Chelsea vs Crystal palace final score, result (EPL: The Blue is back

Chelsea vs Crystal Palace Highlight

Neither team entered the game in great shape; the visitors had won just once in their previous six games, and Potter had only one victory in his previous eight contests. The game could have been predicted to be cagey and tense, but Vicente Guaita and Kepa Arrizabalaga were frequently called upon during an entertaining first half that was played by both teams. In a tense second half, the nerves began to show, but Chelsea won all three points thanks to Havertz's towering header (64). The Blues are now in 10th place, six points ahead of the Eagles in 12th place.

Chelsea vs Crystal Palace Summary

Due to Chelsea's poor performance in recent months, the atmosphere at Stamford Bridge has been understandably subdued. However, before kickoff, the home crowd was raucous as they paid tribute to former player and manager Gianluca Vialli after his passing earlier this month. Mykhailo Mudryk's presence in the executive boxes during the first half, whose transfer was announced at the time, energised the crowd even more and helped the hosts get off to a quick start. However, it was Palace who created the first notable chances. Tyrick Mitchell's close-range attempt was blocked by Kepa after the Chelsea goalkeeper missed a cross, and Michael Olise's vicious shot from the edge of the area was deflected over by Kepa.

Havertz and Lewis Hall then had opportunities thanks to Chelsea, but the German missed with a header and the young left wingback fluffed his chance to score his first senior goal. As the first half came to a close with a bang, shots from Jeffrey Schlupp and Hakim Ziyech were also successfully blocked, but the second half was much gritty. Prior to the game devolving into a series of yellow cards and altercations between opposing players, Havertz headed in a desperately needed goal—just his second for Chelsea in 10 games. Conor Gallagher, a former Palace loanee, drew criticism from the visiting fans for what they perceived as several simulations, and several of his former teammates took issue with his antics.

Palace struggled to find the opportunity they needed to salvage a point amid the play breaks, and Kepa's lunging save to deny Cheick Doucoure from range put an end to their lingering hopes.

Chelsea vs Crystal Palace Final score

Goals

Chelsea: Kai Havert

Chelsea vs Crystal Palace Line-ups and Ratings

Chelsea: Kepa (8), Chalobah (7), Silva (7), Badiashile (7), Hall (6), Gallagher (7), Jorginho (7), Ziyech (7), Mount (6), Chukwuemeka (6), Havertz (7).

Subs: Aubameyang (5), Koulibaly (6), Azpilicueta (n/a), Kovacic (n/a).

Crystal Palace: Guaita (7), Clyne (6), Andersen (6), Guehi (6), Mitchell (6), Schlupp (6), Doucoure (7), Eze (6), Olise (7), Ayew (6), Zaha (5).

Subs: Tomkins (6), Mateta (5), Edouard (5), Hughes (5).

Player of the match: Kepa Arrizabalaga