Following a wet and windy start to 2025, the sun came out today although the temperature plummeted, meaning for many, hats, gloves and snoods were required. We can expect similarly chilly climes when we meet Crystal Palace this weekend.

The session started just as it was announced Cole Palmer has been nominated for the Premier League Player of the Month award for December.

Our star attacker is also shortlisted for the Goal of the Month prize, for his delicate run and finish against Fulham. You can vote for Palmer, who was in the thick of things today, to win both awards.

Nicolas Jackson scored in the reverse fixture with Palace back at the beginning of September, a 1-1 draw. If selected from the off at Selhurst Park, the Senegalese striker will bring up a half-century of Premier League starts for the Blues.

Palace’s home in south London has been very kind to us in recent years. We have won six on the bounce at Selhurst Park, a club record, and will hope Saturday’s visit sees us return to winning ways in the Premier League following consecutive defeats to Fulham and Ipswich.

Marc Cucurella is confident of an imminent upturn in form.

‘I think if you look at the first half of the season, we have been doing very well,’ the left-back stated.

‘Of course, we want to win every game and the last few results are disappointing but if we can play at our best like we have been doing, then we know we are capable of pushing forward in the table.’

A win at Palace would be the perfect start to doing just that.