Chelsea vs Newcastle LIVE: Premier League result and reaction as Cole Palmer goal proves decisive

Chelsea vs Newcastle LIVE: Premier League result and reaction as Cole Palmer goal proves decisive

Chelsea moved themselves into the top four of the Premier League with a well deserved 2-1 victory over Newcastle a Stamford Bridge.

The Blues dominated and controlled possession in the first half with Eddie Howe’s Magpies looking uncharacteristically uneasy as the match went on. Cole Palmer, always eager to impress, had the ball in the back of the net with six minutes only for the goal to be ruled out for an offside in the build-up.

However, it didn’t take Chelsea long before they went ahead. Palmer released Pedro Neto down the left wing and he squared to Nicolas Jackson for a tap-in after a quick counter attack.

Alexander Isak managed to pull one back with an awkwardly taken equaliser to send the teams into the break on level terms but it was Palmer who had the last word. Less than two minutes after the restart he slotted past Nick Pope to secure the points for the hosts.

Relive the action with our live blog below:

Chelsea vs Newcastle LIVE

  • Chelsea defeat Newcastle in the Premier League

  • 90+2’ NO PENALTY! Spot kick overturned after VAR intervention (CHE 2-1 NEW)

  • 90’ PENALTY! Nkunku brought down by Burn in the box (CHE 2-1 NEW)

  • 47’ GOAL! Palmer sends Chelsea ahead (CHE 2-1 NEW)

  • 32’ GOAL! Isak pokes visitors level (CHE 1-1 NEW)

  • 18’ GOAL! Jackson slots Chelsea into the lead (CHE 1-0 NEW)

  • 6’ DISALLOWED! Palmer finds the back of the net but drifted offside in the build-up (CHE 0-0 NEW)

Chelsea FC 2 – 1 Newcastle United FC

Palmer speaks to Sky Sports

16:23 , Chris Wilson

Chelsea talisman Cole Palmer is first to speak to Sky, and he says that Chelsea “don’t mind proving people wrong”.

“I try and go out there and play my game. That is what I do. I always try to enjoy my football game by game.

I try to not put pressure on myself. Many people on the outside try to put pressure on me to replicate what I did last season in terms of numbers.

“It is my second season playing football and I am still very, very young.”

Regarding Chelsea and fighting for top four, he said: “We just try to play our own game, block the noise out from the outside. We don’t mind proving people wrong.

“We are all young and we have a top coach, but there are improvements still.”

FT: Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle

16:15 , Chris Wilson

That result puts Chelsea back into the top four. They sit on 17 points, one behind Villa, and are above Arsenal on goal difference ahead of the Gunners’ match against Liverpool.

Newcastle remain in 12th, with 12 points from their first nine matches.

Elsewhere in the Premier League

16:12 , Chris Wilson

Two more results to report from the Premier League.

In south London, Crystal Palace beat Spurs 1-0 thanks to Jean-Philippe Mateta, while in east London, West Ham won 2-1 against Manchester United courtesy of a late penalty from Bowen.

FT: Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle

16:08 , Chris Wilson

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FULL-TIME! Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle

16:04 , Chris Wilson

An entertaining match comes to an end in west London. Chelsea take a deserved three points at home after a game that was close overall, though they certainly deserved it more than Newcastle.

Chelsea move into the top four once again!

FULL-TIME! Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle

16:03 , Chris Wilson

FULL-TIME! The referee brings it to an end!

The corner comes in but it’s cleared and Chelsea take the three points!

Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle

16:02 , Chris Wilson

97 mins

Maybe time for one more chance for the away side as Pope has the ball in the Newcastle half and punts it forward. Good defending from Cacicedo though.

Newcastle win the throw but they can’t find the gaps. They lump it forward again and Willock plays it back across goal – and James comes in with a fine defensive header to clear it over his own goal!

Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle

16:01 , Chris Wilson

96 mins

Into the final of the allotted minutes, but there’ll be a couple of extra minutes due to the VAR check for the penalty.

Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle

15:59 , Chris Wilson

94 mins

Newcastle have a chance to build an attack but it’s all too disjointed. Dan Burn fizzes in a hopeful cutback but there’s nobody there.

Nkunku leads the counter but the whistle goes for offside.

Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle

15:58 , Chris Wilson

93 mins

There’s still time for the away side here but they have to get a move on, and it’s Chelsea who still have most of the ball. A chance for Newcastle here though as Nkunku concedes a free-kick and is booked.

Maresca is booked for his reaction too!

Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle

15:56 , Chris Wilson

93 mins

So Newcastle get a second chance to take something, but will they capitalise?

Sean Longstaff was booked for dissent in the meantime.

Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle

15:56 , Chris Wilson

91 mins

PENALTY OVERTURNED!

It was certainly fleeting contact from Burn, and Simon Hooper goes to the screen before overturning his decision.

We’re into the second of six minutes of added time here.

Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle

15:54 , Chris Wilson

90 mins

PENALTY TO CHELSEA!

Chelsea burst forward and Nkunku surges into the box. Burn has his hands all over him and he drags the Frenchman down as he checked back inside – it’s given, but there’s a VAR check.

Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle

15:53 , Chris Wilson

88 mins

Chelsea are closing the game out and they win a goal kick after the ball forward runs out of play.

Newcastle make two changes as Osula and Kelly replace Hall and Joelinton.

Another goal in east London – Jarrod Bowen has converted a penalty to put West Ham 2-1 up against Manchester United.

Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle

15:51 , Chris Wilson

87 mins

Half a chance for Chelsea as Joelinton is dispossessed on the edge of his own box, but Nkunku dwells on the ball for too long and his shot is blocked.

Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle

15:50 , Chris Wilson

85 mins

Now Sanchez is booked for delaying a restart.

Into the final five minutes of normal time and Newcastle are throwing themselves forward , but Chelsea do look fairly comfortable.

Another attack breaks down as Neto runs it into Pope.

Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle

15:47 , Chris Wilson

83 mins

Newcastle lump a long free-kick forward but they’re penalised for a foul from Burn.

Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle

15:46 , Chris Wilson

81 mins

CHANCE!

Newcastle’s turn to build patiently now, but they can’t find an opening and Palmer wins possession. He exchanges passes with Nkunku in the box before laying it off to Mudryk. The Ukrainian is in plenty of space but he can only fire his shot straight at Pope!

Will Chelsea live to rue that missed opportunity?

Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle

15:44 , Chris Wilson

80 mins

Chelsea aren’t committing as many men forward now, and are trying to take the sting out of the Newcastle attack.

They build patiently, exchanging passes in midfield before the attack breaks down.

In east London, Casemiro has levelled things for Manchester United against West Ham.

Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle

15:42 , Chris Wilson

77 mins

Newcastle have some real momentum now but they’re penalised for a foul on Gusto in the Chelsea box.

The home side make two more changes – Gusto makes way for Marc Cucurella, and Christopher Nkunku replaces Nicolas Jackson.

Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle

15:40 , Chris Wilson

75 mins

CLOSE! How have Newcastle nit scored here!?

Newcastle knock the long ball forward and Isak wrestles free from the challenge from Fofana to win the ball. He’s 1-v-1 and skips past Sanchez, but the angle is too tight to hit it. He tries to skip past another challenge to get the shot away, but he’s tackled!

Joelinton was free in the box, unmarked, to tap in, but Isak didn’t square it! Had to be 2-2 that.

Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle

15:38 , Chris Wilson

74 mins

Newcastle have definitely improved since making their substitutions, but only one chance of note for them so far. They’ve found a way back into it though, for sure.

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Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle

15:36 , Chris Wilson

72 mins

Enzo Fernandez comes on for Romeo Lavia.

In other news, West Ham have gone 1-0 up against Manchester United thanks to a goal from Crysencio Summerville. Crystal Palace still lead Spurs at Selhurst Park too.

Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle

15:35 , Chris Wilson

69 mins

CHANCE!

Newcastle come forward and Joelinton releases Willock down the left. He hangs up the cross and Isak heads it towards goal, but James is there to clear it almost off the line!

Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle

15:32 , Chris Wilson

67 mins

Both sides make subs as Madueke makes way for Mykhailo Mudryk for Chelsea, and Jacob Murphy, Joe Willock and Sean Longstaff come on for Miguel Almiron, Harvey Barnes and Sandro Tonali.

Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle

15:30 , Chris Wilson

66 mins

Chelsea do look very comfortable at the moment. The away side look like they’re missing Anthony Gordon here.

Hall wins a free-kick near the Chelsea box after Madueke pulls him back. The England winger is booked for the challenge.

Schar lines it up but he curls his effort over.

Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle

15:28 , Chris Wilson

64 mins

Barnes tries to lead the Newcastle attack as he’s fed the sweeping pass from Guimaraes, but he’s dispossessed.

Tonali is the next player booked for delaying the restart.

Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle

15:26 , Chris Wilson

62 mins

Palmer feeds Neto down the left, but Chelsea are forced to work it backwards and Palmer’s ball into the box is caught by Pope.

Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle

15:25 , Chris Wilson

59 mins

Chelsea attack again but the header bounces over and the goal kick is given, though it should have been corner.

Newcaslte try and launch an attack but Hall’s ball forward is cleared.

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Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle

15:22 , Chris Wilson

57 mins

Newcastle have their first real attack of the second half and it’s a dangerous one, as Barnes threads it to the overlapping Isak. He clips a ball towards the back post but it’s great defending from James to head away, almost on his own goal line.

Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle

15:20 , Chris Wilson

55 mins

Lavia is booked for delaying the restart, and there’s a bit of a lull in attacking activity here as Madueke’s through ball goes out for a goal kick.

Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle

15:17 , Chris Wilson

54 mins

It feels like a crucial point in the game now, as Chelsea could essentially win it here if they keep this up.

Gusto fires a shot well over, but Newcastle look very ragged and disjointed at the moment.

Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle

15:16 , Chris Wilson

51 mins

Another Chelsea counter ends with Madueke hitting a weak shot at Pope. The home side are dominating once again though.

Newcastle look a bit shocked out there.

Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle

15:14 , Chris Wilson

49 mins

So the home side are ahead once more – can they keep their lead (or even extend it) this time?

They almost do, as the cross comes in from Madueke. Neto rises early and gets above Livramento, but he crashes his header against the post!

GOAL! Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle

15:11 , Chris Wilson

47 mins

GOAL! And the home side lead within a couple of minutes of kick-off!

Newcastle lose possession on halfway and Caicedo threads it to Palmer. He drives towards the box and hits a low shot to the near post – Pope gets a hand to it but he can’t keep it out!

KICK-OFF! Chelsea 1-1 Newcastle

15:09 , Chris Wilson

The away side get the second half underway in West London.

HALF-TIME! Chelsea 1-1 Newcastle

15:08 , Chris Wilson

The teams are coming back out at Stamford Bridge, so we’re moments away from the second half.

HALF-TIME! Chelsea 1-1 Newcastle

15:07 , Chris Wilson

And back at Stamford Bridge, we have an intriguing second half ahead of us between Chelsea and Newcastle.

The home side certainly dominated large parts of the first half and looked the more dangerous of the two teams. This dominance showed as Nicolas Jackson put the home side ahead within the first 20 minutes.

But the home defence switched off for a moment to allow Isak in to equalise, and since then it has been a little more equal.

Chelsea have certainly been the better of the two sides though, and they’ll fancy their chances of grabbing a win here.

Both sides will certainly need to be more clinical, and more solid at the back, if they are to come away with a win though.

HALF-TIME! Chelsea 1-1 Newcastle

15:03 , Chris Wilson

A note from around London – West Ham and Manchester United are currently level at the break, while Crystal Palace are defending a precarious lead at home to Spurs.

HAL-TIME! Chelsea 1-1 Newcastle

15:00 , Chris Wilson

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HALF-TIME! Chelsea 1-1 Newcastle

14:54 , Chris Wilson

52 mins

HALF-TIME!

Probably the last chance of the half as Caicedo and Gusto combine to foul Barnes. Newcastle can swing in a dangerous set-piece here – Hall delivers it but Burn can only direct a header up into the air, and Sanchez collects it.

The referee blows the whistle and the two teams head down the tunnel level after the first half.

Chelsea 1-1 Newcastle

14:51 , Chris Wilson

50 mins

Isak is briefly down after being caught by Fofana, but both are fine. Up the other end, Chelsea are penalised as Jackson drifted offside.

Chelsea 1-1 Newcastle

14:50 , Chris Wilson

49 mins

Sanchez comes off his line well to deal with a dangerous long ball forward.

Hall picks out Barnes with a clipped ball forwards but Gusto does well to recover the ball.

Chelsea 1-1 Newcastle

14:49 , Chris Wilson

47 mins

Chelsea win another corner as Livramento heads Gusto’s cross behind. James delivers the set-piece – and it’s headed behind for another.

Palmer will deliver this one – and Pope punches it behind!

One more in-swinger from Palmer – it’s a dangerous delivery but Pope catches it well.

Worth noting that Newcastle have neither scored nor conceded from a corner so far this season.

Chelsea 1-1 Newcastle

14:46 , Chris Wilson

45 mins

Shouts around Stamford Bridge as Guimaraes avoids a foul after sliding in on Neto.

There’ll be SEVEN minutes of added time at the end of the first half.

Chelsea 1-1 Newcastle

14:45 , Chris Wilson

44 mins

Livramento does well to win a foul from Neto, and there’ll be some brief respite for the away side. At the other end, Colwill is calm enough to play a pass back to Sanchez to clear.

Chelsea 1-1 Newcastle

14:43 , Chris Wilson

42 mins

Barnes leads the Newcastle counter and he feels he’s fouled, but it was a good challenge from Lavia.

Moments after, Burn has his hands on Madueke as he looks to latch onto a long ball forward, but the referee doesn’t give the foul.

Chelsea 1-1 Newcastle

14:42 , Chris Wilson

41 mins

Chelsea are finishing the half in the ascendancy here. Neto – who’s moved onto the right wing for now – hits a deflected shot that has wrong-footed Pope, but the ‘keeper adjusts his feet to make a good save.

Chelsea 1-1 Newcastle

14:41 , Chris Wilson

39 mins

Another promising Chelsea attack as Palmer shifts it wide to Gusto before Neto has a shot deflected over for a corner.

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Chelsea 1-1 Newcastle

14:37 , Chris Wilson

36 mins

Caicedo does well to win the ball back near the Newcastle box. It’s given back to him by Jackson, and the Ecuadorian blasts an effort over from outside the box.

Chelsea 1-1 Newcastle

14:36 , Chris Wilson

34 mins

So, despite some promising attacking play from Chelsea, they find themselves level. It was a well-worked goal from Newcastle, if not the prettiest.

In other news – Palace lead Spurs 1-0 after a strike from Jean-Philippe Mateta.

Chelsea 1-1 Newcastle

14:34 , Chris Wilson

33 mins

GOAL GIVEN!

Plenty of tension as VAR takes a while to look if Isak had drifted…but he’s played onside by Fofana’s right boot!

Newcastle are level!

GOAL! Chelsea 1-1 Newcastle

14:33 , Chris Wilson

32 mins

GOAL! The visitors are level!

Tonali and Joelinton exchange passes near halfway before the Italian slides a pass across to Harvey Barnes. The England man plays in Livramento on the overlap and he squares it for Isak to tap in!

Hang on though…it looks like there could be an offside!

Chelsea 1-0 Newcastle

14:31 , Chris Wilson

31 mins

Half a chance as Isak’s glancing header at the front post is well over.

Chelsea 1-0 Newcastle

14:31 , Chris Wilson

30 mins

The match has certainly calmed down a bit but you do get the sense that Chelsea could score whenever they attack.

Newcastle launch a long free-kick from their own half, which ends with Tonali winning a corner as Palmer charged down the cross.

Chelsea 1-0 Newcastle

14:29 , Chris Wilson

27 mins

Plenty of space in midfield for Chelsea when they look to attack, but it’s Newcastle who have a chance now.

They pour men forward and Isak finds Barnes with the cutback, but the shot is blocked. The away side attack again, but two shots are blocked from within the box and Chelsea counter to win a corner.

Chelsea 1-0 Newcastle

14:26 , Chris Wilson

25 mins

Good work from Caicedo as he receives a poorly judged pass from Sanchez but wriggles free to release Palmer.

The home side come forward again, and Neto beats Livramento down the left and manages to keep the ball in play, but Gusto can’t get a clean connection with the ball at the back post.

Chelsea 1-0 Newcastle

14:24 , Chris Wilson

23 mins

Madueke’s cross is headed down by Jackson but he can’t direct it back to a Chelsea man. The home side are dominating here.

Chelsea 1-0 Newcastle

14:23 , Chris Wilson

23 mins

Chelsea launch another attack and Jackson’s pass forward deflects into the path of Neto, who curls an effort into the gloves of Pope.

Chelsea 1-0 Newcastle

14:22 , Chris Wilson

22 mins

A lull in activity at the Bridge ends with Palmer drawing a foul and a yellow card as Schar trips him.

Chelsea 1-0 Newcastle

14:21 , Chris Wilson

19 mins

Newcastle look to answer straight away as Guimaraes finds Almiron with a chipped ball into the box, but the Paraguayan can’t get his effort on target.

GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Newcastle

14:20 , Chris Wilson

18 mins

The home side are definitely ahead now!

It all comes from a Newcastle cross too as the ball in is cleared and it falls to Palmer. On the turn, he threads a brilliant pass to the overlapping Neto and the Portuguese beats Schar down the wing, before lifting his head and finding Jackson unmarked in the area. The striker slots a simple side-foot past Pope for 1-0!

Chelsea 0-0 Newcastle

14:18 , Chris Wilson

17 mins

Good work from Fofana to shepherd the ball and head it back to Sanchez. He’s looking alright now.

Chelsea 0-0 Newcastle

14:17 , Chris Wilson

15 mins

Huge shouts for a penalty from Newcastle as Guimaraes goes down as he burst into the box, but the referee waves it away! VAR will check it presumably…

No matter anyway, as he was well outside of the area.

No goals (except disallowed ones) in the first 15 in any of the three 2pm matches.

Chelsea 0-0 Newcastle

14:15 , Chris Wilson

14 mins

Palmer’s ball forward is blocked but he has a second chance and feeds through Neto down the left. The former Wolves man wins a corner.

James swings in the corner but it’s good defending from Hall to make the block.

Chelsea 0-0 Newcastle

14:14 , Chris Wilson

12 mins

Quite a lengthy bit of treatment for Fofana but he walks off and he looks like he’ll be okay to carry on. It looks like an issue with his knee .

Newcastle win a corner after Colwill deals with a ball forward to Joelinton, and a poor delivery ends with a Chelsea throw.

On second look, Fofana still looks uncomfortable out there.

Chelsea 0-0 Newcastle

14:11 , Chris Wilson

10 mins

Hall is dispossessed by Madueke and now it’s the turn of the home side to have possession. Once again, they don’t look in any particular rush in the opening stages.

Newcastle mount a counter that ends with Guimaraes hitting a deflected shot that Sanchez collects.

Wesley Fofana is briefly down after flying into a late challenge to try and stop the counter. He receives a yellow card for the tackle too.

14:08 , Chris Wilson

7 mins

James clips a inviting early ball over the defence but Pope rushes out to clear. Nice idea from the Chelsea captain.

Newcastle have their first bit of sustained possession just into the Chelsea half, but it’s a little pedestrian at the moment.

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DISALLOWED GOAL! Chelsea 0-0 Newcastle

14:06 , Chris Wilson

6 mins

The goal is indeed disallowed as Palmer had stepped slightly offside. A second chance for Newcastle – that was far too easy for the home side.

GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Newcastle

14:05 , Chris Wilson

4 mins

GOAL! The home side are ahead within four minutes!

James plays a pass inside and Jackson turns his man all too easily before sliding in a pass into the path of Palmer. He bursts into the box and slides a low effort across Pope and into the far corner.

Hold on though – it looks like Palmer has strayed offside…

Chelsea 0-0 Newcastle

14:04 , Chris Wilson

3 mins

Colwill is alert to head away Isak’s clipped cross, before Tonali is penalised for being offside.

Chelsea go on the counter and it falls to Madueke again after good work from Jackson, but the England winger can only drive a shot right at Pope.

Worth noting that Reece James is starting at left-back today, with Gusto in his favoured position.

Chelsea 0-0 Newcastle

14:02 , Chris Wilson

1 min

Just two points separate these two sides at kick-off, though there have been very different atmospheres around the two clubs of late.

Chelsea have the first meaningful attack as Madueke makes some space before his cross is collected by Pope.

Chelsea vs Newcastle LIVE

14:00 , Chris Wilson

KICK-OFF!

The home side get us underway in west London.

Newcastle have gone just over 600 minutes without a goal from open play – can they change that in a difficult game at Stamford Bridge?

Chelsea vs Newcastle LIVE

13:57 , Chris Wilson

Both sides are starting to emerge from the tunnel at Stamford Bridge, so we’ll be underway soon.

Chelsea v Newcastle LIVE

13:55 , Chris Wilson

We’re five minutes away from kick-off in west London.

There are 2pm kick-offs in the east and south of the capital today too – West Ham host Manchester United and Crystal Palace welcome Tottenham.

Chelsea vs Newcastle LIVE

13:50 , Chris Wilson

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Chelsea vs Newcastle head-to-head

13:47 , Chris Wilson

These two sides have met a total of 176 times, with the first meeting dating back to 1907. Overall, Chelsea have won 80, Newcastle have won 56, and 40 have ended as draws.

Chelsea won 3-2 the last time the two teams met – in this fixture last season, when Chelsea won 3-2 in March.

Newcaslte beat the Blues 4-1 at St. James’ Park 11 months ago.

Howe on Gordon

13:44 , Chris Wilson

Eddie Howe says Anthony Gordon felt a problem with his groin yesterday and so has travelled to London but won’t feature. He’s not sure how long the England winger will be out.

Match facts

13:40 , Chris Wilson

Newcastle have won two of their last four Premier League games against Chelsea, drawing one and losing one. This is as many wins as they had in their previous 13 (D1 L10).

After winning three of their first four Premier League games this season, Newcastle have since failed to win their last four, drawing two and losing two. The Magpies last went five matches without winning in the league in March 2023.

Eddie Howe has won two of his Premier League games against Chelsea in charge of Newcastle – only Alan Pardew (four wins) has beaten the Blues more in the competition for the Magpies.

Howe also beat the Blues four times while in charge of Bournemouth and could be the third manager to win 3+ Premier League games against them with two different clubs, after Kenny Dalglish (Blackburn/Liverpool) and David Moyes (Everton/West Ham).

Enzo Maresca explains why ‘slow’ learner Mykhailo Mudryk is starting to prove worth for Chelsea

13:35 , Chris Wilson

Enzo Maresca admitted Mykhailo Mudryk has been a slower learner than his Chelsea teammates but praised the winger’s performance in his side’s 4-1 win over Panathinaikos.

It was an efficient yet thorough display in Athens to maintain the visitors’ perfect start in the Conference League and the Ukrainian’s contribution was key, scoring the second goal with a brave header as well as setting up two goals for Joao Felix.

Maresca previously challenged Mudryk to seize upon his selection in the starting XI and prove the worth of his £88million transfer fee, and those words were heeded as the 23-year-old had his strongest game of the season in the Olympic Stadium.

Enzo Maresca explains why ‘slow’ learner Mykhailo Mudryk is starting to prove worth

Match facts

13:30 , Chris Wilson

Chelsea’s last three Premier League defeats have come against last season’s top-three sides (0-5 vs Arsenal in April, 0-2 vs Man City in August, 1-2 vs Liverpool last weekend). The Blues are unbeaten in 19 games against all other teams (W13 D6), scoring 54 goals across these matches.

Chelsea have named the youngest average starting XI in the Premier League this season – 23 years, 220 days. They are the only team in Premier League history to get eight games into a season without using anyone over the age of 27.

Cole Palmer has 18 goals and five assists in his last 14 Premier League appearances at Stamford Bridge for Chelsea, while Nicolas Jackson has been involved in 13 goals in his last 13 Premier League appearances (nine goals, four assists).

Across the Premier League

13:20 , Chris Wilson

Chelsea’s match is just one of the important matches near the top end of the table today, as Arsenal host Liverpool at the Emirates at 4.30pm GMT.

Much has been made of Arsneal’s potential injury woes, but can Arteta get a solid performance out of a depleted side after a few poor results of late?

There’s also an additional 2pm kick-off today, as Manchester United travel to West Ham hoping to ease some of the pressure on Erik ten Hag. They currently sit 13th in the league on 11 points, one place and one point behind Newcastle.

13:15 , Chris Wilson

Chelsea have lost just one of their 29 Premier League home games against Newcastle, winning 21 and drawing seven. Their last loss against the Magpies was a 2-0 defeat in May 2012 – a game fondly remembered by some for a brilliant brace from Papiss Cisse.

Eddie Howe: “We have to have a perception of achievement and growing as a football club”

13:10 , Chris Wilson

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said that his side “need to score goals”, after suffering a small run of games without finding the net.

“It’s been at the heart of everything we’ve done since we’ve been here, to be an attacking team, and we certainly haven’t lost the intent to attack or score.

“I’d just love to see us be free and take those chances we create.

“We have to have a perception of achievement and growing as a football club to keep not just the so-called big names happy, but everyone happy and going in a forward direction.

“I’ve seen it very quickly go the other way. Myself and everyone connected at the club has a big job to try to keep that momentum positive.”

Howe also praised Anthony Gordon as “such a talent” after the winger signed a new deal at the club.

Enzo Maresca admits Chelsea lack ‘proper leader’ as he asks for ‘more personality’ from Reece James

13:05 , Chris Wilson

Enzo Maresca has told Reece James he expects more personality from Chelsea’s captain as the head coach admitted his squad is without a natural leader.

James made his first appearance of the season in the 2-1 defeat to Liverpool last weekend following a lengthy injury lay-off and did not travel with the side that beat Panathinaikos in Athens on Thursday.

The last two campaigns have been blighted by knee and hamstring problems for the 24-year-old but he was nevertheless appointed club skipper by previous boss Mauricio Pochettino last August.

“I spoke with him and I expect from him more in terms of leadership inside the changing room,” said Maresca.

“He’s on the way, he’s doing well, he’s progressing but I expect more.”

Enzo Maresca admits Chelsea lack ‘proper leader’ as he makes Reece James request

Team news

12:58 , Chris Wilson

Newcastle have made two changes to the side that lost at home to Brighton last week, and both changes come on the wings.

On the left, Miguel Almiron replaces Jacob Murphy, while Anthony Gordon – who is not in today’s squad – drops out in place of Harvey Barnes.

Team news

12:52 , Chris Wilson

Enzo Maresca has made tow changes to the side that slipped to a narrow defeat against Liverpool last week.

In defence, Wesley Fofana replaces Tosin Adarabioyo, while in midfield, Pedro Neto comes onto the left wing in place of Jadon Sancho.

Line-ups

12:47 , Chris Wilson

Chelsea XI: Sanchez; James, Fofana, Colwill, Gusto; Lavia, Caicedo; Madueke, Palmer, Neto; Jackson.

Subs: Jorgensen, Tosin, Veiga, Cucurella, Enzo, Mudryk, Sancho, Felix, Nkunku.

Newcastle XI: Pope; Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall; Tonali, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Almiron, Isak, Barnes.

Subs: Odysseas, Ruddy, Krafth, Osula, Murphy, Kelly, Willock, Longstaff, Miley.

Chelsea are making progress at last — but a crucial task still faces Enzo Maresca

12:40 , Chris Wilson

The previous time Chelsea lost to Liverpool they were labelled the “blue billion-pound bottle jobs”. Eight months on, there was a more flattering appraisal, and from the victor. “If I would be a Chelsea manager, I would say if we can play like this at Anfield, we can compete for a top-four position,” said Arne Slot. This wasn’t a repeat of the Carabao Cup final, the extra-time failure against Jurgen Klopp’s kids, or their last trip to Anfield, the 4-1 walloping in January.

There was more respectability in a reverse. “We don’t like to lose, but if we have to, we choose this way,” said Enzo Maresca, who pronounced himself “proud but also upset”. The Italian may have been exaggerating when he said: “We controlled most of the game”. Slot’s verdict on his 2-1 win may have been fairer. “In an ideal world, we would have outplayed them completely but it was an equal game,” he said.

Chelsea are making progress at last — but a crucial task still faces Enzo Maresca

Predicted line-ups

12:30 , Chris Wilson

Here are The Independent’s predicted line-ups – we’ll have concrete team news at around 12.45pm.

Chelsea XI: Sanchez; James, Fofana, Colwill, Gusto; Fernandez, Caicedo; Madueke, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson

Newcastle XI: Pope; Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall; Joelinton, Guimaraes, Tonali; Barnes, Isak, Gordon.

Team news

12:25 , Chris Wilson

Marc Cucurella and Wesley Fofana are both back available for Chelsea after serving suspensions, while Reece James returned from injury last weekend.

Newcastle, meanwhile, remain without Callum Wilson after a set-back in the striker’s recovery, with Sven Botman, Kieran Trippier and Jamaal Lascelles also sidelined.

When is Chelsea vs Newcastle?

12:20 , Chris Wilson

Chelsea vs Newcastle is due to kick off at 2pm GMT on Sunday 27 October at Stamford Bridge.

Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, with coverage from 1pm GMT. Subscribers can stream via Sky Go.

Is Chelsea v Newcastle on TV today? Kick-off time, channel and how to watch

Chelsea vs Newcastle LIVE

12:10 , Chris Wilson

Chelsea will hope to bounce back from defeat against Liverpool as Enzo Maresca’s side welcome Newcastle United to Stamford Bridge.

Having found form under their new manager, the loss at Anfield was the second successive Premier League game in which they had dropped points.

They now take on a Newcastle side that would climb above their hosts with three points, though are without a win in four fixtures.

Eddie Howe’s visitors have drawn a blank in their last two outings and will hope to remedy their attacking ailments here.

Chelsea vs Newcastle LIVE

12:00 , Chris Wilson

Good afternoon and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of today’s early kick-off between Chelsea and Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues are looking to return to winning ways after a loss against Liverpool last week, and the Magpies are doing the same after a surprise loss at home to Brighton.

We’ll have all the latest build-up, team news and updates right here.


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Liverpool vs Chelsea LIVE: Premier League result and reaction as Curtis Jones sends Reds back to the top

Liverpool vs Chelsea LIVE: Premier League result and reaction as Curtis Jones sends Reds back to the top

Liverpool beat Chelsea 2-1 at Anfield on Sunday afternoon as Arne Slot’s side returned to the top of the Premier League table.

An end-to-end first half failed to create any real chances of note before Curtis Jones produced a brilliant block on Cole Palmer, and then raced into the Chelsea box to win a penalty.

Salah converted from the spot and Liverpool were in the ascendancy from there, with Cody Gakpo having a goal ruled out before half-time.

The second half started in a similarly frantic fashion, though Chelsea landed the first blow, equakising quickly after Nicolas Jackson latched onto a brilliant through ball from Moises Caicedo.

But parity was short-lived, as Curtis Jones got to the end of a Salah cross to poke past Sanchez for 2-1 in the 51st minute.

The rest of the half was far less eventful, with neither side managing to fashion a chance of note before seven minutes were added on.

The home side looked to close out the game as the Blues tried to mount some final attacks, and the Reds’ defence stood firm to confirm the three points.

Follow all the Premier League action with our live blog below:

Liverpool vs Chelsea LIVE

  • Liverpool host Chelsea in the Premier League

  • 51’ GOAL! Jones pokes in to give Liverpool the lead again (LIV 2-1 CHE)

  • 48’ GOAL! Jackson equalises after a great ball from Caicedo (LIV 1-1 CHE)

  • 33′ DISALLOWED GOAL! Gakpo taps in but Salah had strayed offside (LIV 1-0 CHE)

  • 28’ GOAL! Salah converts from the penalty spot (LIV 1-0 CHE)

  • 27’ PENALTY! Colwill brings down Jones (LIV 0-0 CHE)

  • Liverpool XI: Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Jones; Salah, Jota, Gakpo

  • Chelsea XI: Sanchez; James, Tosin, Colwill, Gusto; Lavia, Caicedo; Madueke, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson

Liverpool FC 2 – 1 Chelsea FC

Curtis Jones embodies former Liverpool great as questions raised over Chelsea’s title chances

Sunday 20 October 2024 19:33 , Chris Wilson

When Arne Slot had suggested Chelsea were potential champions, it posed the question of whether they could keep up with Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool. It soon transpired they could not keep up with the Joneses.

Or not Curtis Jones, anyway. Winners are not always scored by the best player on the pitch but, in a match that could shape two clubs’ seasons, this one was. Jones’ display of extraordinary dynamism restored Liverpool to the top of the table. It meant that Chelsea, already beaten by Manchester City, have failed their two biggest tests of the season so far. Liverpool, now seven points clear of them, have passed their toughest.

They did so courtesy of a couple of very different indictments of Chelsea’s transfer business. Many a charge can be levelled at Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital but it was a previous Chelsea regime who let Mohamed Salah leave. With a goal and an assist, he gave them added reasons to regret a past mistake. If Jones is precisely the kind of player the modern-day Chelsea would sell, Liverpool do not need to dispense with homegrown talents for pure profit. Jones joined them at nine. At 23, he had one of his finest afternoons in a red shirt.

Jones embodies former Liverpool great as questions raised over Chelsea’s title chance

Chelsea are making progress at last — but a crucial task still faces Enzo Maresca

09:03 , Richard Jolly

The previous time Chelsea lost to Liverpool they were labelled the “blue billion-pound bottle jobs”. Eight months on, there was a more flattering appraisal, and from the victor. “If I would be a Chelsea manager, I would say if we can play like this at Anfield, we can compete for a top-four position,” said Arne Slot. This wasn’t a repeat of the Carabao Cup final, the extra-time failure against Jurgen Klopp’s kids, or their last trip to Anfield, the 4-1 walloping in January.

There was more respectability in a reverse. “We don’t like to lose, but if we have to, we choose this way,” said Enzo Maresca, who pronounced himself “proud but also upset”. The Italian may have been exaggerating when he said: “We controlled most of the game”. Slot’s verdict on his 2-1 win may have been fairer. “In an ideal world, we would have outplayed them completely but it was an equal game,” he said.

Chelsea are making progress at last — but a crucial task still faces Enzo Maresca

Curtis Jones praised for shutting down Cole Palmer in Liverpool’s win over Chelsea

09:02 , Chris Wilson

Arne Slot was delighted with the contribution from new dad Curtis Jones at both ends of the pitch after he scored the winner in a 2-1 victory over Chelsea that sent Liverpool back to the top of the Premier League.

Jones tucked in Liverpool’s second goal six minutes into the second half, moments after Nicolas Jackson’s equaliser, having already made a crucial block to deny Cole Palmer and then won the penalty from which Mohamed Salah opened the scoring.

Jones thought he had won a second penalty before half-time when he collided with Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez. Referee John Brooks pointed to the spot but the decision was overturned after a VAR intervention.

Even though that was not to be, it was an outstanding all-round display from the 23-year-old.

Curtis Jones praised for shutting down Cole Palmer in Liverpool’s win over Chelsea

Next up

Sunday 20 October 2024 20:15 , Chris Wilson

Liverpool’s next match takes place in the Champions League, as they travel to Germany to face RB Leipzig on Wednesday. They then travel to London for a huge game at the top of the table, as they face Arsenal at 4.30pm on Sunday, 27 October.

Chelsea travel to Greece to face Panathinaikos in midweek, before they host Newcastle on Sunday at 2pm.

Post-match reaction

Sunday 20 October 2024 20:00 , Chris Wilson

Despite criticising Sanchez, Carragher is full of praise for Chelsea overall.

“I thought Chelsea were excellent,” he says.

“When managers come up against each other they try to do something different to throw the oppositions setup.

“They caused Liverpool problems. In terms of control of the game Chelsea were better, but what let them down was the goalkeeper.

“The thing Chelsea didn’t do enough of in the second half was create chances.

“Liverpool were hanging on at times and they were hanging on to get to the final whistle,” he adds.

Post-match reaction

Sunday 20 October 2024 19:50 , Chris Wilson

From Chelsea’s point of view, the pundits are unsure on the role of Sanchez when they conceded the second goal.

“It’s so poor from Chelsea’s point [of view]. Reece James ambles in there,” says Carragher.

“The goalkeeper is so poor. It was a poor touch from Curtis Jones really, and it’s poor from the goalkeeper, Robert Sanchez.

“Sanchez has got to go and win that ball.

“Jones should be terrified that a goalkeeper is coming towards him. You have got to get there and hope it hits you in the face and you keep it out.

“Chelsea need a new goalkeeper if they want to get back to where they want to be,” he adds.

Pundits react on Sky

Sunday 20 October 2024 19:44 , Chris Wilson

There’s plenty more coming from Carragher, Richards and Sturridge on TV.

The first notable comments surround Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson, who Sturridge is keen to defend.

“Nicolas Jackson is pivotal to the system,” he says.

“He’s good at going into the false nine position. It was a fantastic finish, calm in front of goal.

“I am analysing him on open play. I’m not analysing him on statistics, I don’t think he’s devastating in front of goal, but I think he has what it takes to get there.

“When you’re playing in the spotlight at any top club you are judged because of likes of Drogba, Anelka and Crespo – you’re judging him compared to those world-class strikers.

“I think we have been a bit too critical,” he adds.

Sunday 20 October 2024 19:37 , Chris Wilson

Reece James also briefly spoke to Sky after the match.

“Coming here is always tough,” he said.

“I think we controlled most of the game. They had chances but we had a few chances as well but didn’t take them.

“We are definitely moving in the right direction. The scoreline doesn’t reflect the game,” he added.

“If we step back and look at performances and what we are trying to do, we have come a long way. It is still early days, we haven’t been with the manager long.”

FT: Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 19:21 , Chris Wilson

Enzo Maresca is next to speak to Sky. He says Chelsea “don’t like to lose or drop points, but I really liked the performance”.

“We deserved something more but the performance was good.

“We controlled most of the game. We had chances, we had possession. We don’t like to lose, but if we have to choose this is the way. The team was brave on and off the ball.

“I don’t think this game defines where we are. We prepared in the best way, it worked quite well. You have to take chances, but overall I am very happy with the players.”

On refereeing decisions, he adds: “I didn’t see anything in terms of decisions from the referee. The only thing I can see is in this stadium is is something the noise of the crowd.

“The only thing I can say is the referee is there to make decisions. Sometimes they are right, sometimes they are wrong. Sometimes it is because of the noise [of the crowd], but overall I think they did OK.”

FT: Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 19:07 , Chris Wilson

Arne Slot is understandably delighted as he speaks to Sky.

“The most important thing, if you want to have a chance of winning a game like this, is that you work so hard, which we did,” he says.

“In the meantime, we created a few very good chances, and were a bit unlucky with some decisions,” he adds.

“I think it could’ve been a crucial decision to overturn the referee’s decision [on the penalty]. If you look at it on a screen, you still feel it is a penalty.”

He adds that he thinks the early last-man challenge from Tosin on Jota was also a red card.

“The fans helped us a lot, it probably comes from these decisions.

“In the end, a good win against a very strong Chelsea,” he says, before adding that Curtis Jones put in a “very good individual performance”.

“Curtis had a difficult job, he had to control Cole Palmer, which is not easy. He was very important for us on both parts of the pitch.

“Everybody who saw the game knows it wasn’t easy. For us it’s very good that we made a bit of a gap now.”

FULL-TIME! Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 19:02 , Chris Wilson

On Sky, Jamie Carragher has hailed Jones’ performance, calling it a “throwback”.

“Curtis Jones was brilliant, he was outstanding,” said Carragher.

“He’s still at that stage where he doesn’t know for certain if he is first choice, when you have got Gravenberch and Mac Allister.

“But what a performance that was, when you think of the quality on the pitch and the money that has been spent. For a local lad to be player of the match.

“I wonder if Arne Slot is going to go back in for Zubimendi in January, but when you see how he played today you think ‘no’.

“He has to now do it on a consistent basis.”

FULL-TIME! Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 18:56 , Chris Wilson

Matchwinner Curtis Jones is first to speak to Sky.

“We came away with a win, it’s the most important thing obviously,” he says.

“I had it in my mind, if I can keep Cole [Palmer] quiet then that’s a large part of the game.

On the penalties, he says: “I never dive, I felt the contact, so I went down”.

“If you want to play in this team, you’ve got to run, you’ve got to have energy, you’ve got to help out.

On his goal, he adds: “There’s been times when I’ve arrived in the box and it’s been a first-time one. I thought it was going to come and it did, and I was fortunate enough. I got the goal.”He finishes by calling his newborn daughter “a little dream”.

Premier League table

Sunday 20 October 2024 18:52 , Chris Wilson

That result means Liverpool return to the top of the league table. The Reds sit on 21 points, one above Manchester City and four above Arsenal.

Chelsea miss the chance to enter the top three, and they stay sixth, on 14 points.

FULL-TIME! Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 18:47 , Chris Wilson

So, an entertaining match comes to an end at Anfield and Liverpool return to the top of the Premier League table.

The Reds probably deserved the win in the end, though Chelsea produced a good performance to take them all the way. However, in attack, Chelsea couldn’t create enough and paid the price for a couple of defensive lapses.

Arne Slot’s side have answered yet another question thrown at them, and if they carry on like this, they may work themselves into the title conversation.

Sunday 20 October 2024 18:40 , Chris Wilson

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FULL-TIME! Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 18:35 , Chris Wilson

FULL-TIME!

The referee brings the match to an end and Liverpool return to the top of the table!

Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 18:34 , Chris Wilson

96 mins

Whisltes around Anfield as Chelsea come forward, but the attack breaks down after a foul from Nunez. That one was harsh.

Chelsea mount what must be a final attack…the ball is squared to Gusto but his shot is blocked!

Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 18:33 , Chris Wilson

95 mins

Liverpool have a rare attack and Salah threads it to the overlapping Diaz, but he’s flagged for offside.

From the Chelsea counter, Gomez slides in brilliantly to cut the pass out, and Liverpool come forward again. The attack is led by Diaz, who weaves into the box before cutting outside and curling an effort past the far post.

Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 18:31 , Chris Wilson

94 mins

Chelsea are in possession but it’s a little too pedestrian to threaten the home side. They do fashion a half-chance though, as Neto clips a ball towards the back post. Nkunku is running in but he has to stretch too much as he gets a foot to it, and he can only direct it behind.

Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 18:29 , Chris Wilson

92 mins

Palmer skips past a challenge but is brought down by Mac Allister, and it’ll be a set-piece in dangerous territory for Chelsea.

Palmer delivers the cross but Veiga heads over from about six yards!

Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 18:27 , Chris Wilson

90 mins

Liverpool do mount a rare attack and it ends with Caicedo committing a foul midway into the Chelsea half.

There’ll be an additional seven minutes at Anfield! Liverpool throw forward the men for the free-kick when the board goes up, but the set-piece comes to nothing.

Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 18:26 , Chris Wilson

89 mins

Liverpool are certainly looking to close out the game at the moment, as opposed to pouring numbers forward looking for a third. Chelsea aren’t threatening a lot, to be honest, but you’d think they’ll have at least one more chance.

Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 18:25 , Richard Jolly at Anfield

It does feel as though the next 5 minutes or so could go a long way towards shaping both clubs’ seasons – win and it is easier to call Liverpool title challengers, lose and it is more likely the best-case scenario for Chelsea is fourth place. An open affair means a comeback is feasible, but so is a bigger win. Either way, there feels one more goal left in this game.

Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 18:24 , Chris Wilson

87 mins

Liverpool try pressing high but Chelsea make their way out of it thanks to some good passing and a shimmy from Caicedo. The home side win a free-kick in the end though after a tired challenge.

Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 18:23 , Chris Wilson

85 mins

Gusto is down briefly after a heavy challenge from Mac Allister. He’s okay to carry on though.

Chelsea attack and it ends with Gomez putting it behind for a corner. Gusto clips the ball in towards the back post, and it’s headed away for a throw, before Neto is dispossessed as he tried to knock it past Gomez.

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Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 18:19 , Chris Wilson

83 mins

Will there be another big chance in this match? Common sense would say yes, but it really doesn’t feel like it at the moment. Both sides are playing in quite a pedestrian manner, and a lot of the earlier energy has left the game for now.

Sunday 20 October 2024 18:17 , Chris Wilson

80 mins

Sanchez tries to launch a Chelsea counter but Nkunku is scythed down by his compatriot Konate. He is booked for his troubles.

Alexis Mac Allister comes on Jones for in midfield, while Alexander-Arnold comes off for Joe Gomez.

Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 18:16 , Chris Wilson

79 mins

Diaz is brought down by Veiga near halfway and the Portuguese is booked.

Liverpool try and launch an attack but there’s no space between the lines, so they work it back to Konate, before Diaz eventually fizzes a low shot too close to Sanchez.

Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 18:14 , Chris Wilson

77 mins

Alexander-Arnold delivers the cross from the set-piece but it’s headed away too easily. Liverpool collect the ball again, with Salah sending it forward to the overlapping Szoboszlai, but his cutback it cut out by Fernandez.

Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 18:12 , Chris Wilson

75 mins

Badiashile bundles into Nunez and he concedes a naive free-kick near the byline.

Chelsea make another change as Noni Madueke makes way for Christopher Nkunku.

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Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 18:10 , Chris Wilson

73 mins

Both sides are struggling to keep the ball for sustained periods, and there have been few attacks of note since it went to 2-1. Chelsea will certainly feel like they’re still in it though.

Szoboszlai’s pass is cut out by Fernandez and it runs to Neto, who surges towards the box and unleashes a shot from distance that bobbles past the far post.

Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 18:07 , Chris Wilson

71 mins

Lovely play from Neto to get away from Alexander-Arnold and poke it to Palmer. He has Jackson to his right but he opts to shoot, and it’s blocked.

Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 18:06 , Chris Wilson

69 mins

Nunez gets a booking after a late challenge on Badiashile. Needless.

Veiga clips a ball forward and it’s an awkward one for Alexander-Arnold, as it’s not quite running to Kelleher, but the duo deal with it eventually.

Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 18:05 , Chris Wilson

68 mins

A little bit of commotion as Badiashile looks to have pushed over Nunez, but VAR waves it away.

Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 18:02 , Chris Wilson

65 mins

Luis Diaz comes on for Gakpo for the home side. His first involvement sees him try to latch on to Salah’s chipped through ball, but there’s too much on it.

Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 18:01 , Chris Wilson

65 mins

Palmer’s free-kick hits the wall and bounces out for a corner.

Fernandez takes, with Gusto eventually putting the ball into the box, but Chelsea are penalised as Nunez is sent tumbling over.

Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 18:00 , Chris Wilson

63 mins

Neto plays in a looping cross that falls to Madueke, though he can only direct his volley straight at Kelleher.

Chelsea win it back quickly, before Neto wins a free-kick on the edge of the box after drawing the foul from Gravenberch. A few yards in front of where Palmer scored against Brighton.

Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 17:57 , Chris Wilson

60 mins

Lovely play from Salah and Gravenberch as they exchange passes before the former fizzes a great diagonal pass to Gakpo. The Dutchman drives at the Chelsea defence before cutting inside and firing over.

Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 17:55 , Chris Wilson

58 mins

Chelsea are enjoying more of the ball at the moment, though Robertson nips in to win possession. Not a lot happening at the moment.

Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 17:53 , Richard Jolly at Anfield

It is a game that increasingly appears to revolve around Curtis Jones who, at various points, may have denied Chelsea a goal with a block, earned Liverpool a penalty, seemed to have got them a second and has now scored. He has been terrific. And, of course, he cost Liverpool nothing whereas Chelsea now have the £222m double act together, in Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez.

Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 17:53 , Chris Wilson

56 mins

The game has settled a little after those two early goals. Chelsea launch an attack as Veiga feeds Neto, but his cross is collected by Kelleher.

Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 17:51 , Chris Wilson

53 mins

Chelsea respond to the setback by making a triple change. Lavia, James and Tosin come off for Enzo Fernandez, Renato Veiga and Benoit Badiashile.

GOAL! Liverpool 2-1 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 17:49 , Chris Wilson

52 mins

GOAL! The home side are ahead again almost straight away, and it comes from their best player on the day.

Salah collects on the right and he cuts inside before swinging in a lovely cross. Jones has made the deep run and he takes a brilliant touch to get it out of his feet before poking it past the onrushing Sanchez.

A great finish.

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GOAL! Liverpool 1-1 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 17:46 , Chris Wilson

49 mins

The goal is given! Far too easy from a Liverpool point of view, but well worked from Chelsea and a great through ball from Caicedo.

Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 17:45 , Chris Wilson

47 mins

DISALLOWED GOAL! This will be close!

Jackson latches onto a through ball and he’s clean through in-behind. He drives towards the box and slots it past Kelleher with ease.

The flag goes up but it looks like Jackson was quite clearly onside.

KICK-OFF! Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 17:42 , Chris Wilson

Liverpool get the second half started.

Chelsea made a change at the break – Sancho comes off for Pedro Neto.

HALF-TIME! Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 17:41 , Chris Wilson

The two teams are re-emerging from the Anfield tunnel, so we’re moments away from the second half starting.

HALF-TIME! Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 17:37 , Chris Wilson

It was just one minute and 54 seconds between Jones’ brilliant block on Palmer and then him winning the penalty. Small margins.

Liverpool dominated somewhat after their goal, and were unlucky to have a second ruled out after Salah strayed offside.

Chelsea have shown flashes of what they can do, especially with Madueke on the right wing, but they need to get Palmer into the game more.

HALF-TIME! Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 17:32 , Chris Wilson

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HALF-TIME! Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 17:26 , Chris Wilson

53 mins

HALF-TIME!

Szoboszlai is booked after pulling back Palmer and then kicking the ball away.

The free-kick is the last event of the half as James’ delivery is then headed away by the Hungarian. The referee then brings the first half to an end at Anfield.

An entertaining 45 minutes for the neutral, and Chelsea have performed okay despite trailing, but they’ll know that the game can escape you quickly at Anfield, as it so almost did.

Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 17:24 , Chris Wilson

51 mins

CLOSE! The ball is played forward to Madueke on the right wing and he’s got plenty of space. So does Palmer, and Madueke lays it off to his England teammate, but Palmer fires over.

Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 17:23 , Chris Wilson

49 mins

We’ve had the allotted added time, but there’ll be another couple of minutes.

Chelsea launch a counter, led by Madueke, but Nunez wins the ball back. Liverpool try to go on their own counter, but Caicedo does well to dispossess Szoboszlai.

PENALTY OVERTURNED! Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 17:21 , Chris Wilson

48 mins

Surely this will be overturned. It was a good challenge from Sanchez in the end!

The Spaniard came out and made the first contact with the ball, with the follow-through bringing down Jones.

It’s overturned, as is the yellow card for Sanchez.

PENALTY! Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 17:20 , Chris Wilson

47 mins

PENALTY TO LIVERPOOL!

Another penalty for the home side, but not as clear as the first. Liverpool attack and Nunez threads a great through ball into the path of Jones. Before he can hit it, Sanchez comes out and drags him down, but Sanchez might have got a touch.

There’s a VAR review…

Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 17:18 , Chris Wilson

45 mins

Play resumes with a Liverpool attack but Nunez is flagged for offside.

Gusto tries to launch an attack but he’s forced to play it backwards, before Robertson gets the better of Madueke as he slides in to give away a corner.

There’ll be five minutes of added time here.

Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 17:16 , Richard Jolly at Anfield

“A spell to show how Liverpool’s players and crowd can drive each other on. Anfield became louder and angrier,  even the usually calm Arne Slot showing dissent, and the team became more urgent. The indirect effect may have come in the goal and, with Cody Gakpo having another disallowed, almost a second. Chelsea were blown away at Anfield last season. Now the test for Enzo Maresca’s new-look side is to show more resilience.”

Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 17:15 , Chris Wilson

43 mins

Maresca uses the break in play to speak to his players. Jackson limps off the pitch for now, but he looks like he could run it off.

Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 17:14 , Chris Wilson

41 mins

Salah plays a lovely through ball with the outside of his foot into the path of Gakpo, but the Chelsea defence does well to track back and clear.

Jackson has just gone down in the middle of the pitch with nobody around him. He’s holding his right knee as he receives treatment.

Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 17:12 , Chris Wilson

39 mins

Sancho shows too much of the ball to Alexander-Arnold but he wins a corner. James’ ball in is cleared, and Chelsea have to work the attack again from a throw.

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Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 17:10 , Chris Wilson

37 mins

A promising Liverpool counter-attack ends with Szoboszlai latching onto a through ball in the box, but he can only direct his shot straight at Sacnhez.

Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 17:08 , Chris Wilson

35 mins

Not a lot has happened since that disallowed effort, with Chelsea not yet having an opportunity to get back into the game.

Liverpool are enjoying plenty of possession, but the majority is in their own half.

DISALLOWED GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 17:06 , Chris Wilson

33 mins

Liverpool think they have another but it’s offside.

Sanchez played it straight to Jones, who slipped a pass through to Salah, with the Egyptian playing the ball across for Gakpo to tap in. However, Salah had strayed offside in the build-up.

Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 17:04 , Chris Wilson

32 mins

A ball forward almost falls to Nunez, but Sanchez did well to sweep it away for a throw. Liverpool win a corner right after, but the opportunity comes to nothing after Alexander-Arniold’s cross goes straight to Sanchez.

Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 17:03 , Chris Wilson

30 mins

Liverpool have been forced into making a change here, as Jota comes off for Darwin Nunez.

GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 17:01 , Chris Wilson

28 mins

GOAL! The home side are ahead.

Chelsea try and delay the taking of the penalty and Jackson is booked.

Salah steps up to take it – and he rifles past Sanchez, sending the Spaniard the wrong way.

 (Getty Images) (Getty Images)

(Getty Images)

PENALTY TO LIVERPOOL! Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 17:00 , Chris Wilson

27 mins

PENALTY TO LIVERPOOL! Stonewall.

Liverpool attack and Salah tries to force a shot through, but it bounces into the path of Jones. He’s wrestling with Colwill as he tries to get his feet sorted, and the Chelsea man brings him down for a clear penalty.

Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 16:58 , Chris Wilson

25 mins

CLOSE!

Madueke skips past Robertson again and cuts back a dangerous ball that falls to Palmer, but his shot is blocked.

Moments later, Salah leads a counter-attack and is brought down in the box, but the referee waves it away.

Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 16:57 , Chris Wilson

24 mins

Liverpool have some sustained possession around halfway, but there are no runners for the midfielders at the moment.

Salah tries to start an attack by playing it forward to Jota, but the Portuguese loses the ball under the challenge.

Moments later, James is dispossessed near his own box and the home side think they have a chance, but the foul is given for the challenge on the Englishman.

Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 16:54 , Chris Wilson

22 mins

The home side’s attacking play has been a little disjointed, and Maresca will likely be the happier of the two managers so far. Chelsea have had the better of the ball, but they haven’t managed to link their attacking play together yet.

James swings in a cross and Kelleher hesitates to come for it, so Alexander-Arnold nods it behind for a corner.

Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 16:53 , Chris Wilson

20 mins

CLOSE!

Liverpool play the long ball forward and James cushions it back to Sanchez. He takes too long on the ball and fires his clearance straight at Gakpo, but luckily for the Spaniard it bounces off Gakpo and straight into his gloves.

Moments later, there’s a brief VAR check for a penalty as Sancho goes down under the challenge from Alexander-Arnold, but nothing is given.

Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 16:50 , Chris Wilson

18 mins

Sancho wins a throw deep into the Liverpool half after Alexander-Arnold pokes the ball away. Chelsea try and launch a quick long throw into Jackson in the box, but Kelleher comes out to collect.

The away side come forward again, but it’s all a bit too pedestrian as the Liverpool defence falls back into shape.

Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 16:48 , Chris Wilson

15 mins

Caicedo feeds a ball in to Jackson, but he’s a little too isolated at the moment against Konate and van Dijk.

Chelsea come forward again and Sancho releases Gusto on the overlap, but his cross is blocked by Konate and it goes for a goal kick.

Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 16:46 , Chris Wilson

13 mins

No chances yet for either side. Chelsea are happy to work the ball across the pitch, before Madueke beats Robertson down the right. His cross is too powerful though.

 (Getty Images) (Getty Images)

(Getty Images)

Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 16:45 , Chris Wilson

12 mins

Sanchez plays a brilliant ball 80-odd yards up the pitch right into the path of Sancho. The winger lays it off to Gusto, but he blasts a shot well wide.

Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 16:43 , Chris Wilson

10 mins

Liverpool are pressing high and it’s won them the ball a couple of times, the latest being after Sanchez is forced to kick long and Madueke can’t control it.

In contrast, Chelsea aren’t pressing anywhere near as high. The home side enjoy a bit of possession in their own half and near their box, but there’s not a lot happening right now.

Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 16:40 , Chris Wilson

7 mins

Home fans are screaming for a red card as the long ball is played over the top and Jota tries to run free, only to be dragged down by Tosin.

It’s a similar situation to Saliba’s red card yesterday, but the referee only gives Tosin a yellow. Colwill was close by to latch on, so that’s probably saved him.

Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 16:38 , Chris Wilson

6 mins

James and Lavia combine well on the edge of the Chelsea box, the former winning the ball in the tackle before the Belgian skips past another challenge.

The away side attack but Sancho is stopped easily by Gravenberch.

Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 16:37 , Chris Wilson

5 mins

Jones does well to skip past both Caicedo and Palmer in midfield, and Liverpool have an attacking opportunity that ends with Salah firing at Colwill’s hand. Shouts for a free-kick, but nothing given.

Caicedo is down after landing off-balance after that challenge on Jones, but he’s trying to run it off for now.

Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 16:35 , Chris Wilson

3 mins

Great play from Lavia to sell the dummy and skip away from the challenge to get Chelsea out of a tight position. The away side attack but James’ early cross is headed clear by Konate.

Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 16:34 , Chris Wilson

2 mins

A few exchanges of possession as both sides look to settle early on.

Tosin gives away possession near his own box but Liverpool recycle possession back to van Dijk.

KICK-OFF! Liverpool 0-0 Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 16:32 , Chris Wilson

KICK-OFF!

The away get us underway on Merseyside.

Liverpool vs Chelsea LIVE

Sunday 20 October 2024 16:28 , Chris Wilson

Richard Jolly at Anfield:

“Arne Slot may have learnt the lesson of Liverpool’s defeat to Nottingham Forest by benching their three South Americans today for the first game after an international break – though Alexis Mac Allister, who felt ill on the plane back from representing Argentina, was not ready to start anyway. For Chelsea, Reece James’ first start of the season means there will be a focus on the injury-hit captain in a suspension-hit defence.”

Liverpool vs Chelsea LIVE

Sunday 20 October 2024 16:25 , Chris Wilson

The teams are in the tunnel at Anfield, so we’re only moments from kick-off.

 (Getty Images) (Getty Images)

(Getty Images)

Match facts

Sunday 20 October 2024 16:23 , Chris Wilson

Chelsea have won just one of their last nine Premier League away games against Liverpool (drawing five and losing three.

Along with Liverpool, Chelsea are one of two sides with a 100% away win rate in the Premier League this season.

Only Manchester City (17) have scored more goals than Chelsea (16) in the division this term, and only Tottenham boast a higher xG (15.0) than the Blues (14.7).

Enzo Maresca is looking to become only the fifth manager to win each of his first four away Premier League games, with one of the previous four to do so being his counterpart in this match, Liverpool’s Arne Slot.

Chelsea pair Cole Palmer (11) and Noni Madueke (4) have created 15 chances for each other in the Premier League this season, the most of any duo.

Match facts

Sunday 20 October 2024 16:18 , Chris Wilson

Liverpool are unbeaten in their last six Premier League meetings with Chelsea, though five of these have ended level. Having lost three consecutive league games against Chelsea between 2013 and 2014, the Reds have now lost just two of their last 19, winging seven and drawing 10.

Liverpool have conceded the fewest goals (two), kept the most clean sheets (five), and have the lowest expected goals against figure (5.2) of any side in the Premier League this season.

Mohamed Salah has four goals in 13 Premier League games against his former side, averaging a goal every 257 minutes against the Blues. He only has a worse minutes-per-goal rate against Burnley.

Is Liverpool v Chelsea on TV?

Sunday 20 October 2024 16:15 , Chris Wilson

A reminder of how you can watch the late-afternoon match today – we’re around 15 minutes from kick-off.

Liverpool vs Chelsea is due to kick off at 4:30pm BST on Sunday 20 October at Anfield.

Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, with coverage on these channels beginning at 4pm. Subscribers can stream the action on Sky Go or Now TV.

What the managers have said

Sunday 20 October 2024 16:10 , Chris Wilson

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said that today’s match “is a special game for all of the clubs”.

“Liverpool is a nice environment, fantastic. We are excited to play this kind of game. All the games we have played until now have not been easy. We are going to do our best.

“I don’t think Sunday’s game defines where we are. In this moment, we have to be focused on things we need to improve.

“We have Liverpool and then two or three more games. Nottingham wasn’t an easy game, or Brighton, West Ham away or Bournemouth away.

“[The] Premier League is the best league in the world and the toughest league in the world,” he added.

When asked on how he feels about his club’s start to the season, the Italian said: “[I’m] very happy because what I expected in terms of players, level and style, I can see clearly that is there.

“It doesn’t matter in this moment who is going to play, you can see clearly how we want to play.”

What the managers have said

Sunday 20 October 2024 16:05 , Chris Wilson

Speaking in a press conference ahead of today’s game, Arne Slot said that he is “looking forward to a very interesting game”.

“Chelsea does really well. If you look at the league table then they are the ones that might be our toughest opponent.

“But it’s not always about the league table. Sometimes it’s about the form of the day, it’s about their game plan.

“We had some difficulty with Wolves as well, who are bottom of the league, I think. But it is a challenge, that’s for sure,” he added.

When speaking about Liverpool’s tough run of upcoming fixtures, he said: “I think we have to judge us as a team after this spell of games – not three of them but six, seven or eight of them.

“Then we know better how we act and how we perform if we play tough Champions League games and tough league games.

“That is normal in everybody’s season and we know how difficult it is.”

Conor Bradley has fond memories of Liverpool’s ‘special’ games with Chelsea

Sunday 20 October 2024 16:00 , Chris Wilson

Liverpool’s clash with Chelsea on Sunday will bring back special memories for Conor Bradley.

Fresh from captaining Northern Ireland in Tuesday’s 5-0 rout of Bulgaria in Belfast, the 21-year-old has returned to the club’s Kirkby training ground with a spring in his step before their next Premier League match.

Taking the armband for his country was just the latest step in Bradley’s outstanding 2024, and two meetings with Chelsea feature prominently in that story.

The first came on January 31 in a 4-1 win over the Londoners at Anfield, as Bradley got his first Liverpool goal and added two assists in a man-of-the-match display.

Conor Bradley has fond memories of Liverpool’s ‘special’ games with Chelsea

Arne Slot confident uncertainty over future of key Liverpool trio will not prove a distraction

Sunday 20 October 2024 15:55 , Chris Wilson

Arne Slot insisted he will be involved in contract talks with Virgil van DijkTrent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah by saying it would be “weird” if he was not consulted and shrugging off suggestions the right-back would be distracted as Real Madrid’s interest in him has become more public.

Liverpool’s captain, vice-captain and top scorer are all out of contract at the end of the season but Slot is adamant it is not an issue for him and he would only be worried if he reached the last day of the campaign with their futures still up in the air.

The Dutchman is Liverpool’s first head coach – predecessor Jurgen Klopp’s job title was manager and he had more control, albeit without getting his way when he wanted to keep Roberto Firmino and James Milner in 2023 – meaning sporting director Richard Hughes will assume overall responsibility for talks with the three key players. Slot confirmed, though, that he will play a part in discussions.

Arne Slot confident uncertainty over future of key trio will not prove a distraction

Chelsea cannot rely on Cole Palmer to solve all problems – Enzo Maresca

Sunday 20 October 2024 15:50 , Chris Wilson

Enzo Maresca warned his Chelsea players they cannot rely on Cole Palmer to “solve all our problems” as they prepare for a gruelling run of Premier League fixtures, beginning with Sunday’s meeting with Liverpool.

Following the game at Anfield, in which the head coach will be without suspended pair Marc Cucurella and Wesley Fofana in defence, the Blues play Newcastle at home before travelling to Old Trafford to face Manchester United.

Arsenal then visit Stamford Bridge to round off a three-week spell in which the potential in evidence during Maresca’s first seven games will receive a thorough inspection, with the team’s top-four credentials put to the test.

Chelsea cannot rely on Cole Palmer to solve all problems – Enzo Maresca

Liverpool vs Chelsea head-to-head

Sunday 20 October 2024 15:45 , Chris Wilson

These two sides have met a total of 190 times, with meetings dating back to Christmas Day in 1907.

As ist stands, Liverpool have won 90, with Chelsea winning 61. 49 have ended as draws.

As alluded to earlier, the two teams have had a range of high-profile meetings, from Champions League semi-finals to last season’s Carabao cup final, which Liverpool won 1-0.

In the league last season, the two sides drew 1-1 at Stamford Bridge in their league opener, while Liverpool won the return fixture 4-1 in January.

What Liverpool’s brutal seven-game run will reveal about their season under Arne Slot

Sunday 20 October 2024 15:40 , Chris Wilson

The best beginning to a reign made by any Liverpool manager is only a start. Arne Slot has found ways of deflecting the compliments his immediate impact at Anfield has generated. He has referenced the reality that some of his predecessors’ medal collections are sufficiently impressive that they do not need to be judged by their first 10 games or an early-season status as league leaders. He has cited the relatively kind fixture list: Liverpool have played the teams currently occupying 17th, 11th, 14th, 10th, 13th, 20th and 18th places. Their Carabao Cup win was against the club in 12th. Their Champions League victories were against the sides sitting sixth and 13th respectively in Serie A.

And now it gets harder. Liverpool’s next month amounts to a barometer of their prospects, a test of whether they are title challengers, potential Champions League winners, able to retain the Carabao Cup that proved Jurgen Klopp’s last trophy. It is Chelsea, RB Leipzig, Arsenal, Brighton, Brighton again, Bayer Leverkusen and Aston Villa, a seven-game stretch that could derail Liverpool’s ambitions or serve as a springboard to a challenge on multiple fronts.

For Slot, it amounts to a voyage of discovery. Have his first 10 games given him a clear idea of what Liverpool can achieve or is he still trying to find out himself?

What Liverpool’s brutal seven-game run will reveal about their season

Liverpool v Chelsea – the tale of a recent English ‘rivalry’

Sunday 20 October 2024 15:35 , Chris Wilson

Around 220 miles separate Anfield and Stamford Bridge, but despite the distance between theses two clubs, they have played out one of English football’s most intriguing rivalries since the early 2000s.

By the time Roman Abramovich took over the Blues in 2003, the historic gap between the two clubs had closed, with Liverpool remaining a force despite their inability to challenge for titles. But the Blues soon took them over, with the hiring of Jose Mourinho kickstarting a golden era.

And (despite a 3-2 Chelsea win in that year’s League Cup final) the rivalry between the two clubs can perhaps be traced to a match that was key in one of Liverpool’s most famous successes – their 2005 Champions League win.

Luis Garcia’s ghost goal at Anfield in the second leg of the semi-final won the tie for the Reds, and marked the first in a run of high-octane, high quality matches between the two sides, including another Liverpool win (this one on penalties) in the Champions League semi-finals in 2006/07, a 4-3 aggregate win for Chelsea in the 2007/08 semi-finals and a 7-5 aggregate win (including a 4-4 at Stamford Bridge) for Chelsea in the 2008/09 quarter-finals.

Since 2003, the two clubs have also met in two FA Cup finals and three League Cup finals.

 (Getty Images) (Getty Images)

(Getty Images)

Will Liverpool beat the Blues?

Sunday 20 October 2024 15:30 , Mike Jones

Liverpool are seeking a third successive win over Chelsea in all competitions for the first time since November 2011, when they recorded a sequence of four.

Victory this weekend would also see Liverpool record a 50th Anfield success over Chelsea in league football, while their next goal will be their 250th in all league encounters against the Londoners.

Liverpool vs Chelsea team changes

Sunday 20 October 2024 15:25 , Mike Jones

Arne Slot makes three changes to the Liverpool team that defeated Crystal Palace 1-0 in their final match before the international break.

Alisson is injured so Caoimhin Kelleher will be in goal while Andy Robertson takes up his place at left-back ahead of Kostas Tsimikas. Further up the pitch, Alexis Mac Allister is replaced with Dominik Szoboszlai.

For Chelsea, the big news is that captain and right-back Reece James returns! The defender has recovered from a long-term injury to take his place in the starting line-up.

Elsewhere, Enzo Fernandez, Wesley Fofana and Marc Cucurella drop out with Tosin Adarabioyo and Romeo Lavia brought back in.

Liverpool vs Chelsea line-ups

Sunday 20 October 2024 15:15 , Mike Jones

Liverpool XI: Kelleher; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Szoboszlai, Gravenberch, Jones; Salah, Jota, Gakpo

Chelsea XI: Sanchez; James, Tosin, Colwill, Gusto; Lavia, Caicedo; Madueke, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson

Team news

Sunday 20 October 2024 15:10 , Chris Wilson

A reminder of the early team news – we’re around five minutes away from knowing the line-ups.

Liverpool will be without Alisson, while Harvey Elliott continues to recover from a fractured foot. Federico Chiesa could be available after recovering from an unspecified injury which ruled him out of Italy’s internationals.

Marc Cucurella and Wesley Fofana are suspended, though Reece James is back in training after a period out with a hamstring injury.

Reece James injury latest after Enzo Maresca provides update on Chelsea star’s return

Sunday 20 October 2024 15:00 , Chris Wilson

Reece James is fit to return for Chelsea against Liverpool after his latest injury with Enzo Maresca revealing a new plan to ensure the right-back remains fit.

James has not featured for the Blues this season after sustaining another hamstring issue.

But after training with the group over the international break, Maresca can call on the 24-year-old for the trip to Anfield.

Chelsea handed boost as Enzo Maresca provides Reece James injury update

Liverpool vs Chelsea team news: Alisson injury blow for Reds as Reece James nears Blues return

Sunday 20 October 2024 14:55 , Chris Wilson

Chelsea travel to face Liverpool as Premier League football returns following the international break, but the Reds have been handed an injury blow ahead of the weekend.

Alisson is set to remain on the sidelines for the clash against Chelsea after sustaining a hamstring injury against Crystal Palace.

Caoimhin Kelleher will deputise in goal, with Arne Slot confirming the Brazil remains out for a “couple of weeks” due to the problem.

Reece James has trained over the international break and will be in the squad on Sunday, while Maresca must contend without suspended duo Wesley Fofana and Marc Cucurella.

Liverpool vs Chelsea team news: Alisson injury blow for Reds as James nears return

Click here to read the full blog on The Independent’s website


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England vs Greece LIVE: Nations League result and reaction as hosts concede calamitous late goal

England vs Greece LIVE: Nations League result and reaction as hosts concede calamitous late goal

(Getty Images)

England suffered their first defeat under Lee Carsley in a thrilling and frustrating encounter with Greece at Wembley. Having named an attacking and experimental line-up Carsley watched on in shock as his team were outclassed on the turf whilst struggling to utilise the talents of Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka in a coherent way.

The Greeks should have led at half-time. They had a goal disallowed after Jordan Pickford made some quickfire errors in an uncharacteristically nervous performance. They did lead just after the break with Vangelis Pavlidis weaving through three defenders to slot a low effort past the goalkeeper.

Two more disallowed goals for Greece tells the story of a shaky English defence that lacked substance. The progression nature of the full backs too often allowing space on the counter and leaving John Stones and Levi Colwill with too much to do. In the dying stages Jude Bellingham smoked in a rocket strike that almost nicked England a point.

The deciding moment though came to Pavlidis. England scrambled in the box once again and knocked the ball to the striker who took his chance and secured a first ever win against the Three Lions for Greece.

Relive the Nations League action with our live blog below:

England vs Greece LIVE

  • REPORT: England’s failed experiment gives one answer to Lee Carsley – but asks another about him

  • RATINGS: Saka and Foden fail to shine in Nations League defeat

  • 90+4’ GOAL! Pavlidis wins it in stoppage time (ENG 1-2 GRE)

  • 87’ GOAL! Bellingham’s rocket equalises for England (ENG 1-1 GRE)

  • 85’ DISALLOWED! Pavlidis’ second is ruled out for offside (ENG 0-1 GRE)

  • 83’ GOAL! Pavlidis doubles Greece’s lead in the dying moments (ENG 0-2 GRE)

  • 49’ GOAL! Pavlidis dribbles through the box and beats Pickford (ENG 0-1 GRE)

  • 10’ DISALLOWED! Multiple errors from Pickford result in a Greece goal but it gets chalked off (ENG 0-0 GRE)

No threat from England

Thursday 10 October 2024 22:47 , Mike Jones

Jude Bellingham’s 87th minute equaliser was England’s first shot on target since the third minute (also from Bellingham).

A long wait for Solanke

Thursday 10 October 2024 22:44 , Mike Jones

Dominic Solanke made his second appearance for England, six years and 331 days after winning his first cap for the Three Lions. It’s the fourth longest gap between a player winning their first two caps for the men’s side.

England boss Lee Carsley on ITV:

Thursday 10 October 2024 22:41 , Mike Jones

“We were second best for a lot of tonight, it is disappointing. You are going to get set backs and it’s important we respond.

“We tried something different and tried to overload the midfield. We tried it for 20 minutes yesterday, we experimented, and disappointed it didn’t come off. It’s unrealistic to expect too much and we will have to try again. All the goals were from mistakes, which is disappointing.

“It is definitely an option going forward. When you have someone of Kane’s quality though it rules it out when he is available. But in the future you have to have the courage and ability to try things.

“We tried something different. It doesn’t change anything. My remit is to do the three camps.”

Greece goal hero dedicates win over England to George Baldock following former teammate’s death

Thursday 10 October 2024 22:37 , Mike Jones

Greece beat England 2-1 at Wembley on Thursday night, with the match-winner Vangelis Pavlidis dedicating the performance as well as the victory to former teammate George Baldock, who passed away earlier in the week.

Baldock, who qualified to represent Greece through a grandparent, won a dozen caps for the national team and had been in the squad earlier this year. But Greek football was rocked when the national association confirmed on Wednesday that he had been found dead at age 31 in a swimming pool at home, just days after featuring for his club Panathinaikos.

The defender played for Sheffield United for seven years in England, among other teams, before a summer switch to the Greek Super League.

Greece goal hero dedicates win over England to Baldock after death

Pavlidis speaking to ITV about George Baldock:

Thursday 10 October 2024 22:34 , Mike Jones

“It was a really special day for us because of George. We are people and it’s a special night because of him.

“[We have thought about him] a lot since we heard it yesterday. A difficult moment for us because George was part of the team. Special guy. We have to play for him and it doesn’t matter the score today. We gave everything for him.”

Stones offers condolences for Baldock’s family

Thursday 10 October 2024 22:31 , Mike Jones

England captain John Stones on the death of Greece defender George Baldock: “For everyone in the dressing room and The FA, condolences to his family.

“A few of the boys were close to him. We knew it wasn’t an easy day for them. Hendo [Dean Henderson] was close to him, it wasn’t easy for him with that news.”

A night to forget for England

Thursday 10 October 2024 22:28 , Mike Jones

Greece are the lowest ranked (48th) side to beat England in a competitive match since Northern Ireland (116th) in September 2005, and the lowest ever on record to do so on English soil.

A historic night for Greece

Thursday 10 October 2024 22:25 , Mike Jones

Greece have beaten England for the first time ever (drawn two, lost seven). Their goals tonight were their first ever scored at Wembley Stadium.

Greece’s matchwinner: Vangelis Pavlidis

Thursday 10 October 2024 22:22 , Mike Jones

 (EPA) (EPA)

(EPA)

 (Action Images via Reuters) (Action Images via Reuters)

(Action Images via Reuters)

Paul Robinson speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live

Thursday 10 October 2024 22:18 , Mike Jones

The former England goalkeeper said: “Very, very emotional evening for Greece.

“Wembley is empty apart from the blue shirts over in that corner. They’ve made an occasion for what is a very sad day. They’re still on the pitch now.”

The winning moment

Thursday 10 October 2024 22:13 , Mike Jones

It’s probably fair to say that England lost this game rather than Greece won it. Vangelis Pavlidis though had a stormer and took his chances when they came.

What a performance. This is his winning goal:

Greece dedicate win to George Baldock

Thursday 10 October 2024 22:07 , Mike Jones

The Greek team have had a ride of emotions over the last 24 hours. The news that George Baldock had passed away in Athens at just 31 years old will have rocked the squad.

Baldock represented Greece and the players have dedicated this win to him and his family.

 (Bradley Collyer/PA Wire) (Bradley Collyer/PA Wire)

(Bradley Collyer/PA Wire)

England captain John Stones on ITV:

Thursday 10 October 2024 22:04 , Mike Jones

“On a personal note, absolutely gutted. To have a result like that with the armband for the first time.

“We prepared like we normally do and it didn’t come off. From the start they put us right under pressure. They were very compact.

“We know the system as players and when we are out there as players we we have to deliver. The onus is on us to deliver – and we didn’t.

“A difficult night, a lot was riding on it for me personally and we saw it as a great opportunity to top the group. We have to move forward.”

Can England win the group?

Thursday 10 October 2024 22:00 , Mike Jones

England can still earn automatic promotion out of League B in the Nations League but they will now need to win, and win big, against the Greeks away from home.

Not to mention, they’ll need to beat Finland and Republic of Ireland again as we can assume Greece won’t slip up against either of those teams.

Bellingham scores a cracker

Thursday 10 October 2024 21:57 , Mike Jones

Let’s rewind a touch. Here’s Jude Bellingham’s equaliser and what a goal this is. It’s also Bellingham’s first goal of the season:

England suffer first defeat under Lee Carsley

Thursday 10 October 2024 21:54 , Mike Jones

Not the night England wanted.

 (The FA via Getty Images) (The FA via Getty Images)

(The FA via Getty Images)

 (John Walton/PA Wire) (John Walton/PA Wire)

(John Walton/PA Wire)

 (REUTERS) (REUTERS)

(REUTERS)

England player ratings vs Greece as Saka and Foden fail to shine in Nations League defeat

Thursday 10 October 2024 21:51 , Mike Jones

Lee Carsley suffered his first defeat during his role as interim manager of England with a 2-1 loss at Wembley to Greece in the Nations League.

Despite playing a whole collection of attacking options, the Three Lions were largely dismal and lacking cohesion in possession, and lacking bodies and structure out of it, leading to Greece having a succession of chances on the counter-attack.

Vangelis Pavlidis eventually found a route to goal after dribbling through the defence, only for Jude Bellingham to score a late equaliser for what looked like it would prevent Carsley suffering a first defeat – but another defensive mix-up saw Pavlidis rifle in the winner.

Here are the player ratings from Wembley.

Player ratings as Saka and Foden flop in dismal England defeat

FT England 1-2 Greece

Thursday 10 October 2024 21:49 , Mike Jones

England suffered their first defeat under Lee Carsley in a thrilling and frustrating encounter with Greece at Wembley. Having named an attacking and experimental line-up Carsley watched on in shock as his team were outclassed on the turf whilst struggling to utilise the talents of Cole Palmer, Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka in a coherent way.

The Greeks should have led at half-time. They had a goal disallowed after Jordan Pickford made some quickfire errors in an uncharacteristically nervous performance. They did lead just after the break with Vangelis Pavlidis weaving through three defenders to slot a low effort past the goalkeeper.

Two more disallowed goals for Greece tells the story of a shaky English defence that lacked substance. The progression nature of the full backs too often allowing space on the counter and leaving John Stones and Levi Colwill with too much to do. In the dying stages Jude Bellingham smoked in a rocket strike that almost nicked England a point.

The deciding moment though came to Pavlidis. England scrambled in the box once again and knocked the ball to the striker who took his chance and secured a first ever win against the Three Lions for Greece.

Full-time! England 1-2 Greece

Thursday 10 October 2024 21:42 , Mike Jones

90+5 mins: The full time whistle goes.

Greece earn a historic win at Wembley and they deserved it. It was a superb performance from the visitors as Lee Carsley’s experiement didn’t work.

Jude Bellingham almost secured a point but Vangelis Pavlidis stepped up to the plate and his two goals keep Greece at the top of Group B2.

GOAL! England 1-2 Greece (Vangelis Pavlidis, 90+4’)

Thursday 10 October 2024 21:39 , Mike Jones

90+4 mins: This one should stand!

England are terrible in defence once more. There’s pressure and a lack of leadership in the box as Greece burst forward. A huge scramble sees the ball squirt out to Pavlidis who takes his opportunity.

Greece go ahead again and that should secure them the points.

England 1-1 Greece

Thursday 10 October 2024 21:37 , Mike Jones

90+2 mins: It’s the Greeks who look a little flummoxed now. They deserved to be in front and seem to have been flattened by the equaliser.

They’re happy with a point too. The players are strolling around the pitch, not moving quickly, just trying to take time out of the game.

England 1-1 Greece

Thursday 10 October 2024 21:35 , Mike Jones

90 mins: Is there time for a winning goal? Bellingham thinks so.

A deep free kick is played out to the right before coming back to Alexander-Arnold. He floats a cross to the far side of the box where Madueke arrives and pokes a shot into the side netting.

Five minutes of added time to play. England couldn’t, could they?

GOAL! England 1-1 Greece (Jude Bellingham, 87’)

Thursday 10 October 2024 21:33 , Mike Jones

87 mins: Jude Bellingham rescues England!

That’s a story that’s been played out before. Ollie Watkins is played into the box on the right side of the pitch. He pulls it back and doesn’t find a teammate in the area.

Bellingham runs onto the ball from deep and rattles a rocket towards goal which beats Vlachodimos and brings the Three Lions level at Wembley.

England 0-1 Greece

Thursday 10 October 2024 21:30 , Mike Jones

85 mins: Reprieve for England!

Greece’s second goal is ruled out for offside as Pavlidis just edge ahead of the ball before Tzolis played the pass across to him. Greece have scored four times tonight with only one of those efforts being legitimate.

What a performance from them.

GOAL! England 0-2 Greece (Pavlidis, 83’)

Thursday 10 October 2024 21:28 , Mike Jones

83 mins: Boom!

Pavlidis doubles Greece’s lead. It’s a quick break through Tzolis down the left side after England give the ball away. Tzolis drives up the pitch, goes into the box and squares the ball to the forward who turns it home.

England 0-1 Greece

Thursday 10 October 2024 21:27 , Mike Jones

81 mins: The frustration is growing amongst the England players but not so the crowd. They’re trying to encourage England on, get them up the pitch and inspire them to score an equaliser.

Greece aren’t letting them though. They have a good defence and look likely to shut the Three Lions out. Will there be some late drama?

England 0-1 Greece

Thursday 10 October 2024 21:23 , Mike Jones

78 mins: Madueke goes on a nice run alongside the edge of the penalty area but there’s no final ball nor a shot meaning his gets dispossessed.

The Chelsea forward then wins a corner with his next attack. Trent Alexander-Arnold curls in the delivery but Tzolis is there to nod the ball away.

England 0-1 Greece

Thursday 10 October 2024 21:18 , Mike Jones

75 mins: Now then. Here comes Dominic Solanke.

He’s brought on to replace Phil Foden and makes a first appearance for England in seven years following his debut in 2017. Can the Tottenham striker rescue this match for the Three Lions?

England 0-1 Greece

Thursday 10 October 2024 21:17 , Mike Jones

72 mins: A long ball comes over the top and finds Jude Bellingham. He has a quick glance at the goalkeeper then looks to lob Vlachodimos from range and gets it all wrong.

The chances goes begging for England and Bellingham knows that was the wrong decision.

England 0-1 Greece

Thursday 10 October 2024 21:15 , Mike Jones

69 mins: Greece send a corner into the box that Bellingham and Madueke deal with. The visitors recycle the ball and whip it back into the box where Jordan Pickford again fumbles an attempted clearance.

It’s been a night to forget for the England No.1.

England 0-1 Greece

Thursday 10 October 2024 21:12 , Mike Jones

66 mins: Carsley is trying to be proactive. He’s issuing orders and instructions from the manager’s box and trying to keep the energy levels up.

England’s performance has just been flat throughout the game.

England 0-1 Greece

Thursday 10 October 2024 21:10 , Mike Jones

63 mins: Can England recover from this position? Under Gareth Southgate there would be a confidence in the team that they were never out of the game.

Is that same belief there under Lee Carsley?

With Watkins on the pitch, there’s a more recognised shape to England with a central focal point. He’s already had one good chance, there’ll probably be another before full-time.

England 0-1 Greece

Thursday 10 October 2024 21:08 , Miguel Delaney at Wembley

“OK, it can probably be said the experiment is on the brink of failure.

“It is right now on the brink of defeat, as Greece lead 1-0 after Vangelis Pavlidis’s goal. He just managed to work his way through to finish in a way you might expect of a team with so few defensive players. Before getting into the tactical technical detail, it is worth recognising the sad emotion.

“The Greek players were in tears as they celebrated for former teammate George Baldock.

“They have been driven by emotion tonight, but also their focus and fine tactical set-up. Against that, England have looked so shapeless. Is that a surprise when the Premier League’s most productive playmaker is used as a passing midfielder alongside Declan Rice?

“The team is actually so uninspiring – despite so much creativity in it – that it’s hard not to at least muse whether Lee Carsley has picked an inverse Jose Mourinho-style team that is part political point. “This is the team you all wanted.” Will people ask for all the stars again after this?

“It’s almost like he went too far, giving far too much of the creativity that people craved after Gareth Southgate. England could suddenly do with some order.”

England 0-1 Greece

Thursday 10 October 2024 21:06 , Mike Jones

60 mins: An hour played at Wembley with England needing to find something special. Ollie Watkins almost brings it after getting played into the penalty area.

He strikes it strongly but smokes the first time shot over the crossbar!

England 0-1 Greece

Thursday 10 October 2024 21:05 , Mike Jones

58 mins: Lee Carsley makes his first tactical substitution with Ollie Watkins introduced to replace Anthony Gordon. That will give England a target to aim for in the forward line and the Aston Villa striker isn’t afraid to shoot.

Disallowed!

Greece score again after a long ball comes up to Koulierakis. He plays it inside to Pavlidis who carries the ball into the box and sets up a teammate to score.

Pavlidis was offside though and the flag is raised immediately.

England 0-1 Greece

Thursday 10 October 2024 20:59 , Mike Jones

55 mins: England are wobbling here. They don’t look comfortable at all defensively and Jordan Pickford is called into action to flap a shot away.

The pragmatism of the Gareth Southgate era is not at all on display tonight.

England 0-1 Greece

Thursday 10 October 2024 20:58 , Mike Jones

52 mins: With that goal, England have conceded for the first time under Lee Carsley. How will the manager repsond?

Bukayo Saka went down off the ball and had to be taken off the pitch. Noni Madueke is the man called on to replace him which shouldn’t affect the formation.

GOAL! England 0-1 Greece (Pavlidis, 49’)

Thursday 10 October 2024 20:55 , Mike Jones

49 mins: That’s a cracking goal!

England are all at sea at the back as Greece pile the pressure on. Konstantinos Koulierakis drives down the inside left channel before slipping it to Vangelis Pavlidis.

He weaves in between three English defenders then curls a low effort past Jordan Pickford into the back of the net!

England 0-0 Greece

Thursday 10 October 2024 20:52 , Mike Jones

48 mins: Nearly!

Alexander-Arnold chips the ball down the line for Saka then sprints up to the penalty area. Saka keeps hold of the ball then slips Alexander-Arnold into the box.

The defender backheels it hoping to set up Foden but his pass is off target and Greece clear their lines.

It was a slick, quick move from the hosts that almost came off.

Second half! England 0-0 Greece

Thursday 10 October 2024 20:50 , Mike Jones

Greece get the match back underway at Wembley.

Lee Carsley hasn’t made any changes at the break so it’s as you were for England. Can they improve and get the opening goal?

HT England 0-0 Greece

Thursday 10 October 2024 20:46 , Mike Jones

Here’s a look at Levi Colwill’s heroics and Jordan Pickford’s error that almost resulted in the opening goal:

HT England 0-0 Greece

Thursday 10 October 2024 20:42 , Mike Jones

Anyone fancy a few stats?

England created seven chances in the first half with just one on target. Despite having only 40% possession, Greece almost matched them with six chances and one on target.

Those chances don’t include the attempt that was cleared off the line nor the Greek disallowed goal.

Greece are calm and dangerous and can easily win this game if England don’t come up with a solution.

HT England 0-0 Greece

Thursday 10 October 2024 20:38 , Mike Jones

 (EPA) (EPA)

(EPA)

 (Adam Davy/PA Wire) (Adam Davy/PA Wire)

(Adam Davy/PA Wire)

 (Bradley Collyer/PA Wire) (Bradley Collyer/PA Wire)

(Bradley Collyer/PA Wire)

Half-time! England 0-0 Greece

Thursday 10 October 2024 20:34 , Mike Jones

45 mins: No minutes of added time to play. The whistle goes with Greece having created the better chances over the first half.

Lee Carsley’s experiment hasn’t worked, will he stick with it or switch things up after the break?

England 0-0 Greece

Thursday 10 October 2024 20:33 , Miguel Delaney at Wembley

“Carsley’s experiment hasn’t really worked so far.

“Although England have weathered the way Greece got at them in those opening stages – not a great night for Jordan Pickford – there still isn’t really coherence.

“The team currently looks like what it is: a lot of players out of position. It should be stressed that is actually fair enough.

“If there is ever time to experiment with an England team, it is surely in a Nations League home match when you’ve already won your first two games?”

England 0-0 Greece

Thursday 10 October 2024 20:31 , Mike Jones

43 mins: Another England corner, won be the pacey sprinting of Phil Foden and Anthony Gordon.

Trent Alexander-Arnold swings the ball into the middle of the box but once again the Three Lions fail to trouble the Greek defence.

England 0-0 Greece

Thursday 10 October 2024 20:27 , Mike Jones

40 mins: Alexander-Arnold dinks the set piece into the penalty area this time, looking for John Stones near the back post. The ball gets intercepted and looped into the air before Vlachodimos takes control of it.

Not England’s best set piece.

England 0-0 Greece

Thursday 10 October 2024 20:26 , Mike Jones

39 mins: The corner is taken short and sent to Palmer. He lifts a cross into the middle but Mavropanos rises higher than anyone else and nods it away.

Foden then wins a free kick in a dangerous position and Palmer willm fancy his chances again.

England 0-0 Greece

Thursday 10 October 2024 20:25 , Mike Jones

37 mins: Foden and Bellingham combine on the edge of the box with some short, sharp passes but Foden can’t find enough space inside the area to take a shot.

The ball is sent back to John Stones but England come again quickly. They find Bukayo Saka who cuts onto his left foot and shoots winning England a corner.

England 0-0 Greece

Thursday 10 October 2024 20:23 , Mike Jones

34 mins: England are still trying to get things to click. The players don’t look well drilled enough for this formation to work properly (they aren’t as they’ve only had three sessions to practice it).

What it is doing though is making the game entertaining. The fans inside the ground seem to be enjoying themselves.

England 0-0 Greece

Thursday 10 October 2024 20:18 , Mike Jones

31 mins: Chance!

A cross comes in from deep with pace on it as Anthony Gordon bursts through the defence. He’s wide open but a ways out from goal when he attempts a headed effort.

He gets plenty of the ball but nods it over the top.

England 0-0 Greece

Thursday 10 October 2024 20:16 , Mike Jones

29 mins: This is better from England. Palmer is dictating from midfield and tries to feed the ball through a small gap for Saka. Giannoulis intercepts and clears but the Three Lions recover the ball and send it over to Gordon.

Gordon carries it into the box, goes on the outside and wins a corner as Lazaros Rota turns the ball out of play.

England 0-0 Greece

Thursday 10 October 2024 20:13 , Mike Jones

26 mins: Bakasetas goes form goal from a long way out but is charged down by Declan Rice. The visitors are enjoying their night here as England’s formation is providing them a lot of space to run into.

England’s attacking prowess means they need to control the game and so far they haven’t been able to.

England 0-0 Greece

Thursday 10 October 2024 20:11 , Mike Jones

24 mins: Close!

It’s end-to-end stuff this. Anthony Gordon takes the ball into space on the left before slipping a pass into the box for Jude Bellingham.

He manages to shift to the right before passing it across to Cole Palmer. Palmer shoots but whips the ball over the top!

England 0-0 Greece

Thursday 10 October 2024 20:09 , Mike Jones

21 mins: Chance!

Alexander-Arnold gives the ball away and Christos Tzolis flies down the left hand side. Dimitris Giannoulis makes an overlapping run before cutting it back into the box for Anastasios Bakasetas.

He shoots and drills a low effort at goal only for John Stones to flick it wide before Rico Lewis completes the clearance.

England 0-0 Greece

Thursday 10 October 2024 20:06 , Mike Jones

18 mins: England don’t look all that confident with this new formation and their defence has suffered for it. Levi Colwill is the only reason the game is still on level terms.

Rico Lewis makes a forward run on the left but gets bungled off the ball and Greece attempt to break. Phil Foden shuffles across and pokes the ball out for a throw in.

England 0-0 Greece

Thursday 10 October 2024 20:05 , Mike Jones

15 mins: Jude Bellingham makes a fantastic run in behind and is picked out by Trent Alexander-Arnold. Bellingham eases into the box from the right side but only has a couple of tough options.

He decides to shoot from a tight angle and fizzes the ball over the crossbar.

England 0-0 Greece

Thursday 10 October 2024 20:01 , Mike Jones

12 mins: Trent Alexander-Arnold boots the ball forward in order to ease some of the pressure on England’s back line. There were struggling to deal with the Greece press and Jordan Pickford will be low on confidence at the minute after those two mistakes.

England 0-0 Greece

Thursday 10 October 2024 20:00 , Mike Jones

10 mins: Disallowed!

Jordan Pickford is having a nightmare. First up he decides to come out of his penalty area to take control of the ball then takes too long to decide what to do with it.

He passes it to his opponents who then flick the ball at goal and Pickford’s blushes are spared but Levi Colwill clearing the ball off the line!

From the resultant corner, Pickford decides to come for the ball. He misses it and it gets poked to Konstantinos Mavropanos who dinks it into the back of the net only for the offside flag to go up!

England 0-0 Greece

Thursday 10 October 2024 19:55 , Mike Jones

7 mins: Oh hello!

Konstantinos Koulierakis clatters into Jude Bellingham who beats him to a loose ball. He takes out the midfielder over to the right side of the pitch just outside the box.

The defender is shown a yellow card and will miss the next match.

Cole Palmer and Trent Alexander-Arnold stand over the ball. It’s Palmer who strikes the effort and lands the ball just on the roof of the net.

Decent effort.

England 0-0 Greece

Thursday 10 October 2024 19:53 , Mike Jones

5 mins: Close!

England get caught on the break after Bellingham loses possession. Greece sweep forward quickly and work the ball up to Vangelis Pavlidis.

The forward checks to the right and curls a shot towards the far bottom corner. He strikes it well but Jordan Pickford isn’t interested and watches the ball go wide.

England 0-0 Greece

Thursday 10 October 2024 19:51 , Mike Jones

3 mins: Rico Lewis releases Jude Bellingham down the left side of the pitch and the Real Madrid star attempts to drive into the box. He loses possession but it comes out to Anthony Gordon who rolls a pass over to Cole Palmer.

Palmer looks to shoot first time but fumbles the ball.

It comes back across to Bellingham who spins and rattles a shot at goal that Odysseus Vlachodimos leaps to his left to push wide of the post.

England 0-0 Greece

Thursday 10 October 2024 19:49 , Miguel Delaney at Wembley

“For a game that isn’t maybe the most momentous, there is some discussion here at Wembley over whether Lee Carsley’s line-up is the most revolutionary England have ever had.

“It is certainly a historic landmark.

“It might just be the first time that England have started a game without a traditional striker or number-nine. That may not be so remarkable in the context of the modern game, but it is for the national team. England have just always had a nine, and not simply in terms of tactics.

“There’s always been that defined front man. Is Harry Kane the last one in that sense, potentially the end of a lineage that goes through Jimmy Greaves and Geoff Hurst to Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer?

“His place was taken here by Jude Bellingham, who started as a false nine – although a connected question: at what point does a false nine just become… a nine.

“The game will tell. This low-key historic moment may be the future.”

Kick off! England 0-0 Greece

Thursday 10 October 2024 19:48 , Mike Jones

There is a period of silence before the start of this Nations League match in memory of George Baldock who passed away in Athens yesterday at the age of 31.

England then get the ball rolling.

Will England miss Harry Kane?

Thursday 10 October 2024 19:40 , Mike Jones

England captain Harry Kane has scored 26 goals in 26 competitive home appearances for the Three Lions, scoring on each of his last six such outings (nine goals) – only Steve Bloomer (1895-1899) and Wayne Rooney (2012-2015) have ever scored in seven straight competitive home games for the nation.

Kane has had a hand in 28 goals in his last 28 appearances at Wembley Stadium for England (25 goals, three assists), netting 14 goals in his last 14 games at the ground.

England vs Greece

Thursday 10 October 2024 19:40 , Mike Jones

Here come the players.

John Stones is the England captain for the evening and will partner Levi Colwill in central defence against the Greeks. Cole Palmer, Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka are all in the starting line-up and this promises to be a free flowing attacking game.

Will it work?

We’re about to find out…

Roy Keane explains why ‘brilliant’ Cole Palmer is a player ‘you’d pay to watch’

Thursday 10 October 2024 19:38 , Mike Jones

With Lee Carsley opting to start Cole Palmer in an attacking midfield role for England’s Nations League encounter with Greece, much attention was quickly about how to get the best out of the Three Lions side with him involved – and why he could be such an important player.

Palmer was named England’s men’s player of the year recently – though was yet to even collect ten senior caps at the time, with the fixture against the Greeks bringing up his double figures.

But it’s only the start of a journey which must make him a massive part of the plans, be it with Carlsey in charge on a permanent basis or not. That’s the opinion of former Manchester United captain Roy Keane, who singled out Palmer’s mindset and technical qualities as the keys to making him such an impressive performer.

Roy Keane explains why ‘brilliant’ Palmer is a player ‘you’d pay to watch’

Bellingham, Foden or Palmer? Lee Carsley knows England need something else entirely

Thursday 10 October 2024 19:35 , Mike Jones

After of course speaking at length about Cole Palmer, Lee Carsley wanted to make one clarification. He has no plans to play the Chelsea star at left-back. The interim England manager last week referenced how Palmer is so talented that he can play there, only for that to cause some commotion.

“I definitely won’t be saying anything like that again!”

Carsley then went on an instructive explanation of one vision for the position – “not like a traditional Ashley Cole kind of thing” – which touched on a far bigger discussion over the forward.

Bellingham, Foden or Palmer? Lee Carsley knows England need something else entirely

England vs Greece

Thursday 10 October 2024 19:30 , Mike Jones

This will be England’s 21st game overall in the Nations League (currently P20 W7 D6 L7), while they have the chance to win three successive matches in the competition for the first time, following wins against Ireland and Finland.

England haven’t lost any of their last 17 competitive matches at Wembley (W13 D4) since a 0-1 loss to Denmark in this competition back in October 2020.

The Three Lions have lost just two of their last 23 competitive matches overall (W14 D7), with those defeats coming against France at the quarter-final stage of the 2022 Fifa World Cup and against Spain in the final at Euro 2024.

England vs Greece

Thursday 10 October 2024 19:25 , Mike Jones

Following back-to-back 2-0 wins over the Republic of Ireland and Finland, Lee Carsley will be aiming to be the first England manager to win his first three competitive matches in charge since Fabio Capello in October 2008 and the first ever to do so without conceding.

Greece are winless in their last 12 matches against nations ranked inside the top five of the Fifa rankings (D6 L6), since a 1-0 win over France at Euro 2004 – their most recent such fixture ended 2-2 however, against France (ranked second) in November 2023.

Cole Palmer in ‘incredible’ place – but England boss Lee Carsley wants him to get even better

Thursday 10 October 2024 19:20 , Mike Jones

Lee Carsley says every England player will have to “earn their place in the team” as he indicated no one would be a certain starter. The interim manager also says Cole Palmer can get even “better” due to how much scope he has to improve.

England’s abundance of talent has seen clamours rise behind a number of players to be central to the team, from Phil Foden through to Jude Bellingham and now Palmer. He is considering Bellingham at false nine for the match against Greece.

While Carsley again stated that he has a “a plan in place” that can include all three talents, he evaded the question when asked whether Bellingham would always play if fit.

Cole Palmer in ‘incredible’ place – but England boss wants him to get even better

Pre-match thoughts from Lee Carsely:

Thursday 10 October 2024 19:20 , Mike Jones

“It [Harry Kane’s absence] has given us a chance to try something and be creative with the way we play. We talk about how exciting and creative we can be so I’m looking forward to the game.

“We have a lot of flexibility and you may see a lot of changes. Hopefully it will be exciting. I see all the players interchanging, we have some really creative players.

“Greece have won the last two games, haven’t conceded a goal so we are expecting a tough challenge.”

England vs Greece

Thursday 10 October 2024 19:15 , Mike Jones

England have won 16 of their last 21 competitive home matches across all competitions (D3 L2), including each of their last five. The Three Lions have kept six clean sheets in their last nine such fixtures.

Since the inaugural Nations League in 2018-19, no team has won more games in the competition than Greece (W13 D3 L4), who have conceded the fewest goals (eight) and kept the most clean sheets (14) of any nation in that period.

England vs Greece

Thursday 10 October 2024 19:10 , Mike Jones

England are unbeaten in all nine of their meetings with Greece across all competitions (W7 D2), keeping a clean sheet in seven of those matches.

Greece have drawn their last two away competitive matches against England, most recently 2-2 in a World Cup qualifier in October 2001, leading twice before David Beckham scored a 90th minute free kick to send the Three Lions to the 2002 World Cup.

England vs Greece

Thursday 10 October 2024 19:05 , Mike Jones

The Three Lions have played Greece on nine occasions, registering seven wins, drawing twice and losing none.

Their last meeting ended in a 4-0 England win on 16 August 2006. It was a meeting at Old Trafford against Otto Rehhagel’s reigning European Champions which ended in a convincing win for Three Lions manager Steve McClaren in his first game in charge.

Goals came from John Terry, Frank Lampard and a brace for Peter Crouch.

Jack Grealish opens up on Euro 2024 snub and how things are different under Lee Carsley

Thursday 10 October 2024 19:00 , Mike Jones

Jack Grealish still believes Gareth Southgate should have taken him to Euro 2024 but is feeling the love under interim England boss Lee Carsley.

The 29-year-old was a high-profile omission from the summer’s shot at glory in Germany having been part of the team that reached the Euro 2020 showpiece and then 2022 World Cup quarter-finals.

Grealish was “absolutely heartbroken” to be dropped from the expanded pre-tournament selection and Southgate’s decision still sticks in the craw.

Jack Grealish opens up on Euro 2024 snub and how things are different under Carsley

Stones full of praise for Palmer

Thursday 10 October 2024 18:55 , Mike Jones

As part of his pre-match media duties John Stones suggested that he told Cole Palmer not to leave Man City, but is still enjoying seeing his rise at Stamford Bridge.

“I was a huge fan of Cole as soon as he came into our first-team set up, what he brought to the game, how he played as if he was in the park,” he said.

“I was sad to see him leave, I made him aware of that, but what he has gone on and done is a credit to him, how he’s conducted himself, how he’s stepped up in big moments.

“He is in a good moment, and I hope that continues for as long as possible. Scoring in the final, he has experienced those big games now and big moments and hopefully there is more of that to come.”

Thursday 10 October 2024 18:53 , Karl Matchett

And the Greece line up is as follows:

Vlachodimos, Rota, Mavropanos, Koulierakis, Giannoulis, Kourbelis, Bakasetas, Siopis, Masouras, Tzolis, Pavlidis

Confirmed team news

Thursday 10 October 2024 18:48 , Karl Matchett

Here’s the lineup for England:

Pickford, Alexander-Arnold, Stones, Colwill, Lewis, Rice, Foden, Palmer, Saka, Bellingham, Gordon

England vs Greece talking points

Thursday 10 October 2024 18:40 , Mike Jones

Greece looking to extend winning run

Greece arrive at Wembley as League B Group 2 leaders after wins in the opening two games against Finland and Republic of Ireland.

They are ahead of England on goals scored, so this match could go a long way to deciding who finishes top of the group and therefore wins promotion to League A.

Greece are playing well but have not played in a major tournament since the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. They last played England in an international friendly in 2006 when they lost 4-0 at Old Trafford.

England vs Greece talking points

Thursday 10 October 2024 18:36 , Mike Jones

Palmer’s first start?

As the hottest property in the Premier League at the moment, it is strange to think Cole Palmer has yet to start a competitive game for his country.

That stat did not stop him being named as England’s player of the year for 2023/24. Given his form for Chelsea, Carsley will surely select him in his starting XI against Greece.

The interim boss has hinted Palmer, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden are all unlikely to start together in this international break so which position Palmer may get the nod will be interesting.

England vs Greece talking points

Thursday 10 October 2024 18:30 , Mike Jones

Carsley to cement his position?

Lee Carsley has always maintained that he is on a three-camp mission following his appointment as interim boss in the wake of Gareth Southgate’s exit.

But the former Under-21s manager is beginning to get his feet under the table and has the opportunity to further enhance his chances of getting the job on a permanent basis.

He said that he felt at home on the Wembley touchline during last month’s win over Finland and if his side put on another impressive attacking display against Greece then he could win further support for the future.

England vs Greece talking points

Thursday 10 October 2024 18:24 , Mike Jones

Solanke’s long wait

If Harry Kane is not fit then it could open the door up for Dominic Solanke. The Tottenham striker is back in the England squad for the first time since 2017 when he made a 15-minute cameo as a substitute in a friendly against Brazil at Wembley.

Despite a seven-year exile he always believed he would be back at the top and had his debut shirt framed on his wall at home to use as motivation.

If Kane does not make it, then he will likely be vying with Ollie Watkins for a starting spot.

England vs Greece talking points

Thursday 10 October 2024 18:18 , Mike Jones

Will Harry Kane be fit?

There are big fitness doubts over captain Harry Kane following the injury he picked up playing for Bayern Munich at the weekend.

The striker came off against Eintracht Frankfurt with a knock but was passed fit by England’s medical staff on Monday.

However, he trained individually on Tuesday and with the tight turnaround, it remains to be seen whether the country’s record goalscorer will be fit.

Lee Carsley confirmed that he will not start but a substitute appearance hasn’t been ruled out.

John Stones blocking out Manchester City noise while on England duty: ‘I put a lot of trust in the club’

Thursday 10 October 2024 18:12 , Mike Jones

John Stones says he pays no “attention” to the off-field issues surrounding Manchester City as it is something he “cannot control”, and that his position is to simply “put a lot of trust in the club”.

The centre-half was speaking ahead of England-Greece, in an international week that has been overshadowed by news of the latest legal case involving the Premier League champions.

Monday brought the judgment in City’s challenge against the competition’s Associated Party Transaction Rules, which will see some rules rewritten. That preceded a storm of controversy amid competing claims about who “won”, with new acrimony in the Premier League as City wrote an email to the other clubs threatening further legal action.

John Stones blocking out Man City noise while on England duty: ‘I trust in the club’

Stones to ‘cherish’ captaining England

Thursday 10 October 2024 18:06 , Mike Jones

John Stones is excited for an “incredible moment” as he captains England for the first time against Greece on Thursday.

“It’s definitely everything that I could have dreamed of as a kid,” the defender said ahead of the game.

“For my family to be able to see me walk out as England captain is a special moment and one I can’t thank Lee enough for. It was a great conversation we had last night and one I was a bit speechless in.

“An incredible moment for me, it was a bit more normal today, everything resumed as normal, the preparation, the training that we’ve done and our focus.

“To be walking out with the armband on is an absolute honour and a moment I will cherish forever.”

 (The FA via Getty Images) (The FA via Getty Images)

(The FA via Getty Images)

Stones to captain England

Thursday 10 October 2024 18:00 , Mike Jones

John Stones will lead England out as captain for the first time this evening. He wins his 82nd cap and is looking forward to leading the national team.

“It was a great conversation that I was able to have with John last night, to have that responsibility to ask him to captain the team,” Lee Carsley said.

“It’s a brilliant achievement for John. Something that he deserves – the amount of caps he’s got, the experience he’s got, the level of professionalism that he shows within the squad, the example he is to the younger players.

“It was a great conversation to have.”

Kane won’t start for England

Thursday 10 October 2024 17:54 , Mike Jones

“Harry’s nursing an injury, a small knock,” confirmed interim England manager Lee Carsley when asked if the Three Lions captain was fit for tonight’s game.

“Something that we won’t take a chance with.”

Asked to clarify whether Kane will be on the bench at Wembley, he said: “We’re not ruling him out yet of the game, but he won’t start the game.

“Hopefully he’ll be in contention then for Sunday (against Finland) but, again, time will tell. It’s not something I think we should be rushing.”

Lee Carsley confirms Harry Kane won’t start for England against Greece – ‘We won’t take a chance’

Thursday 10 October 2024 17:48 , Mike Jones

Interim boss Lee Carsley says he “won’t take a chance” with Harry Kane’s fitness in England’s Nations League clash against Greece as the skipper deals with a knock.

A month on from celebrating his 100th cap with a match-winning brace against Finland, the 31-year-old could miss Thursday’s Wembley return against the Group B2 leaders.

Kane sustained a knock during Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga clash with Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday and has been unable to train with the group despite getting the green light to stay with England.

Carsley confirms Kane won’t start for England against Greece

Jack Grealish reveals which England teammate he will never ask to babysit new daughter

Thursday 10 October 2024 17:42 , Mike Jones

Jack Grealish has revealed which of his England teammates he will never ask to babysit his new baby daughter.

The Manchester City player announced the safe arrival of his first child Mila with partner Sasha Ashwood earlier this week.

In an interview with BBC Sport on Wednesday, ahead of England’s match against Greece, Grealish was asked which of his Three Lions teammates would be the best and worst babysitter.

The 29-year-old chose Harry Kane as his preferred favourite, when pressed on his least preferred choice, he chose Bukayo Saka, stating the Arsenal winger might “fall asleep”.

England vs Greece prediction

Thursday 10 October 2024 17:36 , Mike Jones

With England in great form and fully revitalised under interim manager Lee Carsley they should be looking forward to a more challenging outing this evening.

Greece are unbeaten in the Nations League so far but will likely be forced to change their style of play against the Three Lions. It may take a while for the first goal to come but England will look to take advantage when it does.

England 3-0 Greece.

Predicted line-ups

Thursday 10 October 2024 17:30 , Mike Jones

Here’s how we see both teams lining up tonight given pre-match information and how we think the manager’s will see the match playing out. Lee Carsley has a job on his hands fitting Cole Palmer, Phil Foden and Jude Bellingham into the team so it seems likely at least one will be on the bench.

I can easily see Palmer or Foden starting on the left side ahead of Anthony Gordon though the Newcastle winger impressed in the previous camp and deserves to keep his spot.

England XI: Pickford; Alexander-Arnold, Stones, Guehi, Colwill; Gomes, Rice; Saka, Bellingham, Gordon; Watkins

Greece XI: Vlachodimos; Rota, Mavropanos, Koulierakis, Tsimikas; Bouchalakis, Mantalos; Chatzigiovannis, Bakasetas, Pelkas; Pavlidis

As for the latest odds, it should come as no surprise that England are the heavy favourites though without Harry Kane up front the match will likely be a closer affair than expected.

England win 1/5

Draw 7/2

Greece win 9/1

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Greece early team news

Thursday 10 October 2024 17:24 , Mike Jones

Greece have been dealt a huge blow to their chances of winning as Fotis Ioannidis sustained an injury during Panathinaikos’ recent Greek Super League clash with Olympiacos and has been left out of the squad.

Vangelis Pavlidis should lead the line as a result with the rest of the squad taking up a more familiar shape. Goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos should win his 45th cap in goal.

England early team news

Thursday 10 October 2024 17:18 , Mike Jones

Harry Kane did not train with the rest of the squad on Tuesday as he recovers from a thigh injury and the England captain is a doubt for this game. He trained indoors on a specialised programme so may be able to feature at some point though a starting place is unlikely.

Ezri Konsa, Morgan Gibbs-White and Kobbie Mainoo all withdrew from the squad on Monday having picked up respective injuries over the weekend. Having returned to the squad for this camp, Kyle Walker, Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden are all in line to start for the Three Lions.

How can I watch it?

Thursday 10 October 2024 17:12 , Mike Jones

This Nations League clash will be shown on ITV1 and ITV X with coverage starting at 7pm BST.

If you want to stream major sporting events while you are travelling or watching from abroad you’ll need a VPN. Get the best VPN deals in the UK. Viewers using a VPN need to make sure that they comply with any local regulations where they are, and also with the terms of their service provider.

When is England vs Greece?

Thursday 10 October 2024 17:06 , Mike Jones

England vs Greece is due to kick off at 7.45pm BST on Thursday 10 October at Wembley Stadium.

 (John Walton/PA Wire) (John Walton/PA Wire)

(John Walton/PA Wire)

England vs Greece

Thursday 10 October 2024 17:00 , Mike Jones

England face their biggest test of the Nations League so far when they welcome Greece to Wembley in a top of the table clash in Group B2.

Neither team have lost a game since the resumption of this tournament with both defeating Finland and the Republic of Ireland in September’s international break.

Greece have made the better start, keeping two clean sheets and scoring more goals (five compared to four from the Three Lions) though there is very little to separate the sides.

Both teams could also be missing their main forward with Fotis Ioannidis out of the Greece squad due to injury and Harry Kane still trying to recover from a thigh problem.

Welcome!

Thursday 10 October 2024 14:54 , Mike Jones

Good evening one and all. England are back in Nations League action at Wembley tonight as they take on Greece in a blockbuster clash at the top of Group B2.

Neither team has lost yet in the competition but both sides are missing their main strikers as Harry Kane and Fotis Ioannidis will sit this one out (Kane may make an appearance off the bench but won’t start).

We’ll have all the team news, line-ups and updates throughout the evening so stick with us as we build up to kick off at 7.45pm.


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Stamford Bridge, home of Chelsea Football Club (The FA via Getty Images)

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion LIVE: Premier League latest score, goals and updates from fixture

Stamford Bridge, home of Chelsea Football Club (The FA via Getty Images)

Follow live coverage as Chelsea face Brighton & Hove Albion today in the Premier League. Another top-flight season will be covered in full right here with The Independent, as reigning champions Manchester City look to make it an unprecedented five titles in a row come the end of 2024/25.

The likes of Arsenal and Liverpool will be chasing Pep Guardiola’s side, but just as fascinating will be the race for Champions League places, with more teams than ever before having designs on top-four finishes. Chelsea remain big-spending, Manchester United’s latest rebuild continues and both Tottenham and Newcastle will expect improvements this year – yet it was Aston Villa who snared fourth last term.

Meanwhile, it’s Southampton, Leicester City and Ipswich Town who made it back to the elite after promotion last year and each will have hope they can make it more than a one-year stay. Follow the latest live action from the Premier League below:

Chelsea FC 4 – 2 Brighton & Hove Albion FC

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

17:02

A sensational four-goal display from Palmer – who truly could have had more – powers Chelsea past Brighton 4-2 at Stamford Bridge. Despite starting the match the better of the two sides and taking a lead within seven minutes, Hurzeler’s side were then taken apart by an incredible solo performance by Palmer, who became the first player in Premier League history to find the back of the net four times in the opening half of a game. The pick of the bunch was a free-kick from 30 yards out – his third of the day – giving Verbruggen absolutely no chance by putting it right in the top corner. Sanchez gifted Baleba a goal late in the opening period to leave the Seagulls down by two at the interval, but they were unable to get any closer, with Maresca’s side organised at the back, giving their opponents few opportunities to test Sanchez. Both Palmer and Jackson could have added to the hosts’ tally in the second half, but manful defending from Dunk prevented an even greater margin of victory. Chelsea win with an xG of 3.19 ahead of matches this week against Gent and Nottingham Forest in the Europa Conference League and Premier League respectively, while Brighton fall to their first defeat of the year after an output of just 1.05 xG and host Tottenham in eight days. That concludes our commentary of the Premier League fixture between Chelsea and Brighton – we hope you’ve enjoyed it!

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

17:02

FULL-TIME: CHELSEA 4-2 BRIGHTON

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

17:00

Palmer and Nkunku work a short-corner routine that looks to trouble the Brighton defence, but it’s smartly worked all the way back to Sanchez from the flag, with Chelsea looking to see out the 4-2 victory.

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

16:58

The fourth official indicates five minutes will be added to the end of the match for stoppages.

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

16:58

Veiga manages to push the ball off the foot of Minteh, with Enciso quick to latch upon it – firing a hurried strike from a long way out that sails high over Sanchez’s crossbar.

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

16:57

Dunk has attempted 100 passes in this game; it’s the third time this season that a Brightonplayer has attempted 100 or more in a single match in the Premier League and more than any other player in this game (ahead of Baleba – 50 passes).

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

16:55

It looks to be job done for Chelsea, who have less than five minutes to hold on for a third-consecutive Premier League win. Results around the grounds mean that Maresca’s side currently sit in second place – one point behind Manchester City – as things stand, while Liverpool and Aston Villa still have the chance to jump them in the table later this weekend.

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

16:52

Estupinan manages to get into the penalty area near the byline after a Chelsea giveaway in their defensive third, but the left-back has his pocket picked by Gusto, who times his challenge well before winning a throw-in to sap a bit more time off the clock.

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

16:49

Minteh cuts inside from the right and sends a skipping cross into the penalty area for Ferguson, but the striker doesn’t gamble on the delivery, allowing Sanchez to get there first.

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

16:45

Lavia is introduced for just his third Premier League appearance for Chelsea, with the booked Fernandez protected with 11 minutes to go.

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

16:45

Substitution Daniel Nii Tackie Mensah Welbeck Evan Joe Ferguson

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

16:45

Jackson is recalled to the bench with an assist – but not a goal – to his name. Nkunku gets a chance to add to his personal tally, after a hat-trick performance against Barrow in the League Cup on Tuesday.

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

16:45

Fofana commits to a late sliding challenge on Enciso, catching the Brighton substitute just outside the penalty area. It’s a free-kick for the visitors, while the Chelsea defender is shown a yellow card.

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

16:44

Brighton are one of four sides still unbeaten in the Premier League this season coming into this weekend’s games, though their last three have all been drawn (two total wins). They’ve never gone unbeaten in their first six games from the start of a top-flight campaign before.

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

16:43

With a quarter-hour left to go in the game, Brighton have not threatened enough in the second half to convince Chelsea they are capable of the comeback. After nine shots and an xG of 0.86 in the first period of play, Hurzeler’s side have only managed three off-target efforts and an expected goals of just 0.05, despite maintaining more than 50 per cent possession before and after the restart.

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

16:40

Chelsea won both Premier League meetings with Brighton last season, despite having a player sent off in each game. It’s one of just two occasions a team has won consecutive meetings with an opponent despite going down to 10 men (also Middlesbrough against Sunderland in 2002), while the Blues have never had a player sent off in three-consecutive meetings with an opponent.

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

16:36

Substitution Georginio Lucius Rutter Yankuba Minteh Moat

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

16:36

Substitution Ferdi Erenay Kadıoğlu Julio César Enciso Espínola

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

16:35

Substitution Jadon Malik Sancho Mykhailo Mudryk

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

16:35

CUCURELLA SCORES BUT IT WON’T COUNT! Sancho’s inswinging corner is flicked on at the near post by Neto, with the ball dropping kindly to Cucurella inside the six-yard box. The left-back does well to control the ball before whacking it past Verbruggen with a raised boot, but it won’t count after an offside in the build up!

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

16:35

Substitution Marc Cucurella Saseta Renato Palma Veiga

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

16:33

Jackson breaks into the penalty area after a wonderful disguised pass from Palmer and looks to beat the goalkeeper from a close-range left-footed effort, but Dunk slides across and manages to divert the effort wide for a corner.

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

16:33

Julio makes an enterprising run through the middle of the pitch before spreading play out to the right for Rutter. The winger slips a pass into the penalty area for the overlapping Ayari, who goes down after a tangle of legs with Cucurella. The referee is in a good position to spot the incident and allows play to continue, which infuriates the Brighton forwards.

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

16:31

Chelsea make their first change of the contest – sending on even more firepower – with Neto taking over from Madueke on the right wing.

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

16:31

Hinshelwood’s delivery from the free-kick doesn’t quite find Dunk at the far post, causing a bit of a panic in the penalty area, but Cucurella is able to eventually clear the danger quite emphatically.

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

16:28

Ahead of a Brighton free-kick, the referee calls Estupinan and Gusto over to have a word about some pushing and shoving. The visiting left-back needs to be careful – under the close eye of the match official after his earlier booking.

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

16:26

Jackson has been involved in 14 goals in his last 14 Premier League games for Chelsea (nine goals, five assists), two more than he’d managed in his first 27 appearances (nine goals, three assists).

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

16:24

JUST WIDE! Brighton are caught trying to play out from the back, with Verbruggen’s pass to Wieffer intercepted by a determined Caicedo, who immediately prods the ball forward for his team-mate. With only the goalkeeper to beat, Palmer can’t quite find the back of the net with his right foot, sending it whistling wide of the near post!

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

16:23

Substitution Adam Harry Webster Igor Julio dos Santos de Paulo

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

16:23

Substitution Mats Wieffer Yasin Abbas Ayari

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

16:20

Baleba’s interception immediately puts Brighton on the attack, but Rutter chooses the unselfish option, looking to split the lines with a pass for Welbeck, instead of shooting with room ahead of Cucurella. It’s the wrong choice, with Chelsea almost immediately able to clear their lines.

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

16:19

Cucurella and Sancho work an effective one-two pass on the left wing, putting the full-back in a good position for a cross. His high, hanging delivery is attacked by Jackson, who puts his header disappointingly wide of the mark.

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

16:19

CLOSE TO A FIFTH! Sancho’s inswinging corner is headed away initially by Welbeck, but only as far as Palmer 20 yards from goal. Full of confidence, the England international controls the clearance with his knee before hitting a well-timed volley towards goal. The effort forces Verbruggen to cover the top of his goal, but the ball flies narrowly over!

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

16:16

Palmer has become the first Premier League player in history to score four goals before half-time in a single match – an incredible feat for the young forward.

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

16:15

OFF THE LINE BY WEBSTER! Palmer turns provider, scooping an unbelievable first-time cross over the top of Brighton’s defence for Jackson, who manages to hold his run until the last possible second. With only the goalkeeper to beat, the striker rounds Verbruggen and sends an off-balance shot towards the open net – only to be denied by Webster, who comes flying across the goal-line to make an acrobatic stop!

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

16:15

Estupinan charges forward, beating Madueke for pace before threading it through to Mitoma. In trademark style, the winger looks to cut inside ahead of Gusto and have a shot but his touch lets him down, allowing Fofana to cut across and end the move.

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

16:12

Palmer feeds the ball through to Jackson, who waits for the pass to catch up to him before turning and lashing a left-footed shot that’s pushed behind for a corner by Verbruggen.

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

16:11

Chelsea get the match restarted from the kick-off!

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

15:56

Behind by two goals, Brighton have little option but to come forward and attack; a risky strategy considering just how open and porous their back line has been in the first half. Perhaps Moder could be a useful option in the second half to help protect the defence and keep the ball, while Enciso is a possible entrant either in attack, or in the middle of the park to help create more penetration. Minteh is also a danger down the flanks, while Chelsea will be looking to keep everything in front of them and preserve their deserved lead. Lavia could be introduced for just his third Premier League appearance for the Blues – possibly in place of the booked Fernandez – while Nkunku will likely see the pitch in an attempt to improve on his record of four goals in his last three matches.

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

15:56

An absolutely mad first half at Stamford Bridge comes to a close with Chelsea ahead by four goals to two, thanks to a four-goal first-half performance from Palmer and some poor play at the back from both sides. Brighton started the more positive of the two teams, controlling possession and linking up in neat triangles, eventually taking the lead after just seven minutes thanks to Rutter – scoring after Caicedo’s blocked clearance. It appeared an early deficit was just what Palmer needed to get going, with the England international hitting the woodwork and having a goal chalked off for offside – only to find the back of the net three times in the ensuing 10 minutes – including a superb free-kick from 30 yards out. A Sanchez mistake gave Brighton the chance to pull one back through Baleba, but Palmer was once again there to restore the Blues’ two-goal advantage, slotting an acute-angle finish past Verbruggen for four goals in 40 minutes. Enzo Maresca’s side have produced an xG of 1.95 (1.72 of that coming from Palmer alone), while Brighton scored twice on just 0.72.

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

15:55

HALF-TIME: CHELSEA 4-2 BRIGHTON

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

15:54

Hurzeler will just be looking to get his side into the half-time interval, where he can deliver additional instructions after seeing a lot of positives and negatives in the first period at Stamford Bridge. Brighton have certainly had their moments going forward, but look to be missing the presence of both Veltman and Van Hecke.

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

15:48

Rutter gets to the corner of the penalty area and cuts inside ahead of Cucurella before hitting a low drive that’s blocked by a well-placed Fernandez.

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

15:47

The fourth official indicates eight minutes will be added to the end of the half for stoppages.

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

15:47

Estupinan sends an outswinging corner towards the six-yard box looking for a late goal, but Fofana and Cucurella combine to clear Chelsea’s lines.

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

15:46

Sancho has now contributed an assist in each of his last three games, while Palmer takes his personal tally this season to six goals – only behind Erling Haaland.

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

15:43

Assist Jadon Malik Sancho

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

15:42

Goal Cole Jermaine Palmer

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

15:42

Madueke sends a skipping cross towards the penalty spot for Sancho on the other side, but a brave Verbruggen comes a long way off his line to make sure he’s first to it.

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

15:41

MADUEKE GOES WIDE! Chelsea again expose Brighton’s high line, sending the ball right over the top for Madueke. Hinshelwood tries his best to keep pace with the winger but he’s taken out of the play inside the penalty area, only for Madueke to send his acute-angle shot rippling the side-netting!

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

15:41

Despite already bagging a hat-trick in 30 minutes, Palmer could have even had more this game, with the forward denied by the frame of the goal and a narrow offside margin, in what could have been an outrageous five-goal spell. He’s on top form – replicating his production from last year

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

15:41

BRIGHTON PULL ONE BACK! 3-2! It’s a poor goal for Chelsea to concede, with Sanchez virtually passing it right to Baleba 18 yards from goal. From there, it’s a simple finish for the midfielder, who takes a touch to bring the ball under his control before slotting a cool finish past the goalkeeper to pull the lead back to one!

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

15:37

Cucurella is extremely late challenging Hinshelwood for the ball, catching the midfielder and upending him instead. It’s a yellow card for the now Chelsea – former Brighton – full-back.

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

15:32

Goal Cole Jermaine Palmer

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

15:31

Brighton’s defence is yet again breached, with Madueke getting past Dunk and Webster 30 yards from goal, until he’s tripped and send to the ground by a desperate Estupinan. It’s a yellow card for the left-back, while Chelsea demand a red.

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

15:31

Yellow Card Enzo Jeremías Fernández

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

15:30

Penalty Goal Cole Jermaine Palmer

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

15:28

Yellow Card Lewis Carl Dunk

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

15:27

There is a lengthy VAR check after the disallowed goal, with the team of referees checking to ensure that Madueke started his run in an offside position. There is also a case to be made that Sancho was unable to hold his line during the pass across the face of goal as well – with the video assistants agreeing with the on-field decision.

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

15:26

ANOTHER GOAL CHALKED OFF! Chelsea move the ball up from the back centrally, with Jackson picking up possession inside the centre-circle. The striker immediately plays a pass forward for the pacey Madueke, who latches onto it and drives into the penalty area. Looking to provide for a team-mate, he squares a pass across the face of goal for Sancho, who finishes from close range, but yet another offside call denies Chelsea by the narrowest of margins!

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

15:23

Assist Nicolas Jackson

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

15:22

Goal Cole Jermaine Palmer

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

15:22

PALMER SCORES BUT IT WON’T COUNT! Again looking for the same connection, this time Fernandez puts some air under his pass, lifting the ball over the top of the defence for the run of Palmer from inside his own half. This time, the forward makes no mistake, slotting his finish past the goalkeeper, but he’s denied by the linesman’s flag, with offside the call!

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

15:21

OFF THE POST! INCREDIBLE! Fernandez splits the Brighton defence with a superb pass forward for Palmer, putting the ball perfectly in the forward’s stride. The England international’s first touch lets him down somewhat but he still manages to drag Verbruggen off his line before chipping a cheeky finish over him – only to be denied by the base of the post!

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

15:20

Brighton are moving the ball with speed and purpose in midfield, interchanging neatly in triangles to get past the Chelsea press as they look to build attacks down the wing. Baleba and Hinshelwood have worked well in tandem with their respective full-backs, forcing the hosts onto the back foot early.

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

15:19

INSTINCTIVE SAVE FROM SANCHEZ! Hinshelwood and Baleba link up delightfully in midfield, giving Welbeck the chance to run down the right wing to latch onto the ball. The striker eventually delivers a cross into the six-yard box from a position near the byline, which takes a dangerous deflection on its way through, forcing the Chelsea goalkeeper to stick out an arm and swat it away with a closed fist!

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

15:18

Estupinan’s ensuing corner-kick is floated to the near post, but Jackson is back to do his defensive duties, powering the ball away with his head.

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

15:16

Estupinan delivers a lovely cross into the penalty area looking for the run of Welbeck, with Cucurella forced into a diving header to turn the ball behind for a Brighton corner.

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

15:13

Sancho glides into the penalty area after linking up with Cucurella, but his low, left-footed cross into the six-yard box is a tame delivery that is easily gathered by Verbruggen.

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

15:13

After being looked at both on the pitch and on the touchline, Rutter has been cleared to return to the fray, having given his side an early lead away from home!

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

15:12

Brighton take the lead but there’s no time for celebration, as the medical staff are on to the pitch to take a look at Rutter, who appears to have collided with Sanchez during his headed attempt that led to the goal. Chelsea players are circling referee Peter Bankes looking for a foul the other way, but their appeals are denied, as the goal stands!

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

15:08

Assist Carlos Noom Quomah Baleba

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

15:08

There are a number of Chelsea players who will be looking to make a good impression against their former club, with Sanchez, Cucurella and Caicedo all coming from Brighton to Stamford Bridge. No doubt the two outfield players will be desperate to score, while the goalkeeper will be looking for a third-consecutive clean sheet; with Jorgensen having featured in Chelsea’s League Cup match against Barrow.

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

15:07

Hinshelwood’s lax pass back to Wieffer is intercepted by Jackson, who plays the ball unselfishly across the edge of the 18-yard box for Sancho. The winger takes a touch to set himself before firing a shot but it’s blocked by a desperate Dunk.

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

15:04

A lovely piece of skill gets Mitoma past Gusto down the left wing, but Caicedo comes across to help narrow down the angle, with the Japan international’s cross eventually caught by Sanchez.

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

15:02

Brighton get the match underway from the kick-off!

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

14:48

Brighton make three alterations to the XI that drew 2-2 with Nottingham Forest on Sunday. Webster takes the spot of the unavailable Jan Paul van Hecke at centre-back, while Kadioglu is handed a first Premier League start with the absence of Joel Veltman. The final swap is in midfield, where Samuel Adingra is left out for Wieffer.

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

14:48

Chelsea make one change to the side that beat West Ham 3-0 seven days ago, with Gusto in for Adarabioyo at right-back, which pushes Fofana inside to centre-back.

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

14:48

BRIGHTON SUBS: Tariq Lamptey, Igor Julio, Julio Enciso, Jakub Moder, Yankuba Minteh, Jason Steele, Yasin Ayari, Evan Ferguson, Imari Samuels.

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

14:48

BRIGHTON XI (4-3-3): Bart Verbruggen; Pervis Estupinan, Lewis Dunk, Adam Webster, Ferdi Kadioglu; Carlos Baleba, Mats Wieffer, Jack Hinshelwood; Kaoru Mitoma, Danny Welbeck, Georginio Rutter.

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

14:48

CHELSEA SUBS: Axel Disasi, Tosin Adarabioyo, Pedro Neto, Mykhailo Mudryk, Filip Jorgensen, Joao Felix, Christopher Nkunku, Renato Veiga, Romeo Lavia.

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

14:48

CHELSEA XI (4-2-3-1): Robert Sanchez: Marc Cucurella, Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana, Malo Gusto; Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo; Jadon Sancho, Cole Palmer, Noni Madueke; Nicolas Jackson.

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

14:48

With 15 minutes to go before kick-off, let’s take a look at how the two sides are lining up – starting with our hosts!

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

14:38

Just one point and one place behind Chelsea, Brighton have gotten off to a flying start under new, young coach Fabian Hurzeler, with the Seagulls avoiding defeat in each of their first seven matches in all competitions. Despite the positive start, today’s visitors have gone three league games without a win, drawing against Arsenal, Ipswich Town and Nottingham Forest. A side usually known for its attacking prowess, Brighton have seemingly found their rhythm defensively, with only Liverpool and Arsenal conceding fewer goals after five matches.

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

14:32

Chelsea have bounced back from a disappointing 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace in the Premier League on the first of September, winning each of their last three matches in all competitions by an aggregate score of 9-0. Yet to experience victory in front of the Stamford Bridge faithful this campaign, Enzo Maresca’s sixth-placed side could jump all the way into second by the end of play today with three points and some help from elsewhere.

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

14:32

Hello and welcome to our LIVE commentary of the Premier League fixture between Chelsea and Brighton!

Chelsea vs Brighton & Hove Albion

13:00

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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West Ham vs Chelsea LIVE: Premier League result and reaction after visitors cruise to victory

Chelsea produced a strong performance to capitalise on an abject West Ham United showing and climb into the Premier League’s top four.

An early double from Nicolas Jackson set the visitors on course before Cole Palmer added a third in the second half to make certain of victory for Enzo Maresca’s side. After an unsettled start to the season amid off-field chaos and on-field questions, this was a third win on the bounce for Chelsea as they continue to show signs of real promise under their new manager. Jadon Sancho, making his first start, again impressed while the sometimes profligate Jackson took both of his goals nicely.

It was a rather more fretful afternoon for Julen Lopetegui, the West Ham boss casting a frustrated figure on the touchline. Midfielder Guido Rodriguez was hooked after just 35 minutes as Lopetegui tried unsuccessfully to spark his side into life. Audible boos were heard at half time while plenty of home fans headed for the exit with 15 minutes still to play after another lacklustre performance.

Re-live all the action from the London Stadium in our live blog below:

West Ham vs Chelsea LIVE

  • Chelsea climb into top four with win over lacklustre West Ham

  • Nicolas Jackson strikes twice as Cole Palmer and Jadon Sancho impress in win

  • FT: West Ham 0-3 Chelsea

  • 47’ GOAL! Jackson slides through Palmer, who rifles a high finish past Areola [WHU 0-3 CHE]

  • 18’ GOAL! Caicedo plays Jackson clean through and the striker finishes with aplomb [WHU 0-2 CHE]

  • 10’ CLOSE! Palmer sweeps wide from a quick counter [WHU 0-1 CHE]

  • 4’ GOAL! Jackson sneaks behind the defence to score an early goal [WHU 0-1 CHE]

Nicolas Jackson brace helps Chelsea ease to victory as West Ham fans turn on Julen Lopetegui

14:49 , Chris Wilson

Goals from Nicolas Jackson and Cole Palmer secured another away win for Chelsea and raised serious questions about West Ham‘s direction under new boss Julen Lopetegui.

The Spaniard looked furious as his expensively-assembled side crashed to a humiliating 3-0 defeat at home to their London rivals.

Jackson scored twice, the first within three minutes of kick-off, and Palmer added a third just moments into the second half.

It means all Lopetegui has to show for a £120m outlay on nine summer signings since replacing David Moyes is three home defeats, a scrappy win at Crystal Palace and a last-gasp draw with Fulham.

Just five matches in and the London Stadium crowd – many of whom wanted Moyes out despite the Scot overseeing the club’s most successful period in decades – turned on the new manager midway through the second half.

Chelsea ease to victory as West Ham fans turn on Lopetegui

FT: West Ham 0-3 Chelsea

15:10 , Chris Wilson

Lopetegui says that West Ham “suffered very early on, [with] two goals”.

“If you want to compete you have to be consistent. After this it is more difficult.

“We had more chances than them in the first half, we had one penalty, maybe two, and we said that one goal is going to be key in changing the match, but after we conceded a goal too.

“[We’re] very sad, very disappointed, for the fans above all, but we know that the league is long, and we have to look forward and have to change things.”

15:02 , Chris Wilson

Enzo Maresca is speaking to TNT now, and he says he is “very happy”.

“They are a very good team, they have some fantastic players, but overall it think we deserved to win the game.

“It’s quite easy, if they [the players] don’t buy [into it] they don’t play!

“They have been open minded, we have been a bit intense, but this is the moment when I need to insist.”

He adds that he is most happy with “Nicolas and Cole, because the way we prepared was to set them against three players. [They scored] the goals but especially the work off the ball.”

FT: West Ham 0-3 Chelsea

14:57 , Chris Wilson

Bowen is speaking to TNT now, and he says that he doesn’t think “we were ever in the game really”.

“I think the goals they scored were every easy, almost gifts. You have to be switched on at every moment, and they punished us.[We’re] disappointed all round.”

He says that “a number of things” went wrong.

“As a player you have to lead and rally everyone together, but I just thought we gave them too much respect in the end. I dont think we did enough today to punish them.

“We came out second half, almost nothing to lose, and we concede a goal after a minute.

“[It was] a disappointing day, but the game is done, we accept the defeat.

“The games are coming thick and fast.It’s still early in the season, still a lot of games to go, and now it’s about rallying together as a group.”

FT: West Ham 0-3 Chelsea

14:51 , Chris Wilson

Since making his debut for Chelsea in September 2023, Cole Palmer has contributed to more goals in the Premier League than any other player, with 39 G/A. Haaland is next up, with 38.

FT: West Ham 0-3 Chelsea

14:48 , Chris Wilson

Jackson adds that his confidence is “growing higher with my teammates, they help me a lot and they have confidence in me”

“We keep going. This one is finished and next week we go onto another one.

“The most important thing is for the team to win.

“I am happy to play always. To fight for the team and the team to win is the most important thing.”

FT: West Ham 0-3 Chelsea

14:43 , Chris Wilson

Palmer and Jackson spoke to TNT after the final whistle, with the Englishman saying that the London Stadium is “a tough place to come”

“A good three points, we are happy.

“Everybody knows he [Nicolas Jackson] is a top player – he needs to keep going. The Chelsea fans and players rate him highly – we know what he is capable of.

“There will always be noise, we try to block it out and listen to the manager. We have a good manager and it can only help us to get better.”

FT: West Ham 0-3 Chelsea

14:38 , Chris Wilson

While we wait for some reaction, below are the 3pm kick-offs for today.

Aston Villa v Wolves

Fulham v Newcastle

Southampton v Ipswich

Tottenham v Brentford

Leicester City v Everton

Liverpool v Bournemouth

FT: West Ham 0-3 Chelsea

14:33 , Chris Wilson

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FT: West Ham 0-3 Chelsea

14:27 , Chris Wilson

A dominant display from Chelsea that puts them into second place in the league for now.

The away side were sharp and clinical when they needed to be, and in truth it was a surprisingly easy result for them.

For West Ham, it was an abject performance that was seriously poor in some areas, with some truly terrible defending. The attacking play was better in some places, but you really have to question what Lopetegui was doing today.

FULL-TIME! West Ham 0-3 Chelsea

14:24 , Chris Wilson

95 mins

Tosin blocks Kudus’ shot on the edge of the box and Chelsea counter for the final time, and it ends with Felix driving a low shot just wide of the near post.

The final whistle goes and Chelsea take the three points in this London derby.

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West Ham 0-3 Chelsea

14:23 , Chris Wilson

92 mins

Chelsea get yet another chance to counter but Felix’s pass to Neto is a little wayward.

Soler is booked for a late challenge on Cucurella, and there’s a VAR review for a red card, but it’s dismissed by the ref.

West Ham 0-3 Chelsea

14:20 , Chris Wilson

90 mins

There’ll be four minutes of added time here.

West Ham 0-3 Chelsea

14:18 , Chris Wilson

88 mins

This match was decided a while ago and that is reflecting in the final 10 minutes of play, with neither side really looking like scoring now. Chelsea try to counter, but Soler brings down Felix.

West Ham 0-3 Chelsea

14:16 , Chris Wilson

87 mins

Bowen lays it off to Soler on the edge of the box but his shot is blocked.

West Ham 0-3 Chelsea

14:15 , Chris Wilson

86 mins

A bit of pinball in the Chelsea box ends with the offside flag going up anyway. Plenty of empty seats at the London Stadium now.

West Ham 0-3 Chelsea

14:13 , Chris Wilson

83 mins

The match is petering out as we approach the final few minutes. Enzo Fernandez is replaced by Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

West Ham 0-3 Chelsea

14:11 , Chris Wilson

80 mins

Shouts for another penalty for West Ham, but nothing given before Creswell swings in an inviting early cross that runs across goal and past Soucek and Bowen.

West Ham 0-3 Chelsea

14:09 , Chris Wilson

78 mins

Another Chelsea corner is delivered, this one by Neto, but it’s eventually cleared as West Ham fans begin to exit the stadium in their droves. An alarming performance, with a huge lack of intensity from their side.

West Ham 0-3 Chelsea

14:05 , Chris Wilson

75 mins

Another promising Chelsea counter as it’s flicked to Madueke on the right wing, but his is cleared away for a corner.

Caicedo ends up clipping in the cross to the back post and it’s headed back across goal to Nkunku, who’s unmarked, but he can only direct his header too close to a scrambling Areola.

West Ham 0-3 Chelsea

14:03 , Chris Wilson

72 mins

The home side bring on Aaron Creswell and Andy Irving for Paqueta and Emerson.

West Ham 0-3 Chelsea

14:01 , Chris Wilson

71 mins

Kudus tries to lead a West Ham counter but he’s scythed down by Cucurella, who is booked.

West Ham 0-3 Chelsea

14:00 , Chris Wilson

69 mins

Kudus gets in behind the Chelsea defence, but his cut-back cross is caught by Sanchez. West Ham attack again, but once more it’s a poor cross straight into the hands of the Chelsea ‘keeper.

West Ham 0-3 Chelsea

13:58 , Chris Wilson

68 mins

More activity now! Two nice combinations in as many minutes from Chelsea as Fernandez lays it off to Caicedo, whose shit is deflected behind.

Felix delivers the corner, but Areola punches it away, though Chelsea win another corner almost straight away.

Fernandez takes this one short, and it ends with Felix floating a ball towards the back post, with the offside flag eventually raised.

West Ham 0-3 Chelsea

13:56 , Chris Wilson

66 mins

A lull in activity here, probably due to the changes made by both sides upsetting the rhythm of the game.

A good Chelsea move ends with Felix smashing a half-volley into the side-netting.

West Ham 0-3 Chelsea

13:53 , Chris Wilson

63 mins

Antonio wins another corner as Chelsea prepare more changes. Once again, out of nowhere, Chelsea clear it and break, and they have a three-on-one. It goes wide to Madueke, and he bursts into the box before firing a shot that’s too close to Areola.

Palmer and Jackson come off for Joao Felix and Christopher Nkunku.

West Ham 0-3 Chelsea

13:51 , Chris Wilson

60 mins

Disasi’s first major involvement is to head Wan-Bissaka’s cross behind for a corner. Bowen swings it in, but Sanchez collects easily. Chelsea counter, with plenty of space and the numerical advantage, but Jackson and Madueke can’t make the most of it.

West Ham 0-3 Chelsea

13:48 , Chris Wilson

58 mins

Wan-Bissaka clips a cross towards the back post that Kudus hits back across goal, but it’s cut out at the last, before Soucek fires at Sanchez from distance.

West Ham 0-3 Chelsea

13:46 , Chris Wilson

56 mins

Soler overlaps with Bowen and clips in a cross towards Antonio, but it’s headed away. The home side come again, with Kudus trying to send it long to Antonio, but Sanchez is there to intercept.

Fofana and Sancho come off for Axel Disasi and Pedro Neto.

West Ham 0-3 Chelsea

13:43 , Chris Wilson

53 mins

Paqueta dribbles past a couple of men in the box but can’t get the shot away under pressure, before Palmer is fouled on the break.

Michail Antonio and Carlos Soler replace Summerville and Alvarez.

The home crowd boo as Summerville is replaced.

West Ham 0-3 Chelsea

13:41 , Chris Wilson

50 mins

West Ham try to mount a decent attack but Paqeuta’s cross is cut out by Tosin, before Bowen gets onto the clipped ball over the top and fizzes a half-volley straight at Sanchez at the near post.

GOAL! West Ham 0-3 Chelsea

13:38 , Chris Wilson

47mins

GOAL!

Chelsea counter quickly, started by Nicolas Jackson, with the striker holding the ball up in his own half. He makes the one-two with Jackson, who drives towards the box before slipping in a through ball into the path of Palmer. The England winger is on his weaker foot but it’s no problem, as he rifles a high finish past the ‘keeper.

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West Ham 0-2 Chelsea

13:36 , Chris Wilson

46 mins

No changes from either side at half-time. West Ham attack but it’s cut out.

KICK-OFF! West Ham 0-2 Chelsea

13:34 , Chris Wilson

Back underway in east London.

HT: West Ham 0-2 Chelsea

13:33 , Chris Wilson

Both sides are emerging from the tunnel again at the London Stadium, so we’ll be back in action soon.

HT: West Ham 0-2 Chelsea

13:28 , Chris Wilson

A poor first half from the home side overall, with the defending for the two goals among some of the worst you will see this season.

In attack, they managed to create some decent opportunities, but this game has got away from them and their defensive fragility looks like it could be revealed again at any moment.

For Chelsea, they’ll go into the break absolutely delighted, but also a little confused as to how they’re 2-0 up while barely having to take their foot off the gas.

The home fans will be hoping for a way back into the game, but it’s difficult to see one at this point, even if Chelsea do sometimes look fragile in defence themselves.

13:25 , Chris Wilson

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HALF-TIME: West Ham 0-2 Chelsea

13:19 , Chris Wilson

A free-kick almost finds its way to Kilman, but the home side win the corner, which is eventually cleared.

The referee blows the whistle and the hosts are booed off at half-time.

A poor performance in the first 25 minutes, with some ridiculous defending, and though they got back into it a bit in the last few minutes, it looks like too little too late.

West Ham 0-2 Chelsea

13:17 , Chris Wilson

45 mins

Mavropanos heads the free-kick wide, and there’ll be two minutes of added time here.

West Ham 0-2 Chelsea

13:17 , Chris Wilson

44 mins

Madueke is in behind down the right and he clips in a cross, but there was nobody there to meet it. Summerville leads a West Ham counter, and he wins a free-kick on the edge of the area.

Fofana is booked for dragging him down.

West Ham 0-2 Chelsea

13:15 , Chris Wilson

42 mins

Sanchez and Kudus fight for a ball and the West Ham man wins it, but he can only hook a cross well past his teammates before the home side concede a free-kick.

West Ham 0-2 Chelsea

13:13 , Chris Wilson

40 mins

Great work again from Kudus to skip past Cucurella in the box and cross it t Soucek, who rifles a low shot straight at Sanchez.

West Ham 0-2 Chelsea

13:11 , Chris Wilson

37 mins

Soucek replaces Guido Rodriguez.

Bowen is fouled on halfway, but West Ham can’t build anything as Paqueta runs it out of play.

West Ham 0-2 Chelsea

13:08 , Chris Wilson

36 mins

Summerville leads the home side’s counter as he almost gets on to the end of the through ball from Wan-Bissaka, but it runs to Sanchez.

Tomas Soucek is preparing to come on for the home side.

West Ham 0-2 Chelsea

13:06 , Chris Wilson

34 mins

Once again Chelsea get into the West Ham box too easily down the left, but despite good feet from Sancho they can’t make anything of it.

West Ham 0-2 Chelsea

13:05 , Chris Wilson

32 mins

DISALLOWED GOAL!

West Ham think they’ve pulled one back after some great play, but Kudus was well offside.

Nice combinations on the edge of the Chelsea box before the Ghanaian is slipped through, but he had strayed offside before rifling the shot past Sanchez.

The home side have grown into the game in the last five minutes or so, and arguably should’ve had a penalty too!

West Ham 0-2 Chelsea

13:03 , Chris Wilson

29 mins

The commentators say they are ‘surprised’ that hasn’t been given, VAR went with the original decision from referee Sam Barrott. VAR says the contact was ‘fleeting’.

West Ham come again as Bowen sends in a corner, but it’s headed away.

West Ham 0-2 Chelsea

13:00 , Chris Wilson

26 mins

Good play from West Ham as they clip it wide to Kudus, who brings it down on his chest and cuts in before hitting a deflected shot to Sanchez.

Moments later there are shouts for a penalty as it looks like Summerville is pulled down, but the ref waves it away. VAR are looking at it, but Chelsea clear.

West Ham 0-2 Chelsea

12:57 , Chris Wilson

25 mins

Good defensive work from Caicedo to stop the run from Kudus, but the home side win the ball back once more. This is their first little period of sustained pressure.

West Ham 0-2 Chelsea

12:55 , Chris Wilson

23 mins

A good defensive header from Colwill gives West Ham a corner after their first good bit of attacking play so far.

Bowen swings it in, but both attempts are headed away before he slips a ball into the box for Paqueta. The Brazilian returns the pass, but Bowen fires well wide after attempting a first-time side-footed finish.

West Ham 0-2 Chelsea

12:53 , Chris Wilson

20 mins

West Ham go on the offensive and manage to win a corner, but you’re already wondering whether it’s too little too late.

The ball in is headed away, but the home side keep possession until it eventually runs to Sanchez once more.

GOAL! West Ham 0-2 Chelsea

12:51 , Chris Wilson

17 mins

GOAL! Another one for the away side! So simple once again.

Enzo lays it off to Caicedo in the centre circle, and the Ecuadorian plays a first time pass that immediately splits the West Ham defence. Jackson is clean through again, and he surges into the box before slipping an accomplished finish past Areola.

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West Ham 0-1 Chelsea

12:48 , Chris Wilson

15 mins

The set-piece is taken by Paqueta, but it’s straight at the Chelsea wall. They keep possession but are forced backwards, until Paqueta tries a clipped through ball that runs to Sanchez.

West Ham 0-1 Chelsea

12:46 , Chris Wilson

13 mins

West Ham are struggling to settle here, and they don’t look comfortable when defending or in possession.

Another long ball forward goes straight to a Chelsea defender, and the away side are happy to keep possession near their box briefly, before it’s fired wide to Palmer and then Madueke, but the attack breaks down.

Emerson leads the counter but he’s so isolated, though he does well to win a free-kick near the edge of the area.

West Ham 0-1 Chelsea

12:43 , Chris Wilson

10 mins

CLOSE!

Sanchez comes to meet the long ball and Chelsea just about manage to clear.

The away side build from the back, with Cucurella sliding in a pass to Jackson in the channel. The striker darts inside and squares it to Palmer, who sweeps a shot just wide of the far post.

West Ham 0-1 Chelsea

12:40 , Chris Wilson

7 mins

Great play from Bowen to turn Tosin on halfway, and he wins a free-kick. It’s spread wide for Kudus, and he whips in a lovely early cross that just creeps over the head of Summerville.

West Ham 0-1 Chelsea

12:38 , Chris Wilson

6 mins

That goal was almost surreal. Jackson was pretty much clean through from halfway! Almost looks like he couldn’t even believe it was that easy.

The home side look to get back into it straight away but the attack breaks down.

Chelsea come again, but Sancho’s pass in-behind runs to Areola.

GOAL! West Ham 0-1 Chelsea

12:37 , Chris Wilson

4 mins

GOAL! West Ham have fallen asleep! What on Earth has happened there?

Chelsea win a free-kick near halfway and Jackson takes it quickly. He exchanges passes before making the run in-behind the defence, and he’s in acres of space as he surges into the box.

It’s a tight angle but he produces a great finish to sneak it past Areola.

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West Ham 0-0 Chelsea

12:35 , Chris Wilson

3 mins

Palmer is clipped early on but the referee plays advantage. West Ham maybe giving an indication of what Chelsea are in for there.

The home side get their first chance to counter and it’s led by Kudus. He drives into the box and hits a half-cross, half-shot straight at Sanchez.

West Ham 0-0 Chelsea

12:34 , Chris Wilson

2 mins

Not a single starter or sub from today’s squad was involved the last time Chelsea won here, in 2021.

The away side have started fairly confidently though, knocking it around the back with plenty of composure.

KICK-OFF! West Ham 0-0 Chelsea

12:31 , Chris Wilson

KICK-OFF!

The home side get us underway at the London Stadium.

West Ham vs Chelsea LIVE

12:25 , Chris Wilson

Not far from kick-off in east London, with both sides about to take their place in the tunnel.

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Maresca speaks to TNT

12:23 , Chris Wilson

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca tells TNT that it “nice to be back” at West Ham, where he “spent almost two years” as assistant manager, “with some good players and good human beings.

“For sure the results are always important. The main thing is to see how the team progress and adapt. I think we’re going in the right direction.”

On Jadon Sancho starting, he says: “It was not simple [choice] because we have more players. But we decided on Jadon and hope it is the right decision.”

Chelsea match facts

12:20 , Chris Wilson

Chelsea could win their opening three away games of a Premier League season for the first time since 2017/18.

The Blues’ 1-0 win at Bournemouth last weekend ended a run of 20 consecutive away matches in all competitions without a clean sheet.

In 2024, only Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool have earned more points in the Premier League than Chelsea’s 42.

The Blues have been shown 16 yellow cards this season, more than any other side in the top flight. Eight of those came in their last game against Bournemouth.

Christopher Nkunku has currently scored more goals for Chelsea (6) than he has made starts (5).

Match facts

12:15 , Chris Wilson

West Ham could begin a season with three straight home league defeats for the first time if they were to lose today. The Hammers have faced a league-high 73 shots across their opening four matches, and they have failed to keep a clean sheet in 11 home league games since a 0-0 draw versus Brighton in January.

Lopetegui’s side have won only two of their 12 Premier League home fixtures in 2024 (D6, L4), beating Brentford 4-2 and Luton 3-1.

The Hammers are the first club to play their opening five matches of a Premier League season in London since Charlton Athletic in 2006-07. Their first league game outside the capital isn’t until early November.

Michail Antonio could become the first player to reach 100 Premier League goal involvements for West Ham today – he currently has 67 goals and 32 assists.

West Ham v Chelsea head-to-head

12:10 , Chris Wilson

These two sides have met a total of 122 times, with the first meeting taking place in 1923. Chelsea have won 55 matches, with West Ham winning 44 and 23 ending as draws.

Chelsea have won 30 of the 56 Premier League meetings between the two – they’ve only beaten Tottenham more often in the division (35 times).

The home team won both Premier League matches last season: 3-1 for West Ham at the London Stadium and 5-0 for Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

12:05 , Chris Wilson

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Chelsea start WSL season and new era with win

12:00 , Chris Wilson

Their men are in action this afternoon but Chelsea’s women can kick back and relax having got the job done, just about, at Kingsmeadow last night. Jamie Braidwood was there to watch the start of the Sonia Bompastor era.

Chelsea require an unexpected hero to get Sonia Bompastor era off to winning start

Enzo Maresca backs players over strike threat

11:50 , Chris Wilson

Footballers are playing too many games and not enough is being done to protect them, according to Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca.

In the same week that Manchester City’s Rodri suggested fotballers could strike in response to fixture congestion and a lack of consultation from governing bodies, Maresca said that refusing to play “could be an idea” and hinted he believes players would be right to take action against the number of games they are being made to play.

Chelsea and City are due to take part in FIFA’s inaugural Club World Cup in the United States next summer, further limiting the amount of downtime players will get in between seasons following Euro 2024 and ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

Asked whether he felt there were too many games in the current football calendar, Maresca said: “Yes, no doubt.

“In terms of games, it’s too much. I don’t think we protect players. We can say what we think and for me it’s completely wrong the amount of games that we have.

“The only ones that can do something are the players and we can help them. In the last two weeks some of the players have tried to explain what they think. I think it’s a good starting point.

“Some of them have said (they could strike). I think it could be an idea for them.”

Rodri warns players could strike over increase in fixtures: ‘We are close to that’

Julen Lopetegui not pre-occupied by potential Lucas Paqueta betting ban

11:40 , Chris Wilson

West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui has not spoken with Lucas Paqueta about the FA gambling charges and possible suspension hanging over the Brazilian, and admitted he is reluctant to load too much creative responsibility on to the playmaker after a muted beginning to the season.

The 27-year-old is facing a lengthy ban if found guilty of breaching regulations relating to “spot fixing” in four Premier League matches during the 2022/23 season, when it is alleged he deliberately got booked in order to influence the betting market.

The Hammers have made a mixed start to life under Lopetegui with just one win in their first four league fixtures, and are yet to pick up a point at home ahead of Saturday’s meeting with Chelsea at the London Stadium.

The limited impact made so far by Paqueta, whose only goal involvement came via a penalty in the 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa, has not helped as the former Real Madrid and Spain coach seeks to transform the team’s playing style from the defensive football favoured by predecessor David Moyes into a more expressive brand of play.

The drawn-out nature of the FA’s disciplinary process means the former Lyon winger is likely to be available to play for much of this season, and the manager said he is satisfied with what he has seen so far.

“I’m happy with his behaviour and his commitment,” said Lopetegui. “He’s working very hard, he’s trying to understand what we want. We’re trying to help him to be better and better. He’s an important player.

“I don’t want to put this kind of responsibility on one player. He has to do the best he can about the offensive phase and defensive phase.

“When he is focused on the defensive work he is a much better player and we try to encourage him to always be focused in a defensive way as well as an offensive way.

“He managed (the betting scandal) in a good way. We try to help him, because until now he is one player more.

“But we don’t talk about (the charges). We talk about football, about the next match and about life. But not about this.”

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Ben Chilwell handed Chelsea lifeline as Enzo Maresca considers him for selection

11:30 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Ben Chilwell has been handed a Chelsea lifeline after head coach Enzo Maresca confirmed he is under consideration for selection after returning to training with the first team.

The England defender appeared to have no future at Stamford Bridge in August when he was not included in the core group of 22 or 23 players the Italian considered to be his first-team squad, and was told he could leave.

However, he has been named amongst the club’s 25-man squad eligible to play in the Premier League, and ahead of Saturday’s trip to face West Ham Maresca said the situation had changed.

Ben Chilwell handed Chelsea lifeline as Enzo Maresca considers him for selection

Chelsea team news

11:27 , Chris Wilson

Enzo Maresca had made three changes to the side that snuck a 1-0 win against Bournemouth last week. In defence, Axel Disasi drops out for summer signing Tosin Adarabioyo, with Wesley Fofana moving to right-back.

Captiain Enzo Fernandez returns to midfield in place of Renato Veiga, while Pedro Neto drops out for fellow summer signing Jadon Sancho, who got the assist last week along with the man of the match award.

West Ham team news

11:22 , Chris Wilson

West Ham manager Julen Lopetegui has made just two changes to the side that drew to Fulham last weekend. Kudus moves into the striker position, with Michail Antonio replaced by Crysencio Summerville.

Tomas Soucek makes way for Lucas Paqueta as an attacking midfielder.

West Ham line-up

11:19 , Chris Wilson

West Ham XI: Areola; Wan-Bissaka, Mavropanos, Kilman, Emerson; Alvarez, Rodriguez; Bowen, Paqueta, Sumerville; Kudus.

Subs: Fabianski, Creswell, Soler, Coufal, Antonio, Ings, Todibo, Soucek, Irving.

Line-ups

11:17 , Chris Wilson

Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Fofana, Tosin, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Enzo; Madueke, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson.

Subs: Jorgensen, Badiashile, Disasi, Neto, Veiga, Dewsbury-Hall, Mudryk, Felix, Nkunku.

Team news on the way…

11:10 , Harry Latham-Coyle

A 12.30 kick off means a bit of morning Premier League team news – we will very soon find out this afternoon’s combatants at the London Stadium. Will Enzo Maresca stick with a settled side? Does Julen Lopetegui have a curveball up his sleeve?

Enzo Maresca urges his Chelsea players to ignore external noise

11:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Enzo Maresca told his Chelsea players to continue to shut out external noise after they secured a second Premier League win of the season with a 1-0 victory at Bournemouth last weekend.

The Blues remained in the headlines during the September international break after reports emerged of a rift between co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali.

It is the latest off-field problem for Maresca to handle after he fielded various questions over the future of several players during a busy summer of transfer activity.

Enzo Maresca urges his Chelsea players to ignore external noise

West Ham vs Chelsea LIVE

06:25 , Harry Latham-Coyle

A very good morning and welcome along to The Independent’s live coverage of the opening clash of the Premier League weekend. It’s to the east of London we head as West Ham prepare to host Chelsea in an intriguing little lunch-time number to whet the appetite ahead of a busy weekend in the English top flight.

Kick off is at 12.30pm BST.


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Marc Cucurella holds off Daichi Kamada (Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

Chelsea v Crystal Palace LIVE: Result and final score from Premier League clash after Eberechi Eze levels

Marc Cucurella holds off Daichi Kamada (Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

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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 (Getty Images)

Wolves vs Chelsea LIVE: Premier League result and final score as Noni Madueke hits hat-trick in goalfest

(Getty Images)

Chelsea showed their attacking potential to give Enzo Maresca a first-ever top-flight win as a manager, as they swamped a defensively-dreadful Wolves to win 6-2 in the Premier League.

An even first half saw the scoring go back and forth, Nicolas Jackson’s early opener cancelled out by Matheus Cunha before Cole Palmer and Jorgen Strand Larsen swapped strikes right before the break.

But after the restart it was all about the blues’ attack, with Noni Madueke scoring a hat-trick – all set up by Palmer – and sub Joao Felix adding a late sixth on his second debut for the club to give the Maresca era a big first league win and plenty of talking points. For Wolves, a fast improvement is needed after they disappeared entirely, leading to a mostly empty stadium by the final whistle.

Follow all the reaction from Wolves vs Chelsea in the blog below

Wolves vs Chelsea LIVE

  • Wolves XI: Sa; Doherty, Mosquera, Toti, Ait-Nouri; Bellegarde, Lemina, Gomes; Cunha, Larsen, Hwang.

  • Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Madueke, Palmer, Mudryk; Jackson.

  • Goal – Jackson gives Chelsea lead after just two minutes

  • Goal – Cunha fires in to level up for Wolves after half an hour

  • Goal – Palmer scores brilliant lob right before the break to restore Chelsea’s lead

  • Goal – Strand Larsen immediately equalises with finish on the stretch

  • Goal – Madueke scores straight after half-time for 3-2 to Chelsea

  • Goal – Madueke nets his second from Palmer assist

  • Goal – Madueke completes his hat-trick with low finish after an hour

  • Goal – Joao Felix scores off the bench on his second debut for Chelsea

Wolverhampton Wanderers FC 2 – 6 Chelsea FC

FT – Wolves 2-6 Chelsea

16:30 , Karl Matchett

At the other end of the scale, while the defensive unit must be questioned, Jose Sa in particular was very poor in goal. Nothing he could do about some, like Felix’s finish, but conceding six from eight shots on target isn’t a great look – three went through or straight past him.

Wolves actually had a better xG than Chelsea for the game, believe it or not: 1.92 – 1.56.

Wasn’t anything like a close finish to the actual scoreline, however.

FT – Wolves 2-6 Chelsea

16:23 , Karl Matchett

For Wolves, there were positives to pick out in individuals, but certainly not defensively or in that team performance.

In attack, Cunha was typically excellent but Jorgen Strand Larsen served notice he’ll be vital for them if he’s fit and given service – lots of work rate, created a couple of openings, scored with a deft touch and kept the Chelsea defence guessing.

Lemina kept up his level, too.

FT – Wolves 2-6 Chelsea

16:12 , Karl Matchett

Madueke will get the headlines for his treble but Cole Palmer produced the goods today too – not a non-stop performance for him but one beautiful goal and three assists – all for Madueke – clearly mark him out as a key player for Maresca once more.

Ideal for Maresca in attack too, with both starter and sub up front scoring, Jackson and Felix.

FT – Wolves 2-6 Chelsea

16:05 , Karl Matchett

One or two boos as the full time whistle goes, but in truth most of the Wolves fans have either gone or gone quiet long ago.

Madueke hands his jersey to an elderly fan in the crowd, hops back over the barriers and off he goes in search of the matchball – he scored a hat-trick to clinch the points.

90+6’ – Wolves 2-6 Chelsea

16:03 , Karl Matchett

So much space in front of the Wolves defence – the running has stopped and so have the challenges.

Felix turns again and drives on for 15 yards, but picks Neto instead of Madueke for the pass and it’s intercepted.

Much to ponder for Wolves before their next match, against Burnley in the League Cup in midweek and then Forest next week in the league.

90+2’ – Wolves 2-6 Chelsea

15:57 , Karl Matchett

Into stoppage time we go and we’ll have eight minutes for unknown reasons. Lots of goals and subs sure, though the first 30 seconds of celebration time aren’t supposed to be added on any more.

Madueke rockets another shot wide from the edge of the box, as Doyle comes on as a late Wolves sub.

It’s all but done now here, pending any more late disasterclasses at the back for the home team.

88’ – Wolves 2-6 Chelsea

15:54 , Karl Matchett

Just a couple of minutes left for Wolves to endure – plenty of their fans have already departed, of course.

Chelsea will be thinking they are in a good spot to take on Servette in that second leg of the Conference qualifier in midweek, before then hosting Crystal Palace next weekend.

Meanwhile Nkunku and Felix link on the edge of the box but the latter’s shot is deflected over.

84’ – Wolves 2-6 Chelsea

15:50 , Karl Matchett

Veiga and Nkunku on for Cucurella and Palmer in another double sub for Maresca.

How many positives can the Chelsea boss take from today? They certainly controlled more of the second half but it felt like Wolves stepped off, more than Chelsea forced them to.

This has been desperate defensive work from the hosts all the same, but the visitors were equally poor in their own third of the pitch first half.

Still, score six every week and you won’t lose too many…

GOAL! 80’ – Wolves 2-6 Chelsea

15:47 , Karl Matchett

Incredible, another goal – and Joao Felix has scored on his second debut!

A brilliant break down the left sees Neto surging into space behind the defence, he cuts it back right into the path of Felix who has run from deep and his first-time finish is controlled and clinical, side-footed hard past Sa and in for 6-2.

What a scoreline.

78’ – Wolves 2-5 Chelsea

15:45 , Karl Matchett

Wow, what a finish – but it won’t count. A free-kick is clipped to Toti again and his header eventually lands to Lemina on the edge of the box – a half-volley scrapes off Dewsbury-Hall and in for 5-3…except the flag is up and Toti was offside from the initial set piece.

Chelsea still have a three goal lead.

74’ – Wolves 2-5 Chelsea

15:41 , Karl Matchett

Caicedo initially continued after treatment but he’s down again now and will be replaced. Dewsbury-Hall comes on for him as Maresca has a word with Cucurella, presumably to keep his head after being booked.

A good away win this, once they see it out.

70’ – Wolves 2-5 Chelsea

15:37 , Karl Matchett

Caicedo is down and needing attention after a big challenge from Mosquera – Chelsea players aren’t happy with the tackle and Cucurella gets right in his face, a few players quickly again coming together to clash for about the third time today.

Mosquera and Cucurella both booked.

66’ – Wolves 2-5 Chelsea

15:34 , Karl Matchett

Well, if Maresca’s Chelsea side is just to be a “we’ll score more than you” type of team, they’ll be well worth watching this term.

Defensively they looked extremely vulnerable in the first half, but in attack Wolves haven’t come close to stopping them.

Joao Felix is coming on for Jackson – a second debut following his earlier loan.

Wolves swap Dawson, Sarabia and Rodrigo Gomes for Ait-Nouri, Cunha and Bellegarde.

GOAL! 62’ – Wolves 2-5 Chelsea

15:31 , Karl Matchett

Could be anything, this. Chelsea under pressure but two passes get them past Wolves’ midfield, Palmer runs in down the right channel and lashes a shot in near post – strikes the outside of the woodwork and wide, he should have passed across to Madueke.

It doesn’t matter though because Palmer immediately has another opportunity this time does roll in Madueke…and he buries his hattrick!

5-2 to Chelsea!

GOAL! 58’ – Wolves 2-4 Chelsea

15:25 , Karl Matchett

And that might be enough for the Blues! Cole Palmer finds space, frees Madueke on the overlap and the right winger drills one through the legs of Sa, who has been beaten by everything today.

It’s 4-2 to Chelsea and they have a two-goal lead for the first time today.

54’ – Wolves 2-3 Chelsea

15:23 , Karl Matchett

Colwill drives past Ait-Nouri who takes him down – the left-back is on a yellow card, remember.

Lemina drills one over the bar from range for Wolves, minutes after the home crowd berate Hwang for moving out of a challenge with Neto.

GOAL! 49’ – Wolves 2-3 Chelsea

15:15 , Karl Matchett

What is going on in this game! Out of nothing again, Chelsea just switch it left to right, Madueke drifts in and shoots – it hits Ait-Nouri and bounces past Sa into the far corner, Chelsea ahead for a third time!

48’ – Wolves 2-2 Chelsea

15:14 , Karl Matchett

Enzo Fernandez robbed of the ball once more – he hasn’t had a great game so far. Wolves looking to keep the pressure on in the middle of the park, where Gomes and Lemina have had the upper hand so far.

46’ – Wolves 2-2 Chelsea

15:12 , Karl Matchett

Back underway. Sub for Chelsea at the break now as Pedro Neto is on for Mudryk. He’s straight into the action against his old team but Mosquera is there to fend him off.

15:03 , Karl Matchett

Well, a lot to unpack there:

Nicolas Jackson headed in the opener with basically the first attack of the game, a corner after two minutes.

The Blues were stronger in that early period but Wolves came back into it, had one disallowed and missed a couple of other chances – then Matheus Cunha barrelled in the equaliser after a great Ait-Nouri run.

It looked like that would be it for the first half as both spurned chances, but a long Sanchez pass found Jackson, who hooked one on for Cole Palmer – and he produced a great lob to put Chelsea back ahead.

In stoppage time at the end of the half, though, Wolves were level once more as Jorgen Strand Larsen stretched out a boot to make it 2-2 from a Toni knock-down.

 (Getty Images) (Getty Images)

(Getty Images)

HT: Wolves 2-2 Chelsea

14:57 , Karl Matchett

A wild half comes to a close with a mid-air crash but Gomes and Jackson are fine after some treatment.

Four goals, a whole host of other chances and plenty of very questionable defensive work.

Both managers might want a word to tighten things up!

GOAL! 45+6’ – Wolves 2-2 Chelsea

14:53 , Karl Matchett

…and would you believe it, we’re all square again!

A clipped ball to the far post sees Toti nod across the six-yard box, no Chelsea defender is faced the right way to clear and Strand Larsen is there to reach out a big right leg and divert it past Sanchez and in!

It’s back to all square, 2-2 before the break.

45+4’ – Wolves 1-2 Chelsea

14:51 , Karl Matchett

Well inside stoppage time – elsewhere Bournemouth lead Newcastle. You can follow that in our other live blog running alongside this one.

No great push from Wolves to get themselves back on level terms and they look a bit deflated after conceding that soft second goal.

Madueke fouls Cunha about eight yards outside the box and there’s a final chance to deliver for the hosts before the break…

GOAL! 45’ – Wolves 1-2 Chelsea

14:47 , Karl Matchett

Scrap all of that!!

Wolves’ free-kick ends up wide, Chelsesa launch it forward, Jackson flicks it on and Palmer runs in to clip a lobbed finish, first time, over Sa and into the net from 25 yards!

Fantastic finish and timing from the attacking midfielder but how have Wolves switched off like that before the break, Toti was the only one back!

Six minutes added on.

44’ – Wolves 1-1 Chelsea

14:45 , Karl Matchett

Final minutes before the break and it was so close a brilliant goal with the move of the game! Joao Gomes drags Wolves upfield once more and Lemina then splits the defence with a take-on and a pass, the cut-back finds Cunha and his strike is deflected past Sanchez and onto the crossbar by Colwill!

Almost brilliant but Chelsea escape and will probably be glad to get into the dressing rooms level, despite that fast start they made. Cole Palmer is then next into the book for berating the ref after a foul.

40’ – Wolves 1-1 Chelsea

14:41 , Karl Matchett

A total mix-up between Toti and Sa as a bouncing ball is left by both, then gone for by both – it bounces off the keeper, hits the onrushing Jackson on the heel and rolls away to safety. Massive let-off for Wolves.

Neto – and Joao Felix – go out for a warm-up with a few minutes left before the break. Interesting to see what reception he gets if the ex-Wolves man comes on.

Five minutes until the interval. Gusto is booked now for tripping Cunha who was off on a counter – bit of a dramatic fall but it was certainly card-worthy for stopping the attack in any case.

36’ – Wolves 1-1 Chelsea

14:37 , Karl Matchett

Yellow card for Ait-Nouri now and a shooting chance from the free-kick for Cole Palmer, who has been a little quiet in the last 15 minutes. Straight into the wall. Strand Larsen leaps and heads it away, goes down, shakes it off and gets on with it.

Think they love him here already, plenty of chasing, challenging and genuinely smart hard work.

32’ – Wolves 1-1 Chelsea

14:34 , Karl Matchett

Ait-Nouri pings a brilliant cross from the left this time and it’s just a yard ahead of Larsen, who is stretching in the middle to reach it.

Chelsea struggling to match their own early intensity and in this entire half it has seemed both teams could score every time they reach the penalty box.

Another corner is swung in from the right but the blues this time repel the danger – and the second delivery.

GOAL! 27’ – Wolves 1-1 Chelsea

14:30 , Karl Matchett

It has been coming…and now Wolves are level! Ait-Nouri strides forward after winning the ball, beats Fernandez twice and flicks a reverse pass to Cunha who blazes a finish high and central past Sanchez and in for 1-1!

Great run from the left-back, fine finish.

Yet again after the goal goes in, there’s a clash between both sets of players – unclear if definitely that’s Cunha saying something to Jackson because of what he said after the first goal, but it looks like it.

The ref has a word with all involved and on we go.

24’ – Wolves 0-1 Chelsea

14:26 , Karl Matchett

Lemina is the new Wolves captain and he makes a brilliant recovery challenge on Mudryk here, sliding back as the Ukrainian threatens to sprint away into the box.

Doherty is down now and needing some attention for Wolves – they are without Nelson Semedo through suspension at right-back, remember.

20’ – Wolves 0-1 Chelsea

14:21 , Karl Matchett

Crazy match! Shouldn’t really still be 1-0. Chelsea spurn another chance with a shot from Madueke causing problems but Palmer and Jackson unable to get control to shoot afterwards.

Then it’s back down the other end and Larsen crosses low again for Cunha at the far post – this time he pokes wide on the stretch!

Sa needs a bit of attention with a possible hamstring issue but there’s a bit of treatment and on he goes.

17’ – Wolves 0-1 Chelsea

14:18 , Karl Matchett

Nobody is defending in this game! Jackson breaks through behind the defence and is in on goal before Mosquera makes a great recovery run and challenge, then 10 seconds later Larsen is through, squares for Cunha and he finishes beyond Sanchez – but the offside flag is up against the new addition.

VAR confirms it and we stay at 0-1.

14’ – Wolves 0-1 Chelsea

14:17 , Karl Matchett

Cunha runs in behind the defence this time and slides for a ball which is just overhit – Sanchez is out quickly and deflects it away bravely, both players colliding but fine to get up and continue.

Now Wolves are just showing their teeth and getting a few passes together in the final third finally.

Cucurella loses out but a combination of Fofana and Gusto clears the latest moment of danger. Now it’s Chelsea who need to wake up and find some control.

10’ – Wolves 0-1 Chelsea

14:12 , Karl Matchett

Very close to an equaliser from this corner too – the right-footed delivery from Cunha is met by Mosquera with a giant leap and powerful header, but his effort flies just past the post instead of inside it.

Strand Larsen is next to try running at the Chelsea defence but he’s closed out by Fofana – the on-loan attacker tries to get the crowd going, since none of the football has so far.

6’ – Wolves 0-1 Chelsea

14:10 , Karl Matchett

The home side still haven’t really got to grips with Chelsea and have hardly had a spell of possession so far.

Chelsea looking to press their early advantage and make the most of that brilliant start.

Now a first ball out to the left for Bellegarde to race at the defence sees Wolves win a corner – good recovery from Gusto to track back and make the challenge.

GOAL! 2’ – Wolves 0-1 Chelsea

14:05 , Karl Matchett

And from the resulting set piece, the first goal of the game! Palmer’s corner comes in and is flicked on by Cunha, but totally unmarked at the far post is Nicolas Jackson who rises and buries a header past Sa and in!

Not even two minutes on the clock and the visitors are in front.

A bit of a skirmish in the aftermath of the goal between two sets of players but Wolves are behind and pay the price for that very slow start!

1’ – Wolves 0-0 Chelsea

14:03 , Karl Matchett

First opening for the visitors as Noni Madueke skips inside and shoots low – Sa forced into a good save! Wolves need to wake up, they look sluggish and a bit off the early pace.

0’ – Wolves 0-0 Chelsea

14:02 , Karl Matchett

We are underway! Chelsea get us kicked off after a minute’s applause.

Two clubs who lost last weekend, both hopeful of far more in the season to come.

Cole Palmer lining up centrally for the Blues, just off the striker – how much havoc can he cause?

Wolves vs Chelsea live – latest updates

13:55 , Karl Matchett

Into the final minutes ahead of the start of Sunday’s action – elsewhere you can follow Bournemouth vs Newcastle live too but we’ll be sticking with Wolves against Chelsea right here.

Later we will of course have full coverage of Liverpool vs Brentford and Arne Slot’s first home competitive match in charge of the Reds.

Next up is all the action from Molineux!

Wolves vs Chelsea live – latest updates

13:51 , Karl Matchett

Not sure about the relevance given the change-around on and off the pitch at Chelsea, but these two sides last met in early February at Stamford Bridge…and Wolves won 4-2.

Cole Palmer and Thiago Silva scored for the hosts, but Matheus Cunha hit a hattrick and Axel Disasi scored an own goal to give O’Neil’s side the points.

That made it a double for the campaign following a 2-1 win at Molineux, with Mario Lemina and Matt Doherty scoring before a very late Christopher Nkunku consolation.

How will today pan out?

 (Getty Images) (Getty Images)

(Getty Images)

Wolves vs Chelsea live – latest updates

13:46 , Karl Matchett

With the transfer deadline less than a week away now, the new Chelsea head coach has made it clear to his bosses that there are a group of players he doesn’t want involved…and won’t have in his training sessions.

“At the moment, with the squad that we have, I am working with 22, 23 or 21 players – not with the 42 players, otherwise it is impossible,” Maresca said.

“It is impossible for any manager in the world to make a session with 45 players. It’s impossible. You cannot do that.

“I just communicate [to the sporting directors] the players that I like and the players I don’t like and because there is one week […] left of the transfer window, hopefully we can find solutions for all of them.

“When you find solutions, everyone is happy. When you don’t find a solution, then you can create some problems.”

Time running down for a whole host of would-be starters and even internationals in some cases…

Wolves vs Chelsea live – latest updates

13:41 , Karl Matchett

Last Premier League season for Wolves as an overall glance:

Top scorers – Hwang and Cunha, 12 apiece

Most big chances created – Sarabia, 9

PL rank for:

Possession – 11th, 49%

Clean sheets – 15th, 5

xG – 17th, 47.6

Shots on target per match – 15th, 4.2

Touches in opposition box – 19th, 795

xG conceded – 6th, 68.9

Penalties conceded – 2nd, 8

Yellow cards – 2nd, 100.

Clear areas of improvement for Gary O’Neil to find this term!

Wolves vs Chelsea live – latest updates

13:35 , Karl Matchett

Pedro Neto is of course involved for Chelsea against his former club – he’s sub once more, but the forward is likely to feature after a handful of minutes off the bench against Man City last weekend, then a start and nearly an hour of gametime in midweek.

Chelsea beat Servette 2-0 in a Conference League qualifier, Neto managing one shot and 29 touches in his 57 minutes of action.

The 24-year-old struggled again with injury last term but still scored two and assisted nine in just over 1,500 minutes for Wolves.

 (Chelsea FC via Getty Images) (Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

(Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

Wolves vs Chelsea live – latest updates

13:27 , Karl Matchett

Not that we should ever read too much into preseason results, but Wolves beat West Ham and lost to Crystal Palace this summer – while also beating RB Leipzig and losing to Rayo Vallecano.

A very mixed bag, to say the least.

Their 2-0 defeat to Arsenal on the opening weekend of the Premier League season was far from too damaging, given it was away from home, but they’ll certainly want to give a good account today on home soil and not start the campaign with successive defeats.

Wolves vs Chelsea live – latest updates

13:20 , Karl Matchett

Wolves are without the suspended Nelson Semedo and striker Sasa Kalajdzic – who is still on their books but who suffered a third ACL injury last term and is still in rehab.

For Chelsea, Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell are of course the high-profile casualties of Enzo Maresca’s decisions over his squad this season, but Axel Disasi, Reece James and Djordje Petrovic are others not even involved in the squad, for a variety of reasons.

A lot of work to do behind the scenes to trim that squad…and salary bill.

Why isn’t Wolves v Chelsea on TV?

13:14 , Karl Matchett

Wolves and Chelsea will bid to bounce back from opening weekend defeats as the two sides meet at Molineux.

Both clubs fell to 2-0 defeats to last year’s Premier League title chasers, with Gary O’Neil’s side beaten by Arsenal and Chelsea unable to overcome the off-field chaos at the club against Manchester City.

Enzo Maresca has since secured his first competitive victory as manager of the London club in the first leg of their Conference League play-off tie against Servette, though his pre-match comments about his bloated squad at Stamford Bridge raised eyebrows.

Chelsea’s European business forced the rescheduling of this fixture from Saturday to Sunday, but it will not be shown live on television in the United Kingdom.

Here’s everything you need to know:

Why isn’t Wolves v Chelsea on TV?

Chelsea could still raise a fortune this summer

13:07 , Karl Matchett

Joao Felix is in the door, Conor Gallagher has gone – but there’s still plenty more transfer business which could be done by Chelsea yet, particularly with regards to outgoing links.

There are a handful here of which still could get done before deadline day…

Ten players Chelsea could sell to fund summer spending spree

Wolves vs Chelsea

12:58 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Enzo Maresca heavily praised Noni Madueke after that Conference League play-off first leg win, so a start always felt a possibility here. More of a surprise, though, is the inclusion of Mykhailo Mudryk – for all of his natural gifts, the Ukraine winger continues to struggle for consistency.

“We’re going to try to help him to change,” said Maresca of Mudryk on Thursday. “We’re going to bring him the ball in the last third, and when he’s there he has to take the right decisions.

“The mistakes he makes are not technical, they are about choices. It’s about decision making. Hopefully we can help him and we can improve that.”

Enzo Maresca wants Noni Madueke to stay at Chelsea after goal against Servette

Wolves vs Chelsea team news

12:51 , Harry Latham-Coyle

There is no Romeo Lavia in the Chelsea squad, which is presumably related to injury given the midfielder was one of their best against Manchester City.

Team news – Chelsea

12:49 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Enzo Maresca, meanwhile, rewards Noni Madueke with a start after his goalscoring cameo against Servette. Mykhailo Mudryk also earns an opportunity on the wing with Cole Palmer, it would seem, moving into a central role.

Joao Felix is on the bench.

Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Madueke, Palmer, Mudryk; Jackson.

Team news – Wolves

12:47 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Let’s start with the hosts’ line-up, though, as Gary O’Neil makes a single change to his Wolves side – Matheus Cunha is promoted after featuring off the bench against Arsenal.

Wolves XI: Sa; Doherty, Mosquera, Toti, Ait-Nouri; Bellegarde, Lemina, Gomes; Cunha, Larsen, Hwang.

Wolves vs Chelsea

12:40 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Wolves boss Gary O’Neil insisted on Friday it was “pretty much impossible” to predict the Chelsea line-up they will face this afternoon.

Chelsea have brought in 10 new players since new boss Enzo Maresca walked through the door at Stamford Bridge, including former Wolves talisman Pedro Neto.

Neto faces a quick return to Molineux on Sunday when he revisits Wolves with his new club after making his Premier League debut in their defeat to Manchester City last week.

O’Neil was interested to see whether Neto would be included to play in front of the fans that used to sing his name after he also appeared in Chelsea Europa Conference League qualifying victory over Servette on Thursday night.

He told a press conference: “It’ll be interesting to see what they do with him.

“Obviously he played yesterday, we’ll see whether he can go again on the weekend and start again on the Sunday.

“It’s pretty much impossible for me to predict the Chelsea line-up but, there are so many there.

“We know some that definitely won’t be in the team but figuring out what they’re going to do will be tough.

“We will try and give the best account of ourselves and try start the Premier League season at home with a win, which will be huge for us.”

Pedro Neto could face his former club (Chelsea FC via Getty Images)Pedro Neto could face his former club (Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

Pedro Neto could face his former club (Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

New signing Joao Felix is ‘player that will help us’ says Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca

12:30 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Enzo Maresca tells Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell to leave or ‘struggle’ at Chelsea

12:25 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Enzo Maresca has advised Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell that they will have to leave Chelsea to play regular football, but insisted that his bloated squad was “not a mess”.

The London club secured their latest summer signing on Wednesday as Joao Felix sealed a return to Stamford Bridge, with Conor Gallagher completing a move the other way to Atletico Madrid.

It now leaves the club looking to offload perhaps as many as a dozen players before the end of the transfer window as they try to whittle down their senior playing group.

Enzo Maresca tells Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell to leave or ‘struggle’ at Chelsea

Raheem Sterling training at home amid bitter Chelsea fallout – as Pedro Neto takes shirt number

12:15 , Harry Latham-Coyle

One player who will not be involved today is Raheem Sterling, who has been training on his own since last week after Chelsea made it clear that the England international is not part of Enzo Maresca’s plans.

Chelsea have already left Sterling out of their two matchday squads this year.

Sterling training at home amid bitter Chelsea fallout – as Neto takes shirt number

Wolves vs Chelsea – early team news

12:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Gary O’Neil confirmed on Friday that Wolves have no fresh injury concerns, with Matheus Cunha ready for “more minutes” after appearing off the bench against Arsenal. Nelson Semedo featured for the club’s U21s on Friday as he builds up his fitness while suspended.

Enzo Maresca made nine changes for the Conference League play-off win over Servette, but is likely to return to a similar side to the one beaten by Manchester City. Reece James remains suspended and is also dealing with a hamstring issue; Ben Chiwell and Raheem Sterling are among those training away from the first-team squad having been told they are surplus to requirements.

 (Getty Images) (Getty Images)

(Getty Images)

Wolves vs Chelsea

Friday 23 August 2024 15:36 , Sonia Twigg

Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s live build up and coverage of Wolves vs Chelsea.

The Blues are still looking to get off the mark in the Premier League following an opening-day defeat to Manchester City, while some of their fans remain aggrieved at the signing of home favourites like Conor Gallagher.

Enzo Maresca is still finalising his first-team squad, but some players, including Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell have already been told they are not part of the new manager’s plans this season.


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