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Chelsea 3-0 Crystal Palace: Premier League title contenders cruise against Patrick Vieira's side

By Emlyn BegleyBBC Sport

Last updated on .From the section Premier Leaguecomments633

Trevoh Chalobah
Trevoh Chalobah's goal was the sixth of his career after netting during loan spells at Ipswich, Huddersfield and Lorient

Chelsea underlined their Premier League title credentials with a thoroughly comfortable win over Patrick Vieira's Crystal Palace.

The highlight in front of a noisy, near-full Stamford Bridge was when academy product Trevoh Chalobah smashed home their third from 25 yards on his Premier League debut.

Blues boss Thomas Tuchel said before the game he was surprised his side - who are European champions and won the Uefa Super Cup on Wednesday - were considered among the favourites to win the title.

But they were excellent in their league opener as Vieira's first game as a manager in England resulted in a limp performance.

Marcos Alonso whipped in Chelsea's opener with a free-kick from about 22 yards.

Christian Pulisic then blasted in a second via the underside of the bar after Vicente Guaita spilled Mason Mount's cross.

And Chalobah, who joined Chelsea's youth set-up 14 years ago, drove home from distance to seal the win.

Palace improved slightly after the break, but Jordan Ayew's header was their only effort on target.

No Lukaku, Kante, Ziyech, Chilwell, Havertz, no problem

Chelsea 3-0 Crystal Palace: Thomas Tuchel delighted with 'perfect day' for Trevoh Chalobah

Chelsea's remarkable squad depth is why many people expect them to win the title this season.

Seven of 20 BBC pundits tipped the Blues, with the other 13 going for champions Manchester City.

Striker Romelu Lukaku was not able to play because he is still quarantining after his £97.5m move from Inter Milan. Influential midfielder N'Golo Kante and winger Hakim Ziyech were injured against Villarreal on Wednesday.

England left-back Ben Chilwell, experienced centre-back Thiago Silva and Kai Havertz, who scored the winner in the Champions League final, were left on the bench.

Ex-Blues midfielder Joe Cole said during the week that every decision Tuchel makes seems to pay off.

And it felt that way when Alonso, who started instead of Chilwell at left wing-back, curled in a perfect free-kick to give them a deserved lead. Palace offered so little threat that he basically played as an orthodox winger.

Pulisic then continued his fine form against Palace with a close-range finish after Guaita spilled a cross. Five of the American's 13 Premier League goals have come against the Eagles.

They had plenty of chances to score more with Timo Werner's first touch letting him down on a couple of occasions and Alonso forcing a good save from Guaita.

But the best moment of the game came when 22-year-old Chalobah, who made his Chelsea debut in Belfast three days ago, picked the ball up in space and drilled home via the inside of the post.

There were plenty of cheers too when Champions League hero Havertz came on - the first time he, or many of this Blues squad, have played at a full Stamford Bridge.

Vieira should forget this and move on

Chelsea 3-0 Crystal Palace: Patrick Vieira calls for more signings after defeat

This was the first Palace game under legendary former Arsenal midfielder Vieira, who previously managed New York City in the USA and Nice in France's Ligue 1.

He warned beforehand that "to put my ideas in place may take longer", but this was as hard a first game as he could have anticipated.

Nine first-team players left the club over the summer - mostly at the end of their contracts - after manager Roy Hodgson's exit. Despite that, only one summer signing started - £18m defender Marc Guehi, against the club that sold him this summer.

Joachim Andersen, who was relegated with Fulham last season, came on in the second half.

Palace are hoping to have a more youthful look after the departure of those ageing players - and 18-year-old winger Jesurun Rak-Sakyi made his debut from the bench.

Vieira's side - who started with a four-man defence and also tried a back five - failed to have a single shot or touch in Chelsea's box in the first half. They had to wait an hour to test Edouard Mendy but even then Ayew's header was straight at the Blues keeper.

Jeffrey Schlupp fired over and Christian Benteke shot wide but there was never a single moment in the game when the Eagles looked like scoring.

Their next game - against promoted Brentford next Saturday - is the real acid test of how Vieira and Palace are looking.

Player of the match

WernerTimo Werner

with an average of 7.81

Chelsea

  1. Squad number11Player nameWerner
    Average rating

    7.81

  2. Squad number3Player nameAlonso
    Average rating

    7.57

  3. Squad number14Player nameChalobah
    Average rating

    7.56

  4. Squad number10Player namePulisic
    Average rating

    7.44

  5. Squad number2Player nameRüdiger
    Average rating

    7.27

  6. Squad number28Player nameAzpilicueta
    Average rating

    7.22

  7. Squad number5Player nameJorginho
    Average rating

    7.19

  8. Squad number29Player nameHavertz
    Average rating

    7.16

  9. Squad number8Player nameKovacic
    Average rating

    7.11

  10. Squad number4Player nameChristensen
    Average rating

    7.04

  11. Squad number24Player nameJames
    Average rating

    6.94

  12. Squad number33Player nameEmerson
    Average rating

    6.85

  13. Squad number16Player nameMendy
    Average rating

    6.79

  14. Squad number19Player nameMount
    Average rating

    6.66

Crystal Palace

  1. Squad number49Player nameRak-Sakyi
    Average rating

    5.24

  2. Squad number44Player nameRiedewald
    Average rating

    5.24

  3. Squad number11Player nameZaha
    Average rating

    5.14

  4. Squad number6Player nameGuéhi
    Average rating

    5.10

  5. Squad number18Player nameMcArthur
    Average rating

    4.86

  6. Squad number13Player nameGuaita
    Average rating

    4.85

  7. Squad number15Player nameSchlupp
    Average rating

    4.83

  8. Squad number2Player nameWard
    Average rating

    4.82

  9. Squad number16Player nameAndersen
    Average rating

    4.81

  10. Squad number3Player nameMitchell
    Average rating

    4.81

  11. Squad number8Player nameKouyaté
    Average rating

    4.78

  12. Squad number20Player nameBenteke
    Average rating

    4.76

  13. Squad number9Player nameJ Ayew
    Average rating

    4.72

  14. Squad number14Player nameMateta
    Average rating

    4.63

Line-ups

Chelsea

Formation 3-4-2-1

  • 16Mendy
  • 14Chalobah
  • 4Christensen
  • 2Rüdiger
  • 28AzpilicuetaSubstituted forJamesat 67'minutes
  • 5Jorginho
  • 8Kovacic
  • 3AlonsoSubstituted forEmersonat 86'minutes
  • 19Mount
  • 10PulisicSubstituted forHavertzat 82'minutes
  • 11Werner

Substitutes

  • 1Arrizabalaga
  • 6Thiago Silva
  • 9Abraham
  • 15Zouma
  • 20Hudson-Odoi
  • 21Chilwell
  • 24James
  • 29Havertz
  • 33Emerson

Crystal Palace

Formation 4-4-2

  • 13Guaita
  • 2Ward
  • 8Kouyaté
  • 6Guéhi
  • 3Mitchell
  • 9J Ayew
  • 44RiedewaldSubstituted forRak-Sakyiat 76'minutes
  • 18McArthur
  • 15SchluppSubstituted forAndersenat 57'minutes
  • 11Zaha
  • 14MatetaSubstituted forBentekeat 57'minutes

Substitutes

  • 1Butland
  • 16Andersen
  • 17Clyne
  • 20Benteke
  • 34Kelly
  • 40Banks
  • 43Hannam
  • 46Street
  • 49Rak-Sakyi
Referee:
Jonathan Moss
Attendance:
38,965

Match Stats

Home TeamChelseaAway TeamCrystal Palace
Possession
Home62%
Away38%
Shots
Home13
Away4
Shots on Target
Home6
Away1
Corners
Home5
Away2
Fouls
Home15
Away11

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Chelsea 3, Crystal Palace 0.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Chelsea 3, Crystal Palace 0.

  3. Post update

    Foul by Antonio Rüdiger (Chelsea).

  4. Post update

    Christian Benteke (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  5. Post update

    Foul by Kai Havertz (Chelsea).

  6. Post update

    Marc Guéhi (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  7. Post update

    Attempt missed. Christian Benteke (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by James McArthur.

  8. Post update

    Foul by Jorginho (Chelsea).

  9. Post update

    Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

  10. Substitution

    Substitution, Chelsea. Emerson replaces Marcos Alonso.

  11. Substitution

    Substitution, Chelsea. Kai Havertz replaces Christian Pulisic.

  12. Post update

    Trevoh Chalobah (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  13. Post update

    Foul by Christian Benteke (Crystal Palace).

  14. Post update

    Foul by Trevoh Chalobah (Chelsea).

  15. Post update

    Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  16. Post update

    Foul by Reece James (Chelsea).

  17. Post update

    Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick on the left wing.

  18. Substitution

    Substitution, Crystal Palace. Jesurun Rak-Sakyi replaces Jairo Riedewald.

  19. Post update

    Foul by Andreas Christensen (Chelsea).

  20. Post update

    Christian Benteke (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

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Comments

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633 comments

  • Comment posted by shed upper yaface, at 17:29 14 Aug 2021

    I have said before that Chelsea have the best academy in the country
    Only the very best will make into the first team but those that don't can still go onto have an excellent career
    The Premier League Championship and Leagues 1 & 2 are full of ex Chelsea graduates who are doing well for their respective teams
    Chalobah has been at Chelsea since he was 8 so it's brilliant to see him succeed 👏

    • Reply posted by LondonsFinestClub, at 17:42 14 Aug 2021

      LondonsFinestClub replied:
      This boy looks as good as Mount, James and Christensen, his touch, play and stamina are Effie top

  • Comment posted by PsychLove, at 17:04 14 Aug 2021

    Trevor Chalobah, what a performance young man.

    • Reply posted by LondonsFinestClub, at 17:47 14 Aug 2021

      LondonsFinestClub replied:
      Good man, composure, grace and skill. Long may you continue.

  • Comment posted by Jka, at 17:08 14 Aug 2021

    No shame in losing to the European champions! Bit harsh to call it a miserable start for Viera when you'd expect Palace to loose to an in form Chelsea, it was an improvement on the 4 - 0 result last year. Big game next weekend! Cmon Eagles!

    • Reply posted by slayer, at 17:36 14 Aug 2021

      slayer replied:
      As ever, Chelsea still behind Man utd. Even if they won 4-0 would still have been behind Man Utd. Just like the past 2 seasons.

  • Comment posted by Battle of the Bottlers, at 17:07 14 Aug 2021

    Chelsea single-handedly carrying London. KTBFFH

    • Reply posted by LondonsFinestClub, at 17:46 14 Aug 2021

      LondonsFinestClub replied:
      London on the Euro map coz of the blues. 2 CL, 2 uefa and 1 Sc. We are Chelsea, we win big!!!!!!

  • Comment posted by DH, at 17:03 14 Aug 2021

    Palace's fate won't be decided by the games against the top 6 as much as by the games against the rest of the league, therefore unfair to assume they are going to be relegated after one game.

    Give the new manager & his new system a chance folks.

  • Comment posted by BuffKeqing, at 16:59 14 Aug 2021

    "Patrick Viera's Crystal Palace"

    Stop.

    • Reply posted by Joe King, at 17:13 14 Aug 2021

      Joe King replied:
      It'll be someone else's Crystal Palace by Christmas

  • Comment posted by IBB, at 16:58 14 Aug 2021

    More of that Trevoh Chalobah. Hope the club don’t sell him later just like Tomori

    • Reply posted by LondonsFinestClub, at 17:51 14 Aug 2021

      LondonsFinestClub replied:
      Can’t see it now.

  • Comment posted by Expected Toulouse, at 17:00 14 Aug 2021

    People constantly moan about the spending power of Chelsea and Man City, but they actually balance their books really well in terms of income and expenditure.
    Not like Liverpool who overspend and repeatedly contravene FFP rules. How can it be that LFC can outspend every major club in Europe and then sweep it under the carpet. They are not above the law.

    • Reply posted by Richard, at 17:03 14 Aug 2021

      Richard replied:
      Yes I saw Klopp making his excuses in an interview last night, befroe they have even kicked a ball, about how they can't afford the players oter top contenders do.

  • Comment posted by TheSardinian, at 17:13 14 Aug 2021

    Great start , really pleased for young Chalobah , could fill that auxiliary CB/CDM cover spot in the squad.

    • Reply posted by LondonsFinestClub, at 17:43 14 Aug 2021

      LondonsFinestClub replied:
      Agreed! His opportunity and Tuchel wants him to prove it. Love Tommy Tickle, he’s a a player maker, chance taker and ain’t no faker!

  • Comment posted by demolition , at 18:09 14 Aug 2021

    My claim to fame is I'm trevoh chalobah's postman 😊😊😮

    • Reply posted by McGrory, at 18:11 14 Aug 2021

      McGrory replied:
      Your certainly not the Chelski owners postman

  • Comment posted by Tom Chelski, at 17:33 14 Aug 2021

    Don't understand why Alonso is being so underrated. He was massive part of CFC that won the league under conte. Looks like he's up for another. Chalobah immense. Don't need to spend any money in defence. Save it for midfielder that can hold the ball and draw fauls

    • Reply posted by LondonsFinestClub, at 17:39 14 Aug 2021

      LondonsFinestClub replied:
      Probably right! Chalaboah looks so good at every level. Incredible that we sold Tomori and Guehhi and had this boy in the shadows. 45m from two academy lads and still have 4 playing today. Wow! We spend but we sell to balance it. You have to be a baller to play for Tuchel, well done young Chalaboah, you look well suited.

  • Comment posted by Pound For Pound King, at 17:08 14 Aug 2021

    What a moment for the young man.

  • Comment posted by forceara, at 17:30 14 Aug 2021

    Chelsea academy producing some real defenders. Guei, Tamori and now Chalobah. Incredible supply line.

    • Reply posted by LondonsFinestClub, at 17:40 14 Aug 2021

      LondonsFinestClub replied:
      Superb! Still more to come, we are a factory akin to mercedes

  • Comment posted by Richard, at 16:55 14 Aug 2021

    Well played Chelsea, just the start that was needed. Looked good all over the pitch & the result was never in doubt. If this is glimpse of things to come, then it could be a very good & entertaining season. K.T.B.F.F.H

    • Reply posted by LondonsFinestClub, at 17:51 14 Aug 2021

      LondonsFinestClub replied:
      Better to come hopefully

  • Comment posted by HarryJsAllstar, at 17:04 14 Aug 2021

    Good win. Palace were fairly poor though, so nothing much learned yet.
    Good to hear a full stadium, and well done to the Palace fans too - great support for their team.

  • Comment posted by Lisa, at 22:44 14 Aug 2021

    Said in an earlier conversation that no one would get near to Man City this season. After watching this today, I have changed my mind and am putting Chelsea right up there and maybe the new champions this year. That was without Lukaku. Respect to Chelsea,from a Palace fanatic .

  • Comment posted by Lisa, at 17:38 14 Aug 2021

    Am a bit disappointed that Palace were totally outplayed.
    Was always going to be a hard first game, but would have been good to see some fight from Palace.
    Need to forget this and move on to next week against Brentford when our season properly gets started.

    • Reply posted by Rubylove199, at 18:35 14 Aug 2021

      Rubylove199 replied:
      Don't assume that will be an easy game; the Bees are no pushover.

  • Comment posted by The moose, at 17:30 14 Aug 2021

    Quelle surprise we lost to Chelsea. As always any points from the big 6 an unexpected pleasure. We are in the mini league with the usual suspects and our future depends upon those games. Bounce back against Brentford or start to be seriously worried.

  • Comment posted by stormbringer, at 21:41 14 Aug 2021

    This is a Chelsea/Crystal Palace thread.... We don't need no 70/80s Scouse history lessons.. Thanks...

    • Reply posted by TheSardinian, at 12:08 15 Aug 2021

      TheSardinian replied:
      Scousers are never welcome but how do you get rid of them ? It’s like a virus , time for someone to develop a vaccine ?

  • Comment posted by Chelseawillrecover, at 16:54 14 Aug 2021

    What a good game and way to start our campaign this season.

    • Reply posted by LondonsFinestClub, at 17:51 14 Aug 2021

      LondonsFinestClub replied:
      We know what we are!