We’ll give Eden a big build-up

is a factor. It’s important to feel that you are in a place with ambition. When you are a top player, you want to fight to win and be competitive in every trophy.” Conte has begun planning for next season and, with doubts about Diego Costa, has been linked with Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez.

But he added: “Once this season is finished we will talk about the right way to improve our squad. It’s very disrespectful to talk of players from other teams. But, for sure, Sanchez is a top player.”

Palace have their own top player up front. Trouble is, he is not showing it.

Christian Benteke has not scored since January and boss Sam Allardyce said: “If we are to stay up, we need him to get goals.

“He is our leading scorer with 11 and I would hope he can bag five or six in the last 10 games.”

After facing the Premier League favourites today, Palace must play Southampton, Arsenal, Tottenham and the two Manchester clubs. They are fifth from bottom and Allardyce said: “Our run is the most difficult of the bottom seven clubs on paper and we have a very difficult week, so we have to be better than in the last three games, even though we kept clean sheets.

“We have achieved our first goal of 28 points from 28 games and that normally doesn’t get you relegated. But we must get more and as quickly as we can.

“I don’t know what division we will be in next season – but destiny is in our own hands.”

FORMER Chelsea keeper John Phillips, who won the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1971 and made 149 appearances for them, has died at the age of 65.