This second successive London derby for the men’s team, and third overall in the space of four days with Chelsea Women playing at Arsenal on Sunday, comes after the game at nearest neighbours Fulham brought defeat and yet more additions to Graham Potter’s list of unavailables.

Work hard, stay focused, keep together was the coach’s message after the setbacks at Fulham, and the fans can make a huge contribution to that this weekend.

Despite recent travails, the Blues are yet to concede at the Bridge in the first hour of any league game this season and are the only club in the competition with a clean sheet in every opening half at home. Only Manchester United (four) and Newcastle (five) have conceded fewer league goals on their own turf this term than Chelsea (seven).

The Blues have also won the last 10 league meetings in a row with Crystal Palace. Only against Sunderland (11) and West Bromwich (12) in our league history have we enjoyed longer winning runs.

• Gianluca Vialli tributes at Sunday’s game

• Read our preview of Chelsea Women's big game at Arsenal

• All the stats you need for the game vs Palace

Chelsea team news

Chelsea are badly in need of a morale boost following a seventh defeat in 10 games across all competitions and further reductions to the playing staff through injury and suspension.

Joao Felix became the 12th player to make his debut for the Blues this season and was a gust of fresh air before the tackle that led to a red card and a three-game ban. Joao will serve his suspension this weekend, at Liverpool, and at home to Fulham in early February.

On top of that, Denis Zakaria, something of a revelation as midfield enforcer since his goalscoring debut in November, appeared to suffer an injury that will sideline him for some time.

The full treatment room is one of the reasons the Blues have already used more players in this Premier League campaign (27) than over the whole of last season (26). Potter will have to make further changes on Sunday.

Costly defensive errors in recent games could see him turn to Benoit Badiashile, a left-footed centre-back who excelled at Monaco. Joao Felix’s enforced absence potentially opens a path for another January recruit, 20-year-old Ivorian striker David Fofana, who hit 15 goals in 19 starts for Molde in Norway.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who replaced Zakaria in that first Zagreb outing, may become the first of the long-term injured to return this weekend. If not, Carney Chukwuemeka, strong and assertive at Fulham, could start against the Eagles’ muscular midfield.

Playing at Stamford Bridge affords us optimism too. Outside of top-six sides Chelsea have only lost twice at home in the Premier League since December 2019 (to West Bromwich in April 2021 and Brentford the same month a year later).

Scouting the opposition: Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace’s recent record in this calendar month will not boost confidence for the 12th-placed club. They have tasted victory in just two of their past 15 Premier League games played during the opening 31 days of the year, and have not won any of their last 10 London derbies in January.

Palace head coach Patrick Vieira usually sets his team up in a 4-2-3-1 formation at home, 4-3-3 away, meaning the forward line the Blues face is likely to be Wilfried Zaha as a fluid centre-forward, flanked by Jordan Ayew and Eberechi Eze.

With James MacArthur injured, their midfield should comprise the hard-working, aggressive trio of Cheick Doucoure, Michael Olise and Jeffrey Schlupp. Nathaniel Clyne, Joachim Andersen and Chelsea Academy product Marc Guehi form the regular back four protecting goalkeeper Vincent Guaita. Tyrick Mitchell has served his suspension and is likely to come in for Joel Ward at left-back.

Early parts of Palace’s 4-0 home league loss to Spurs last time out showed they have the creativity to create openings but cannot quite fashion the finishing touch. Only four top-flight clubs have attempted fewer shots than Vieira’s men, who have netted fewer goals than all but five rivals. Their defensive record, though, is very much mid-table – better than Tottenham or Wolves. Like Chelsea, though, individual mistakes at the back often benefit their opponents.

Away from home the Eagles’ record reveals a huge disparity between when they score and concede goals in the two halves. Six of their seven strikes (86 per cent) have come in the opening 45 minutes, but eight of their opponents’ 10 goals (80 per cent) have come after the break.

Showing the love for Luca

Supporters attending the game at Stamford Bridge will have the chance to show appreciation for the life and contribution of 1990s forward and player-manager, Gianluca Vialli, who passed away last week.

Before kick-off a minute’s applause will be led by former Chelsea team-mates of the Italian wearing ‘Vialli 9’ shirts and there will be fan-led banner displays in the Shed End and Matthew Harding Stand. Visitors may also add their tributes to a book of condolences open in the Museum at the north end of the stadium site. An online version is also open

Foodbank collection

The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust will be accepting donations on behalf of the Hammersmith and Fulham Foodbank before Sunday’s match. The collection point is outside the Oswald Stoll Foundation gates on the Fulham Road, between Fulham Broadway and the Britannia Entrance to the stadium from around 11.15am.

The foodbank helps local people in crisis and is always in need of non-perishable food, long-life drinks and toiletries.

• By club historian Rick Glanvill and club statistician Paul Dutton