Palace not in Chelsea awe

Crystal Palace have made a habit of confounding predictions this season.

Tipped as virtual certainties to make an immediate return to the Football League, the south Londoners have proved to be the most resilient of the 2004/05 crop of Premiership newcomers.

There may only be two points between them and the drop zone, but Iain Dowie's side demonstrated in last weekend's goalless draw with Manchester United that they are not easily intimidated.

And defender Emmerson Boyce has promised a similar fearless display when Palace visit Stamford Bridge on Saturday hoping to interrupt Chelsea's apparently unstoppable march towards the Premiership title.

"We will be hoping to put on a good display football-wise, but first and foremost we will be going to stop Chelsea play," Boyce warned.

Chelsea, who beat Palace 2-0 at Selhurst Park early in the season, go into Saturday's match knowing five wins and two draws from their remaining nine matches will put them beyond the reach of nearest rivals Manchester United, even if they were to win all their remaining games.

Jose Mourinho's side could be bolstered by the return of Dutch winger Arjen Robben, who is nearing full fitness once more after breaking two bones in his left foot last month but could be allowed to rest until after next week's break for international matches.

Manchester United defender Gary Neville admitted this week that it would take a "monumental disaster" for Chelsea to blow the title at this late stage.

But catching Chelsea is not the only issue on the United agenda as they prepare to face Fulham at Old Trafford on Saturday.

Only the top two go straight into the group stages of next season's Champions League and Arsenal, in third, have closed the gap on Sir Alex Ferguson's side to two points.

The Gunners are at Blackburn on Saturday in a lunchtime dress rehearsal for next month's FA Cup semi-final between the two clubs.

The most important Merseyside derby in years is the highlight of the three matches on Sunday. Liverpool, having laboured to a goalless draw with Blackburn in midweek, simply have to beat Everton at Anfield if they are to retain any hope of catching their neighbours in the race for fourth place in the table and the final qualifying spot for next season's Champions League.

FIXTURES
(1500 GMT unless stated)
Saturday: Blackburn v Arsenal (1245 GMT), Bolton v Norwich (1715 GMT), Charlton v West Brom, Chelsea v Crystal Palace, Manchester Utd v Fulham, Portsmouth v Newcastle, Tottenham v Man City

Sunday: Birmingham v Aston Villa (1200 GMT), Liverpool v Everton (1605 GMT), Middlesbrough v Southampton