forward against Cardiff City, and they are likely to have a significant uptick in goals over the second half of the season.
Chelsea want to play a more open style, and these teams will trade punches tit for tat with a lot of quality chances.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
The draw is a good play for me at this price. Townsend and Milivojevic have been in good form lately, and Wilfried Zaha has done great at opening up defenses. Hazard will make his presence felt too in an exciting match.
English Premier League Odds: Crystal Palace 2, Chelsea 2
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