A second-half equaliser by Eberechi Eze gave Crystal Palace their first point of the Premier League season as they secured a 1-1 draw away to Chelsea on Sunday, bouncing back from a poor start to grab a share of the spoils after a much-improved second half.
The home side broke the deadlock in the 25th minute after Palace defender Marc Guehi made an ill-advised raid forward and lost the ball. The Blues countered quickly, with Nicolas Jackson scoring from close range from a pass by Cole Palmer.
Outplayed for most of the opening 45 minutes, Palace eventually turned their fortunes around after the break and Eze equalised in the 53rd minute, picking up the rebound from Cheick Doucoure’s blocked shot and curling the ball beautifully into the net from outside the box.
Both sides had chances to grab a winner in the second half with Levi Colwill going close for Chelsea and Palace’s Daichi Kamada forcing a fine save, but despite just over eight minutes of stoppage time neither side could find another goal and the game ended in a stalemate.
Chelsea FC 1 – 1 Crystal Palace FC
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
15:42
The spoils were shared at Stamford Bridge for the first time in this fixture since 1995 as Crystal Palace equalised to earn their first point of the season in a 1-1 draw with Chelsea. Jackson put the hosts ahead during a dominant first-half performance before a magnificent curling effort from Eze in the 53rd minute put Palace back on level terms. The shot from outside the box gave Eze the joint most goals (five) from outside the area in 2024, level with Phil Foden. Chelsea were left to rue missed chances as their early dominance meant they finished the game with an expected goals (xG) total of 2.27. Conversely, Palace proved clinical with the chance they had, finishing the match on 0.44xG. It leaves Chelsea just three points ahead of their opponents in 11th, while Palace move up to 16th after registering that first point.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
15:32
FULL-TIME: CHELSEA 1-1 CRYSTAL PALACE
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
15:30
COULD HE?! Wharton sends the ball in from the right and it falls to an unmarked Mitchell. He struggles to get it out of his feet and his shot is blocked and hastily cleared. Mitchell so close to a birthday winner at the death.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
15:28
Palace get forward but are low on numbers. Sarr does well to win a corner out of the chance, however, and this could be their last chance of the game.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
15:28
Joao Felix picks the ball up on the turn and floats towards the Palace goal with the ball glued to his feet. It’s a brilliant run but the shot is not and Henderson has little to do to collect the weak attempt headed his direction.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
15:26
Chelsea are building the pressure at Stamford Bridge as they camp around the Palace box, looking for a point of entry. Visitors are doing just enough to keep them at bay for now…
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
15:26
JACKSON CLOSE AGAIN! Jackson beats Clyne to a ball over the top in the box but Henderson does superbly again for Palace and makes himself big to block the shot. A big moment in this game perhaps.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
15:24
SIDE-NETTING! Chelsea counter after some danger in their own box and Jackson finds space to shoot. His shot, however, flies into the side-netting with the net bulging the wrong way.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
15:24
Eight minutes of additional time announced.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
15:22
Palmer shows his frustration at his own mistake and volleys the ball after it had gone out straight at the hoardings.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
15:20
While Chelsea looked dominant in the first half with a far superior expected goals tally, in the second-half they have been largely matched by the visitors as Chelsea have a total xG of 0.22 after the break and Palace has 0.18.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
15:20
Yellow Card Daniel Muñoz Mejía
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
15:18
Substitution Daichi Kamada Jeffrey Schlupp
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
15:16
Crystal Palace get forward in their numbers with Kamada supported by Munoz on the right. Kamada’s cross is blocked, however, and Chelsea attack at the other end through Mudryk. Both sides, however, struggle to find the decisive pass as Cucurella sees his cross cut out by Munoz at the other end.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
15:16
Substitution Chukwunonso Tristan Madueke Christopher Alan Nkunku
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
15:14
As we enter the closing stages of the game. the players seem to have run out of steam with the pace of the game just dropping gin the last few minutes. Will the spectre of full-time rejuvenate the game?
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
15:12
Fofana gets forward for Chelsea and attempts to play a ball into the box from the centre of the Crystal Palace half. He spots a runner at the far post but the ball is overhit and flies off the backline with little trouble for the visitors.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
15:10
CLOSE FOR KAMADA! Munoz attacks down the right for Crystal Palace before pulling the ball back for Kamada who is making a run towards the box. He picks it up in his stride and fires a stinging shot at goal which tests Sanchez. The Chelsea goalkeeper just does enough to keep it out.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
15:08
Mudryk makes an instant impact winning a free-kick level with the box out on the left side. Palmer delivers well to the back post, but Colwill cannot get it under control, and instead, it spirals off the back line for a goal kick.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
15:06
With 15 minutes remaining in this match, both teams are struggling to create chances that cause substantial threat. There has not been a draw in this fixture since 1995, however. Will we see a breakthrough?
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
15:04
Gusto does depart here after going down with injury and on comes Mudryk. Can he make the difference at Stamford Bridge?
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
15:04
Gusto goes down again clutching his hamstring this time. It is being stretched out and looks to be cramped, but Chelsea are already thin at right-back with James also out injured.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
15:00
Glasner uses the stoppage in play to introduce a fresh face upfront as Sarr replaces Mateta as striker for the visitors.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
15:00
A stoppage in play at Stamford Bridge as Gusto receives treatment for an injury he received during defensive duties receiving studs to his ankle.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
14:58
Madueke floats a ball across the box from the right with Jackson running in at the far post. It looked perfectly positioned but Henderson also read the ball well and plucks it out of the air before Jackson could double his tally.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
14:56
Despite the scores now being tied, Chelsea still lead on expected goals (xG). The hosts boast 1.87xG while Palace still only remain on 0.13 despite Eze’s goal.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
14:54
Jackson pushes Guehi in the back to find space for himself upfront to give away a foul. The yellow card came when the striker continued to play on and put the ball in the net after play had been stopped.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
14:52
Munoz breaks away from his Chelsea marker on the right side before switching play to Eze who is in space on the left just outside the box. His shot is blocked early but Palace are looking far more of a threat since their goal.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
14:48
The first switch for Chelsea sees Joao Felix enter the field for fellow summer signing Neto.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
14:48
Crystal Palace attack once more and look far more spritely after that goal. Kamada sees his cross from the right blocked by Cucurella but Palace win the corner. It’s fired into the near post but cleared by Palmer.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
14:46
Palace come knocking. Munoz loops a cross in from the right of the box which Richards clips back into the mix to force a clearance from the Chelsea defence. It’s looking nervy.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
14:44
Goal Eberechi Oluchi Eze
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
14:42
SAVED!! Henderson superb for the visitors in these opening minutes. Palmer sends the resulting free-kick towards goal but Henderson gets up well to tip it over the bar.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
14:40
Substitution William James Hughes Cheick Oumar Doucouré
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
14:40
Should it be red? Hughes fells Palmer as he surges towards the box and gives away a foul in a dangerous position. The contention comes as Hughes is already on a yellow card but Gillett does not reach for his cards on this occasion.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
14:36
And we are back underway as the hosts kick-off in the second-half.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
14:36
The teams are back out and ready to go for the second-half of action.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
14:32
Chelsea have looked the far stronger of the two sides at the break and duly lead 1-0 against Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge. Jackson’s first goal of the Premier League season marks the difference between the two London clubs. Madueke and Palmer combined to provide a simple finish in the 25th minute, setting up a chance worth 0.97xG for Jackson’s goal. It means Palmer now has 15 assists for Chelsea in the Premier League, the most in Europe’s top five leagues since his debut in September 2023. He certainly contributed to Chelsea’s expected goals (xG) total of 1.77 at the break. Crystal Palace, on the other hand, have struggled to get into the game, finishing the half with just 0.07 xG. Oliver Glasner may look to his bench if he wants to see his side have a chance of picking up their first points of the season.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
14:22
HALF-TIME: CHELSEA 1-0 CRYSTAL PALACE
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
14:20
Crystal Palace have a free-kick from nearly 30 yards out. With just seconds remaining on the clock, Eze tries his luck but his attempt flies wide of the near post.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
14:18
Three minutes of added time announced in the first half at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
14:16
After receiving from Palmer on the edge of the box, Gusto takes aim from range. It is a low and powerful effort but appears to be blocked by his own teammate Madueke before it can even see a sight of goal.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
14:14
SAVED! Palmer sprays play out to Neto on the left who has the chance to put a cross in. Jackson is waiting in the box and does well to get his head to it and place his shot on target but the header is tame and Henderson can rise to catch easily.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
14:12
Crystal Palace are building momentum themselves with a spell of possession, stringing passes together in the centre of the pitch. Nothing comes of it, however.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
14:10
Neto plays in a cross from the left that causes problems for Henderson. It is low and straight at the near post but the Palace goalkeeper spills the initial block and has to scramble to collect the ball.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
14:06
As Chelsea now lead 1-0, the likely outcome of the match swings decisively in their favour. The hosts now have a win probability of 74% with Crystal Palace’s diminished to just 9%.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
14:04
Yellow Card Wesley Tidjan Fofana
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
14:04
Chelsea are looking the far brighter side after that goal. They get forward again as Madueke beats Hughes for pace once more on the right. He cuts inside but drags his shot wide of the near post.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
14:02
There is a brief stoppage following the goal as Crystal Palace followed concussion protocol for Henderson, who received a knee to the head from his own teammate after scrambling to try and save the goal. He is deemed okay to carry on for now.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
13:58
Assist Cole Jermaine Palmer
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
13:56
Goal Nicolas Jackson
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
13:56
MADUEKE AGAIN!! Henderson pulls off a delightful save at point-blank range from Madueke’s header to keep the scores level at Stamford Bridge. After Palace’s flirt with getting back into the game, Chelsea have come back with a vengeance.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
13:56
SHOULD HAVE SCORED?! The hat-trick hero at Wolves Madueke receives a dinked ball over the top of the Palace defence and finds himself in behind with a sight of goal. Though under pressure Madueke has a clear space to shoot but pokes just wide of the post.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
13:54
While much of the opening 20 minutes have all gone Chelsea’s way, Crystal Palace are certainly feeling their way back into this one. That Wharton chance has given renewed impetus!
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
13:50
WHARTON GOES NEAR! It’s Palace’s first chance of the game but it’s probably also the best of the game. Lovely interplay on the right for the visitors creates space for Wharton on the edge of the box. He gets a shot away under pressure which forces Sanchez into a save low to his left but the English midfielder would have hoped to make better contact.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
13:48
Chelsea have been dominant so far and Crystal Palace will do well to hold them off for the entirety of the match if this momentum continues. The hosts currently boast a 70% share of possession in the match so far.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
13:46
Jackson gets away from the Palace defence and Hughes pulls him back to stop any further danger. He goes into the book for his troubles, however.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
13:46
CLOSE FOR PALMER! Chelsea’s superstar finds space to shoot on the edge of the box just right of centre and looks to curl a shot towards the far post with the inside of his foot. The crowd were expectant but the ball just sailed wide of the post.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
13:44
Kamada is lucky to get away with just a talking to as he commits three fouls in quick succession. The Chelsea players are not happy to see no card after Neto’s reprisal following Kamada’s latest trip.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
13:42
Chelsea are currently sending the majority of their attacks down the right side where Wharton is doing well to cover and stop them getting much further than just inside the Palace half.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
13:40
Tussles all over the pitch as players grapple with each other for the ball. Neto shows his frustrations by tripping Munoz from behind and is awarded the yellow card.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
13:38
Chelsea are building some momentum by maintaining possession with a string of quick passing. Wharton, however, does superbly to cut out the move as Chelsea look to surge forward and turn away from pressure to keep the ball.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
13:34
Chelsea win a free-kick out on the left as Neto is tripped. Palmer swings it into the box but it is headed away at the first time of asking by the Palace defence.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
13:34
Palace come flying out of the blocks to put pressure on the hosts early. It is perhaps a little too intense as Gillett gives a foul to Chelsea deep in their own half.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
13:32
Palace get us underway at Stamford Bridge!
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
13:32
The teams walk out onto the pitch at Stamford Bridge led by referee Jarred Gillett. Not long until we get underway here…
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
13:28
Will Eze finally get his goal? The Palace forward has been involved in more shots than any other player in the Premier League this season (16 – 12 shots, 4 chances created) but is yet to register a goal or assist.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
13:22
Crystal Palace are without new signing Chadi Riad who was substituted after 10 minutes in their midweek clash with Norwich due to a knee injury. Matheus Franca also remains absent for the south London side. Kamada returns to the starting line-up after featuring as a substitute in their 2-0 home defeat to West Ham.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
13:22
Chelsea are without the services of Reece James through both suspension and injury as well as Romeo Lavia (hamstring) and Moises Caicedo (ankle) through injury. Madueke earns another start for the hosts after his hat-trick last weekend, but Mudryk drops to the bench. The Ukrainian is replaced by Neto who is handed his first Premier League start by Maresca after coming on as a substitute in Chelsea’s previous two league matches.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
13:18
CRYSTAL PALACE SUBS: Joel Ward, Ismaila Sarr, Jeffrey Schlupp, Cheick Doucoure, Remi Matthews, Kaden Rodney, Franco Umeh-Chibueze, Justin Devenny, Asher Agbinone.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
13:18
CRYSTAL PALACE (3-4-3): Dean Henderson; Marc Guehi, Chris Richards, Nathaniel Clyne; Tyrick Mitchell, Will Hughes, Adam Wharton, Daniel Munoz; Eberechi Eze, Daichi Kamada, Jean-Philippe Mateta.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
13:18
CHELSEA SUBS: Axel Disasi, Tosin Adarabioyo, Mykhailo Mudryk, Filip Jorgensen, Joao Felix, Christopher Nkunku, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Cesare Casadei, Renato Veiga.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
13:18
CHELSEA (4-2-3-1): Robert Sanchez; Marc Cucurella, Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana, Malo Gusto; Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo; Pedro Neto, Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke; Nicolas Jackson.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
13:08
Crystal Palace remain in search of their first win of the Premier League season after defeats to Brentford and West Ham so far this season. Just as they have struggled against sides from the capital this season, Palace have also had a torrid time in their history against Chelsea. The west Londoners have beaten Palace in 13 straight meetings dating back to March 2018. Only Manchester City (a current run of 14 against Bournemouth) have ever had a longer winning run against an opponent in English Football League history. Palace come into the match off the back of a 4-0 victory against Norwich City in their midweek League Cup fixture.
13:02
Hello and welcome to live text commentary of Chelsea Vs Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League this Sunday!
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
13:02
Chelsea will be hoping to continue their winning run after picking up their first three points of the season last weekend in a 6-2 victory away at Wolves. The west London club fell to opening day defeat to defending champions Manchester City but Noni Madueke’s hat-trick at Wolves brought them up to eighth place in the table on three points. A chaotic transfer window for the hosts means they are now without Conor Gallagher who scored a brace last time the sides met when Chelsea won 3-1 at Selhurst Park. Enzo Maresca’s side come into the match fresh from qualifying for the UEFA Conference League, winning 3-2 on aggregate despite falling to a disappointing 2-1 defeat in Switzerland on Thursday.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
13:00
Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
11:30
Follow all the goals and latest action from the Premier League here with The Independent. Team news and line-ups coming up shortly…
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