Chelsea vs Crystal Palace LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction today
Follow all the fallout from Stamford Bridge
The Champions League trophy and the Super Cup were on display at Stamford Bridge before Chelsea’s stroll to victory over Crystal Palace. The silverware glittered in the sun. Thomas Tuchel’s team shone, too. The European champions dispatched Patrick Vieira’s side with the minimum of fuss.
Two first-half goals from Marcos Alonso and Christian Pulisic meant Chelsea never really had to build up a sweat. Trevoh Chalobah, the academy graduate making his Premier League debut, added a third after the break. It was all too easy.
A long winter lies ahead but the promise of more glory hung in the warm west London air. With Romelu Lukakuwaiting in the wings and options galore in the squad, Tuchel cannot fail to be optimistic. Chelsea were bright, their passing and movement were sharp and they allowed Palace little room to gain a foothold in the game.
Vieira, by contrast, must have felt a shiver. The Frenchman said before the game that his team will need time to adjust. With their 4-4-2 setup and lack of ambition it looked like Roy Hodgson had picked the side. Their lack of ambition and general aimlessness bodes badly for the season. Relive all the action below:
Premier League: Chelsea 2-0 Crystal Palace
44 min: A chance for Werner to make it three, as the German tries to divert Alonso’s cross into the bottom corner, but he can’t get enough direction on the effort, and it hits the side netting.
GOAL! Chelsea 2-0 Crystal Palace (Pulisic ‘40 ⚽)
Chelsea do eventually double their advantage. A nice give-and-go involving Mount down the right hand side results in his cross being parried out by the Palace goalkeeper, and Pulisic follows in and his effort loops over the Palace defenders and in off the underside of the crossbar.
Thoroughly deserved, a long way back for the away side now.
Premier League: Chelsea 1-0 Crystal Palace
33 min: Another set piece for Chelsea, but this is in a more central position, so perhaps Alonso won’t take it.
Mount takes the free kick, but it hits the wall.
Premier League: Chelsea 1-0 Crystal Palace
31 min: Chelsea seeking to double their advantage now, applying the pressure to the Palace defense.
Timo Werner has done a lot of selfless running so far in this half, but it’s taken him further away from goal.
GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Crystal Palace (Alonso ‘27 ⚽)
Goal! From the resulting free kick, Marcos Alonso curls the free kick into the top corner of the Palace goal to give Chelsea the lead.
Premier League: Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
26 min: Chelsea awarded a free kick in a dangerous area, as they seek to break down the Palace barriers.
Premier League: Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
20 min: And weathered the storm they have. Chelsea’s early pressure has subsided, for now.
Premier League: Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
15 min: A free kick down the left-hand side from Mount is punched out by Guaita and out for a corner.
Can Palace weather this storm?
Premier League: Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
14 min: Chelsea beginning to turn the screw a little, with Kovacic, Mount and Pulisic beginning to see more of the ball in the Palace third.
Premier League: Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
10 min: First shot on target from the home side, as Alonso’s cross from the left is headed goalwards by Christian Pulisic, but the header lacks conviction, and easily saved by Vicente Guaita
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