Chelsea prepare for Crystal Palace clash as they edge closer to Premier League glory

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They may be edging closer to the title, but Chelsea players showed no signs of taking their eyes off the prize as they trained Friday afternoon.

Top of the Premier League table with a 13-point gap between themselves and Manchester City and Arsenal, the Blues know victory at home to Crystal Palace on Sunday will seal their first title since 2010.

It will be the fourth time that Chelsea have won the Premier League, and their fifth top-flight success overall, but Jose Mourinho was keen downplay their impending crowning as he oversaw proceedings at Cobham.

Chelsea players train at Cobham ahead of their Premier League clash at home to Crystal Palace on Sunday 

Nemanja Matic (left), Cesc Fabregas (centre) and Cesar Azpilicueta in action

Chelsea midfielder Willian (right) battles for possession with Branislav Ivanovic

'There is no sense of anticipation,' said Mourinho. 'It’s easy. We need two or three points to be champions, let’s say three.

'We need to make sure we don’t depend on goal difference, so we need a victory or three draws. 

'We want to finish as soon as possible and if we can do it at home, the better. If we can do it on Sunday, even better.

'That’s in our mind, but it’s similar to games against Arsenal and Leicester, we go to win but at this moment any point is a positive point. We are calm.' 

Chelsea left back Filipe Luis (left) vies for the ball with fellow defender Kurt Zouma

Striker Loic Remy runs with the ball as he continues his comeback from injury

Matic (left), Cesc Fabregas (centre) and John Terry in action at Cobham

Petr Cech started in goal at the King Power Stadium in midweek, and Mourinho now faces a decision whether to recall first-choice Thibaut Courtois, or let Cech keep his place.

Courtois has been superb for the majority of this season after taking the No 1 spot that Cech had occupied for a decade, and also showed another of his talents as he beat team-mate Cesar Azpilicueta in a game of table tennis, via the Instagram page of John Terry. 

Loic Remy was also in training action on Friday afternoon as he continued his return from injury, and could replace Didier Drogba up front on Sunday, after the 37-year-old scored during their 3-1 victory at Leicester on Wednesday night. 

Still absent, however, was top scorer Diego Costa, who could be left out for the rest of the season by Mourinho, should Chelsea clinch the title early. 

Thibaut Courtois shows off his table tennis prowess against Chelsea team-mates Cesar Azpilicueta

Goalkeeper Courtois celebrates after slamming a superb forehand past his hapless opponent

Zouma vies for the ball with Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech (right) during the session

Mourinho said: 'He (Costa) is out. He is not worth the risk. We do not need to rush. We try to give him maximum stability to be stronger. [Loic] Remy is definitely back.

'There's a chance he [Costa] might not play again. If we win on Sunday I would say he doesn't play against Liverpool [on May 10].

'If we don't win on Sunday and we need points against Liverpool I would say he plays against Liverpool.

'I wouldn't say he needs a long break but a good period of work. We are preparing a good working situation for him in the holiday period.'

Chelsea youngster Nathan Ake training with the first team on Friday afternoon

Fellow starlet Ruben Loftus-Cheek (left) was also in action at Cobham