Crystal Palace vs Chelsea: N'Golo Kante fires Maurizio Sarri's side to victory

Re-live the action from Selhurst Park

Chelsea: A look back at 2018

N'Golo Kante earned Chelsea a 1-0 win at Crystal Palace to boost the Blues' bid for a place in the Premier League's top four.

Kante, a World Cup winner with France last summer, has been deployed in a more advanced position on the right side of midfield by Maurizio Sarri at Chelsea.

He netted his third Premier League goal of the season at Selhurst Park as Chelsea ended Palace's three-match unbeaten run to move five points clear of fifth-placed Arsenal in the battle for Champions League qualification.

Willian and Ross Barkley had hit posts in quick succession in the first half and the hosts' performance showed little of the style and substance which had earned victory at Manchester City eight days earlier. Re-live the action below:

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[30 December 2018 12:11 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Crystal Palace 0-0 Chelsea

9 minutes

Palace enjoy a first spell of prolonged possession after Zaha breaks dangerously. No chances so far in what has been a cagey opening.

[30 December 2018 12:13 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Crystal Palace 0-0 Chelsea

10 minutes

Marcos Alonso is in the book for kicking the ball away in frustration after failing to keep a long ball in play. A needless yellow card.

[30 December 2018 12:14 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Crystal Palace 0-0 Chelsea

11 minutes

Some muffled appeals for a Palace penalty as Zaha goes down under a challenge from Rudiger. Chelsea are then forced into some defending from a corner, which they deal with comfortably.

[30 December 2018 12:15 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Crystal Palace 0-0 Chelsea

13 minutes

Hazard has won a free kick in a dangerous position. He found himself in space on the left and made his way towards the box. McArthur brought him down and now Palace have some defending to do.

[30 December 2018 12:17 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Crystal Palace 0-0 Chelsea

14 minutes

A real chance for Rudiger. Willian curls in the free kick and the centre back has a free header from a few yards out. His body position is all wrong, though. He can only loop the header into Guaita's arms.

[30 December 2018 12:20 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Crystal Palace 0-0 Chelsea

17 minutes

Jorginho gives the ball away with a loose pass and Andros Townsend drives towards the Chelsea goal. He lines up a shot, but Jorginho gets back to block.

At the other end, Kante fires a shot off from the edge of the box, which flashes wide of the post.

[30 December 2018 12:23 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Crystal Palace 0-0 Chelsea

20 minutes

Kante, playing in a more advanced position under Sarri, is again in the thick of the action in the final third. Giroud holds the ball up in the box and it drops nicely for the midfielder. This time, his shot is deflected and loops up kindly for Guaita.

[30 December 2018 12:28 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Crystal Palace 0-0 Chelsea

25 minutes

Hazard, playing out on the left today, jinks inside and wins a free kick. It's taken quickly and Chelsea win a corner, which is dealt with well by Palace. Hodgson's side have defended well so far.

[30 December 2018 12:30 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Crystal Palace 0-0 Chelsea

28 minutes

Chelsea again work the ball nicely, but still can't find a way through Palace's packed defence. Sakho and Tomkins have been solid, while young right back Wan-Bissaka continues to impress.

[30 December 2018 12:31 · Callum Rice-Coates]

Crystal Palace 0-0 Chelsea

28 minutes

The ball is played over the top for Giroud, who gets away from his marker and smashes a left-footed half-volley into the far corner. The flag is up, though, so it won't count.