Cesar Azpilicueta drops to the bench and with Jorginho suspended, Willian captains. Emerson is at left-back again in the league, while Mason Mount has been deemed fit enough to start. Kante and Mateo Kovacic complete the midfield.

Gary Cahill is in the heart of Crystal Palace’s defence on his first return to Stamford Bridge. Andros Townsend for Jeffrey Schlupp is their only change from last weekend.

Chelsea Kepa, James, Tomori, Zouma, Emerson, Kante, Kovacic, Willian (c), Mount, Pulisic, Abraham.

Subs Caballero, Azpilicueta, Christensen, Gilmour, Hudson-Odoi, Batshuayi, Giroud.

Crystal Palace Guaita, Ward, Tomkins, Cahill, Van Aanholt, Townsend, Kouyate, Milivojevic (c) McArthur, Zaha, Ayew.

Subs Hennessey, Dann, Schlupp, Kelly, Riedewald, McCarthy, Benteke.

Stats recap

Chelsea have won six of our last eight home league games against Crystal Palace, losing the other two in August 2015 and April 2017.

Since returning to the Premier League in 2013/14, Crystal Palace have won four of their 12 league games against Chelsea, double how many they’d beaten the Blues in their 22 previous top-flight encounters between 1969 and 2005 (two wins, nine draws, 11 defeats).

This will be the first ever managerial meeting between Frank Lampard and Roy Hodgson; Frank made 16 England appearances under Hodgson during his time in charge of the national side, scoring six goals.

Chelsea's recent form

Chelsea stand fourth with 23 points from 11 matches, equal with Leicester and two points behind Manchester City in second.

The Blues have only lost one of our last 14 Premier League games at Stamford Bridge (eight wins, five draws), losing 1-2 to Liverpool in September.

Only Man City (34) and Leicester (27) have scored more in the Premier League this term than Chelsea (25).

Frank Lampard could become the seventh English coach to win six consecutive Premier League matches, and the first since Alan Pardew in April 2012 with Newcastle United.

The Blues have won our last five Premier League London derbies at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea have won five successive league games for the first time since August/September 2018. The last occasion we achieved six league wins in a row was in April/May 2017 on our way to winning the title under Antonio Conte.

Chelsea are unbeaten in our last 15 Premier League games against ‘non big-six’ teams, since a 0-2 loss at Everton in March (11 wins, four draws).

In his playing career for the Blues, Frank Lampard won two and lost one against the Eagles, scoring one goal.