Chelsea will look to equal a club-record 11th consecutive Premier League victory when they travel to Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace in a London derby on Saturday.
Antonio Conte's side have the chance to move nine points clear at the top of the table for 24 hours at least, while Palace will be looking to distance themselves from the relegation zone.
Crystal Palace
© SilverHubWhile most of the focus will be on whether Chelsea can continue their incredible form, Palace are fighting for a very different goal this season.
Despite having reached the FA Cup final, 2016 has been a year to forget for the Eagles, and manager Alan Pardew will be thankful that it is creeping towards its conclusion.
Palace have averaged fewer points per game than any other team in the top four tiers of English football this year, picking up just six wins in 35 outings - the same number as they had managed in their previous 13.
A late defeat at the hands of Manchester United on Wednesday night leaves the Eagles 16th in the Premier League table and just three points clear of the relegation zone, and things don't get any easier with the visit of Chelsea. Indeed, the festive period is particularly tricky for Palace, who must also face Arsenal on New Year's Day.
Palace's recent record in London derbies does not bode well for them heading into Saturday's match, having accrued just five points in 10 meetings with fellow teams from the capital since the beginning of last season - the lowest total in the division.
However, their solitary victory in that time did come against Chelsea in August 2015, and Palace do at least have the firepower to threaten any team in the division. Saturday's hosts have scored 28 goals in their 16 outings so far this term - a tally only the top four in the Premier League can beat.
The main problems for Palace come at the other end of the field, though, with only Hull City and Swansea City having conceded more goals. The recent 3-0 win over Southampton was their first clean sheet in the Premier League since April.
Despite the always-raucous atmosphere inside Selhurst Park, Palace have struggled at home too, amassing a joint league-low seven points in front of their own fans - one fewer than they have managed on their travels.
With Middlesbrough and Swansea - the two teams directly below Palace in the table - facing each other later in the day, defeat is guaranteed to drag Pardew's side closer to the bottom three, but a shock win could be exactly the boost they need heading into their difficult festive schedule.
Recent form: LLLWDL
Chelsea
© SilverHubThe contrast between the form of these two sides heading into this match could not be much greater. While Palace have picked up just one win in their last 10 outings, Chelsea have been perfect in that same timeframe with a maximum 30 points sending them top of the Premier League table.
Back-to-back defeats at the hands of Liverpool and Arsenal in September had many writing Conte's side off in the title race, but the switch to three at the back has done wonders for the Italian and now they seem strong favourites to sit top of the pile in May.
It may be too early to declare Chelsea's recent 1-0 wins over both West Bromwich Albion and Sunderland as the sign of champions, but their ability to grind out tight results will please Conte just as much as his side's big victories against the likes of Leicester City, Manchester United and Everton earlier in their winning run.
History beckons for the Blues if they can continue that streak this weekend as they would equal their own club record of 11 consecutive top-flight victories - set in September 2009 - and also move to within three wins of the all-time record held by Arsenal.
Wednesday's triumph at the Stadium of Light ensured that Chelsea will be top of the table on Christmas Day, which has proved to be a good omen for the club in the past. On the four previous occasions they have led the way at Christmas, Chelsea have gone on to win the title.
With Bournemouth and Stoke City to come in the final two matches of 2016 it is perfectly realistic to expect Chelsea to keep their run going until the end of the year, which could set up a showdown with Tottenham Hotspur for them to claim a record-equalling 14th straight win.
Spurs are one of only two teams - along with Manchester City - to have scored against Chelsea during their current run, with eight clean sheets in that time helping Conte's side to now boast the joint-best defence in the division.
Chelsea have conceded a joint league-low seven goals on the road too, helping them to record the best away record in the division with six wins from their eight games on their travels, including five on the bounce. They have not won six away league games in a row since 2009.
Worryingly for Palace, Chelsea have also fared well in London derbies recently, losing just one of their last eight in the Premier League - although that defeat did come at the hands of Arsenal earlier this season.
Another win on Saturday would take the Blues nine points clear at the top of the table and, with Manchester City hosting Arsenal on Sunday and Liverpool facing an away Merseyside derby against Everton on Monday night, it could prove to be another big weekend for Conte's title favourites.
Recent form: WWWWWW
Team News
© SilverHubThe big question mark for Chelsea heading into Saturday's match surrounds the fitness of Eden Hazard, who missed the midweek win over Sunderland with a knee injury.
The Belgian will undergo a late fitness test and is currently rated at 50-50 to return, with Willian again set to fill in should he miss out.
Cesc Fabregas will be hoping that his match-winning goal against Sunderland will be enough to earn him just a fourth league start of the season, although Nemanja Matic is pushing for a recall.
Oscar and John Terry are nearing returns, while Kurt Zouma made his first appearance on the bench since suffering a serious knee injury in February against Sunderland on Wednesday.
Diego Costa, who is the league's top scorer with 12 goals, will lead the line once again.
As for Palace, Pardew will once again have to make do without a number of first-team players, with the likes of Loic Remy, Steve Mandanda, James Tomkins, Bakary Sako, Jonathan Benteke, Pape Souare and Connor Wickham all sidelined until the New Year.
Pardew welcomed Yohan Cabaye back into his side for the midweek match against Manchester United but is expected to recall the likes of Andros Townsend and Jason Puncheon this weekend.
Christian Benteke, who has eight league goals this season and has scored in four of his last six appearances against Chelsea, is expected to start up front once again.
Crystal Palace possible starting lineup:
Hennessey; Kelly, Dann, Delaney, Ward; Cabaye, McArthur, Zaha, Puncheon, Townsend; Benteke
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Courtois; Azpilicueta, Luiz, Cahill; Moses, Kante, Fabregas, Alonso; Hazard, Costa, Pedro
Head To Head
Having gone 12 matches without a win against Chelsea from 1990 to 2014, Palace have now won two of the last five meetings between the two sides.
However, Chelsea have conceded just three goals in seven previous away trips to Palace in the Premier League and would have beaten the Eagles at Selhurst Park on more occasions than any other team if they win this weekend (six).
The corresponding fixture last season saw Guus Hiddink's Chelsea run out 3-0 winners in January, with Oscar, Willian and Costa all on the scoresheet.
We say: Crystal Palace 1-3 Chelsea
Crystal Palace have goals in their side, but it is hard to back anything other than a Chelsea win at the moment. The visitors are in brilliant form and we expect them to make it 11 wins in a row against a patchy Palace side.
