Afternoon all. While the most recent round of international matches produced some memorable moments, there is nothing quite like Premier League football, is there?! Today, we will be covering Chelsea's trip to Crystal Palace. All logic would point to an away win, but England's top flight is often unpredictable.

Let's start with a look at the two lineups, beginning with Chelsea, who have a big omission...

CHELSEA XI: Courtois; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Matic, Fabregas; Willian, Oscar, Hazard; Remy

CHELSEA SUBS: Cech, Zouma, Filipe Luis, Mikel, Salah, Drogba, Solanke

Jose Mourinho did warn that nine-goal Diego Costa would miss this clash because of an injury that he picked up on international duty and so it has proved. His absence has provided a starting chance for Loic Remy, while Didier Drogba is among the substitutes. Elsewhere, there are no major surprises from Mourinho, although Andre Schurrle misses out, having been taken ill while with Germany during the week.

And now for hosting Palace...

PALACE XI: Speroni; Kelly, Hangeland, Delaney, Ward; Bolasie, Jedinak, McArthur, Ledley, Puncheon; Campbell

PALACE SUBS: Mariappa, Guedioura, Doyle, Zaha, Hennessey, Gayle, Chamakh

It's a 4-5-1 formation from Warnock, who has to make do with centre-back Scott Dann. In his place has come Brede Hangeland to partner Damien Delaney. Aside from that, Jason Puncheon and Yannick Bolasie will offer the support to lone striker Fraizer Campbell from wide roles. Loanee winger Wilfried Zaha is among the substitutes, as it centre-forward Dwight Gayle.

No doubt he will only be concentrating on his side winning this encounter, but it's a landmark day for Chelsea skipper John Terry:

So John Terry starts as captain for the 500th time today #CFC pic.twitter.com/UMJTIiuWa7 — Chelsea FC (@chelseafc) October 18, 2014

However, it's probably fair to say that the centre-back didn't enjoy his last visit to Selhurst Park. For those that need a reminder of what happened that afternoon, watch on:

So, how much is the absence of Costa going to hurt Chelsea? It will certainly be interesting to see how they cope without their leading marksman. After all, he's scored seven goals in nine Premier League outings. Remy is by no means a bad replacement, but he will be up against a physical centre-back pairing and will probably be lacking a little bit of match fitness. Costa has had the knack of being ineffective and then all of a sudden he pops up to score a goal - will Remy be able to follow suit?

To be fair to Remy, he's a different type of striker to Costa. He has more pace and tends to play on the shoulder of defenders. While Costa can do that, he's also a physical presence that can hold the ball up, which then involves the likes of Hazard and Oscar.

What of Palace, then? Where will their main threat come from? You'd have to say the wide players - Bolasie and Puncheon - are key today. They have pace, skill and the ability to use either foot, which allows them to not only head down the line, but also cut inside. They will also need to be on their guard defensively because Chelsea's full-backs like to get forward whenever they can.

VIDEO! Right, with a little under 30 minutes to go until we are off and running in South London, let's have a listen to see how Sports Mole's very own Pascal Lemesre and Barney Corkhill see this game unfolding:

PREDICTION: So, the chaps have both gone for Chelsea victories and you can make that three as far as I'm concerned. Costa will be a big miss, there is no doubt about that, but there is still so much quality in that starting lineup. Keep an eye on Hazard today because he has shown signs in recent weeks that he is coming into form and with Costa out, he could take on the mantle. Having said all that, I don't expect Palace to roll over - let's say 1-0 to the away side.

Further north, the final whistle has just gone at the Etihad Stadium and Manchester City have hammered Tottenham Hotspur 4-1, with Sergio Aguero scoring all four of his side's goals. Incidentally, that has taken him level with Costa on nine at the top of the Premier League's standings. In terms of the table, City are now just two points Chelsea, which makes the win even more important for Mourinho's men. You can read our match report of that clash here.

Let's take a look at what both managers have had to say in the days leading up to this game, starting with Warnock, who has admitted that he can see Chelsea going the whole season unbeaten:

"When I look at the Arsenal team that did it many years ago and I think this is as near as you're going to get to a flawless team really. It's pretty solid everywhere, but when you get Hazard chasing back and tackling, you're not doing bad are you, really? There are not many weaknesses in the team."

Meanwhile, Mourinho has been reflecting on last season's defeat:

"It was the kind of performance where I was trying to win the game but I was feeling that I was close to losing it. When they scored their goal there was still a long time to play but since that moment I never really felt we had the game in our hands. We had a couple of chances - the keeper made a couple of great saves - but really we never had control of the game.

"I think they were expecting a very difficult match and in the end they were very comfortable. I know clearly why we lost last season. If I know then the players know, and if they know then we have to try not to repeat the same bad performance we had last season. Hopefully we can do better today."

There is already a very good atmosphere building inside Selhurst Park - not that you would expect much else. The home fans are certainly up for this encounter.

STAT! Perhaps a sign that Chelsea will be able to cope without Costa:

9 - Nine different players have scored a Premier League goal for Chelsea this season; more than at any other club. Teamwork. — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 18, 2014

The players have made their way out of the narrow tunnel area at Selhurst Park and are now on the pitch going through the pre-match handshakes. Only a couple of minutes left before the action gets underway.

KICKOFF! Visiting Chelsea, attacking from right to left, get proceedings underway at Selhurst Park.

One to forget for Chelsea midfielder Matic as he shoots well wide from 30 yards out. It's early days, but Chelsea have controlled possession so far. Palace haven't been able to get near them!

SAVE! Then, just as I say that, Palace spring forward. Campbell tries his luck from a narrow angle, but Courtois spreads himself well to stop the shot. Following that, a dangerous cross from Bolasie is headed behind for a corner by Azpilicueta. Bright stuff from the hosts.

What a start to the game this has been - no signs of an international hangover! Moments ago Ivanovic gets to the byline and sends over a teasing cross, but no Chelsea players are in the area. Had Costa been on the pitch, it could well be 1-0 to the visitors.

You will not see a better direct set-piece goal all season, mark my words! Oscar is 25 yards from goal and it seems that he is going to go for Speroni's right hand post. However, the Brazilian playmaker catches everyone unaware as he whips his powerful effort up over the wall and into the top left corner. What a hit that is. The league leaders are in front.

Working for BBC Sport, here is how former Leicester City striker Steve Claridge saw that goal:

"Wow. Wow! That was an incredible free-kick, up and over the wall and into the far side netting. The ball moves a yard in the air and the keeper Speroni just can't get across. It's all about the pace and the whip on that ball. That arrowed diagonally into the far corner, and it's a wonderful, wonderful goal."

CHANCE! A huge opening for Palace to go level goes begging. Cahill's header back to Courtois is desperately short and Campbell is on to it like a whippet. He beats the Chelsea keeper to the ball and lifts it over him, but unfortunately for him and the hosts, the ball lands on the roof of the net.

CHANCE! Campbell is causing Cahill and Chelsea all sorts of problems so far. He drives into the area and then goes by the centre-back, but then when he needs to show some composure, his low shot is a tad on the wild side and flashes wide of the target. Nervy moments for Chelsea nonetheless.

Now it's time for Palace to panic as Fabregas whips in a great corner. It seems that Terry is going to power a header in, but he mistimes his jump and the danger is eventually cleared. This is a very good game of football, at both ends.

The players may have paused for breath in the last couple of minutes as the pace has slowed down somewhat, but in the stands, it's getting noisier! Both sets of supporters are in fine voice.

CHANCE! Another corner from Fabregas and this time Terry times his run perfectly, but his downward header is cleared off the line by McArthur. That is why you put a man on the post!

SAVE! Now it's Courtois's turn to be involved and he does well. Bolasie squares up Ivanovic on the left flank and uses his kick feet to beat the Serbian. It's probably an attempted cross, but it looks to be dropping into the net until the visiting keeper stretches out a hand, before catching the ball at the second attempt. After a brief rest, normal service has been resumed!

BOOKING! It's been coming for Delaney and he finally ends up in the referee's notebook. It's a poor sliding challenge from the centre-back on Remy, who hits the deck with a thud. Delaney is angered by the decision to caution him, but it's the right verdict.

After those two chances for Campbell in quick succession, Chelsea have started to control the possession, with Fabregas and Oscar particularly busy. They are yet to release Remy, but he is making some positive runs.

PHOTO! Here's an image of Oscar celebrating his impressive goal, which separates the two sides.

© Getty Images

SAVE! There's real venom in Puncheon's swerving strike from 25 yards out, but Courtois does brilliantly well to punch it clear. Smart work from the Chelsea stopper.

How important could this be? Chelsea full-back Azpilicueta has been rightly red carded for a lunging challenge on Jedinak. It sparks a pushing match between the two sets of players, but no further punishments are dished out. That's bound to give Palace some confidence, but having said that, Chelsea are the masters of defending.

Stupid, just stupid from Delaney. He knows that he's on a booking, but that doesn't stop him from taking a chunk of Remy's shirt. Chelsea surround the referee, demanding a second yellow card, which arrives. It's now 10 vs. 10 - what a match this has been!

CHELSEA SUB: In the middle of all that drama, Mourinho has taken off Willian and put on summer signing Filipe Luis to play at left-back. That's an understandable decision from the Chelsea boss.

It's been a great first half and there will be two minutes of stoppage time at the end of it.

A very, very good half of Premier League football comes to a close at Selhurst Park. Chelsea lead, but that is only half of the story. Both teams will play the second half a man light.

Palace may be behind, but there is plenty of reason for optimism. Campbell looks to have the beating of Cahill, while Puncheon and Bolasie have both caused problems in the wide areas. Warnock is bound to be furious that Delaney has got himself sent off and surrendered their one-man advantage, but now is the time to regroup and ensure that they keeping playing the same way in the second half.

As for the Blues, they may lead, but there is plenty of room for improvement. They haven't moved the ball quick enough in the final third and while he has worked hard as the lone striker, Remy hasn't had enough service to shine. Mourinho is also likely to be worried by how many problems his defence is being caused by Campbell. Even so, there is no better side in the Premier League when it comes to protecting a lead than Chelsea.

STAT!

2 - The two PL games to see more than one red card this season have been London derbies (Palace v Chelsea & Spurs v WHU). Geezers. — OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 18, 2014

And before the second half gets underway, here is a little bit more from Claridge, again on BBC Sport: "This game has been brilliant. I have seen Chelsea's opponents behave as if they're already beaten once they fall behind. That's certainly not been the case today."

RESTART! Hosting Palace, who trail 1-0, get the action back underway at Selhurst Park.

Some people (me included) may have been expecting Warnock to make a change at the break to cover Delaney's absence, but instead he's moved Kelly into centre-back alongside Hangeland, with McArthur dropping out of midfield and into the right-back position.

How do you stop that? In short, you can't. It's lovely one touch football from Fabregas as he exchanges passes with Hazard and then Oscar, before showing great composure to beat Speroni. That's his first Premier League goal for Chelsea and it's a heck of a long way back for Palace now. For the first time today, the home supporters have gone quiet.

This could well be how the rest of the game is played out. Chelsea are knocking the ball around with ease. Somehow Palace need to apply some pressure without leaving themselves too exposed. It's a difficult one because the visitors a vice-like grip on proceedings.

It's hard to disagree with Mr Lineker here. Chelsea and Man City look streets ahead of the other sides in the division right now:

After the openness of the last campaign, this @premierleague season will be very much of a 2 horse race. — Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) October 18, 2014

PALACE SUB: A first switch of the contest for Palace as Mariappa replaces Ledley. You would imagine that it will allow McArthur to move back into midfield.

PALACE SUB: Another change for Palace and it's disappointing news because McArthur has picked up a thigh injury from clearing the ball. Adlene Guedioura has come on to replace him.

Every Chelsea pass - of which there are many - is being met with a cheer by the away fans. They are enjoying their day out in the South London sunshine.

PALACE SUB: Final switch of the afternoon for Palace and Warnock has turned to the pace and unpredictably of Zaha, who has taken the place of Puncheon.

CHANCE! He's been quiet today, but Hazard almost adds a third goal for Chelsea. The Belgian skips inside Kelly and curls an effort goalwards, but the ball flies a foot wide of the target. Speroni was at full stretch and had that been on target, he may not have been able to stop it.

This is almost like a training match now. Palace know that the game is up and Chelsea are keeping the ball with ease. Both sides look like they would welcome the final whistle.

What a challenge from Cahill, who has just stopped this from being a nervy finish for Chelsea. Hazard is too casual inside his own half and gives away possession. The ball eventually falls for Bolasie inside the area, but just as he is about to shoot, Cahill slides in to mop up the danger. That looked a certain goal.

CHELSEA SUB: Another switch for the Blues as Hazard trudges off and is replaced by Egyptian international Salah.

Well, well - game on! Zaha gets past Luis too easily on the right flank, but credit to the Palace winger because he then drills in a cross for Campbell, who couldn't miss from two yards out. Are we set for a grandstand finish? There will be four minutes of stoppage time as Drogba replaces Remy for the closing stages.

As far as Palace are concerned, the ball is in the wrong part of the pitch. Chelsea have the ball in their half and are doing all that they can to keep hold of it.

And there goes the final whistle - Palace did not create a single chance during stoppage time, mainly because they couldn't get hold of the ball! Chelsea win through and as a result extend their lead at the top of the table to five points again.

That is all we have time for from Selhurst Park. Thanks for joining us this afternoon and be sure to stick with Sports Mole for a while for all the reaction, analysis and player ratings. Until next time, goodbye.