Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Alan Pardew: These are Chelsea’s best players and we will stop them
ALAN PARDEW has ordered his Crystal Palace players to stop Eden Hazard and Willian at Selhurst Park today.
Chelsea duo Willian and Eden Hazard (right) start today
Crystal Palace host Chelsea in the day’s early kick off in the capital.
Hazard returns to the Blues starting XI after missing their 1-0 win at Sunderland on Wednesday.
And Willian makes only his 14th appearance of the season as Chelsea seek an 11th straight league win.
CRYSTAL PALACE V CHELSEA LIVE: FOLLOW ALL THE ACITON FROM SELHURST PARK
“Hazard and Willian are the two that I think are the best, so those pockets are going to be important that we block those up today and also carry a threat,” Pardew told Sky Sports.
“The problem is on transition you can get in a good shape and block up the holes.
“But when you lose possession in certain areas you’ll have those two running at you, Willian and Hazard.
“So it’s about keeping possession, not make a mistake and defensively we’ve got them covered.
“Because they ask you questions between the full-backs and the two in central midfield, who is going to pick them up?”
Hazard is fit for Chelsea after missing the match in midweek
Alan Pardew wants a win for Palace against the Blues today
Discussing his forward options, Pardew added: “We have a chance today to unsettle their back three and I’m hoping we are brave enough to do that.
“Wilfried Zaha is in the form of his life and down (Gary) Cahill’s side we could get a bit of joy.”