Álvaro Morata, the man of the match, speaks. “For me it is not the perfect day, but we are in the first three places and we want to fight until the end for the Premier League,” he says, asked about his elusive hunt for a hat-trick. “I’m improving, I want to help my team to keep working and to win. When you have a very bad period, it takes long to recover. The last year was very difficult for me, with injury. I played not fit, and now I’m good.” Of Chelsea’s title aspirations, he says: “It’s very hard, because the Premier League is the most competitive championship in the world. But we want to [compete] and until now we have not given three points to another team. We want to take three points in every game.”
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Read Dominic Fifield’s match report from Stamford Bridge:
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Full-time: Chelsea 3-1 Crystal Palace
Maurizio Sarri’s side extend their unbeaten run to 11 matches, with Álvaro Morata striking either side of Andros Townsend’s equaliser before Pedro sealed victory. That result hoists Chelsea to second in the table, behind leaders Manchester City. Palace remain 14th, three points above the relegation zone.
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90+3 min: Chelsea break up the other end, with Morata bearing down one-on-one with Hennessey. He attempts to lob the Palace goalkeeper but he does not scoop the ball up out of reach of the Welshman. The hat-trick will elude him.
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90+2 min: Townsend rampages forward after a little Chelsea sloppiness, but his effort is deflected wide by Azpilicueta.
90 min: Zaha tries to weave his way through the Chelsea defence, but David Luiz eventually blocks off passage towards Kepa. There will be three added minutes.
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89 min: David Luiz, Rudiger and Kovacic are knocking the ball about between themselves. They know the game is won.
88 min: Pedro plays a cunning ball in for Morata, but Milivojevic, the Palace captain, slides in to nick the ball away from the feet of the Spaniard, who was dreaming of a hat-trick with only Wayne Hennessey to beat.
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85 min: Milivojevic is booked by Michael Oliver for crunching through the back of the legs of Fabregas. The Serbian’s tired sigh speaks volumes. Chelsea are heading for second in the table.
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84 min: Palace win a free-kick just inside the Chelsea half. A lifeline, if you will. But they lump it long and Chelsea repel the ball. Palace have lacked the guile in the final third, barring the odd glimpse of quality by Zaha or Townsend.
82 min: Townsend darts infield and fizzes in a through ball for Ayew, but the Palace substitute fails to connect. That was a spark, a ray of light for Palace but they fail to capitalise. That’s been the difference, with Chelsea ruthless and classy when it’s mattered.
80 min: Sarri withdraws Jorginho, with Cesc Fabregas his replacement. For Palace, Jeffrey Schlupp replaces James McArthur, who has had a decent game. Palace have not done an awful lot wrong, but Chelsea had Hazard up their sleeve and have punished them when the chances presented themselves.
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78 min: Kovacic does well to stand his ground before attempting to slide in Morata, but Sakho does well to snuff the ball out. It would be wrong to say that Hazard has been the difference, but the Chelsea substitutes have provided a real fillip for the hosts. They have certainly been smarter in possession.
76 min: Rudiger reads Wan-Bissaka’s cross and heads clear. Palace pile forward once more but Van Aanholt’s right-footed effort flies high and wide. Chelsea are in cruise control, really.
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74 min: Wan-Bissaka wins a throw-in for Palace midway inside the Chelsea half, and that’s about as good as things have got for Roy Hodgson’s side since finding that equaliser. Can they find a way back into the game? It is not rocket science that Zaha is the catalyst for Palace and Chelsea have hounded him out this half.
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72 min: Chelsea have enjoyed 84% of possession in the last 10 minutes, and that speaks volumes. They have turned the screw after the initial shock of Townsend pulling Palace level. They have not had a wealth of chances, but Chelsea have been lethal in front of goal, ruthlessly seizing the opportunities afforded to them.
71 min: Jordan Ayew is on for Palace, in place of Max Meyer.
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GOAL! Chelsea 3-1 Crystal Palace (Pedro, 70)
It’s three for Chelsea, with Pedro effortlessly guiding home with his right foot after meeting a low Alonso cross from the left. Morata’s second goal really allowed Chelsea to find their stride once more and now they have two-goal cushion.
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66 min: An immediate introduction by Hazard, then. It was a lovely ball in but Palace just switched off once again at the set-piece. An unmarked Morata peeled off at the back post, and it was another clever, stinging finish. A suckerpunch for Palace.
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GOAL! Chelsea 2-1 Crystal Palace (Morata, 65)
Another superb finish by Alvaro Morata, who strikes his and Chelsea’s second. It is deja vu for Palace, with another simple free-kick flighted in, this time by Hazard, and lurking at the back post is Morata who fires home from an acute angle. For Morata, it is four Premier League goals in as many appearances.
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63 min: That free-kick is Willian’s last involvement, with Eden Hazard summoned. Mateo Kovacic is also on for Chelsea in place of Barkley, who has been pretty ineffective in this second half.
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62 min: David Luiz’s header is kept out by Wayne Hennessey! Willian dinks an inviting ball into the box from 30 yards out and the Brazilian’s header forces the Palace goalkeeper into a fairly comfortable, but nevertheless essential stop. A double change is imminent for Chelsea.
60 min: With both teams electric on the counter, this game has become quite end-to-end, especially since Townsend’s equaliser. Zaha does superbly to dance inside the Chelsea box before Meyer attempts to swing the ball beyond Kepa. Chelsea seem a little panicked, having surrendered a little composure.
58 min: Wan-Bissaka again does well to keep Willian at bay, stemming the winger’s run down the left. Frustrated, the Brazilian cuts inside and bends an effort towards goal but Hennessey watches it all the way.
57 min: Azpilicueta whips in a ball from the right and Morata meets it, but his header is palmed away by Wayne Hennessey. The linesman had his flag raised anyway, with Morata having strayed a yard in front of Mamadou Sakho. How will Chelsea respond? Well, Eden Hazard is being readied in the dugout.
54 min: Chelsea had started this second half a little sluggishly, almost a bit blase. Palace had to lap up a bit of pressure, but then ably pounced, incisively breaking Chelsea’s stubborn defence.
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GOAL! Chelsea 1-1 Crystal Palace (Townsend, 53)
A brilliant finish by Andros Townsend, and a beautiful pass by James McArthur. The Palace forward plays a neat give-and-go with McArthur, who slides him in behind the Chelsea back line. He races beyond David Luiz and slams the ball into the corner of Kepa’s goal. Just like that, Palace pull level.
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51 min: Alonso and Willian double up down the left as Chelsea go in search of a second, but Palace turn over possession just as the momentum builds.
49 min: Eden Hazard soaks up the applause after trudging along the touchline to warm up. Palace supporters are not quite so pleased to see him. Maurizio Sarri suggested earlier that he would only play if needed.
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48 min: Alonso plays a speculative ball forward but it is almost spectacular as Pedro brings the ball back down from the sky. It breaks down, but Kante then shifts the ball out back out wide to Pedro, who tries and fails to pick out Morata. Palace themselves look to build, with Jorginho clattering Zaha.
47 min: Van Aanholt raids down the left, winning an early second-half throw-in after Rudiger hooks the ball clear. Then Pedro hacks clear another ball in. Palace have started brightly and positively, just as they did the first 45 minutes.
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46 min: Andros Townsend gets Palace back under way.
Manchester City have whooped Southampton 6-1:
Half-time: Chelsea 1-0 Crystal Palace
A smart finish by Alvaro Morata is the difference at the interval, while Willian had a second goal ruled out for offside. Chelsea did not look back after taking the lead, but that goal knocked the stuffing out of Palace, who have looked predictably reliant on Zaha producing a bit of magic on the counterattack.
45 min: Zaha fouls Rudiger on halfway, as the fourth official indicates one added minute. Palace could do with getting down the tunnel after what was an impressive start by Roy Hodgson’s side.
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43 min: Alonso nicks the ball off Zaha, before Barkley takes over the baton as Chelsea look to break having turned over possession. They fly forward, but Morata puts a foot wrong, failing to control the ball and instead it bumbles out for a Palace throw-in. Maurizio Sarri, meanwhile, is a picture of calm.
42 min: Chelsea look very comfortable, with Barkley growing into the game. He has impressed, as has Willian, who has just had his cross cut out by Aaron Wan-Bissaka, the Crystal Palace full-back.
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39 min: Another neat move and another clever bit of play by Morata. The goalscorer plays a nice one-two in the area but Scott Dann sniffs out the cross.
38 min: Willian flights in the ball, for Alonso to nod across goal at the back post. There is Morata just outside the six-yard box, but he cannot fuel enough power on his header to trouble Hennessey in the Palace goal. This is relatively plain-sailing for Chelsea now. That steady start feels a long time ago now.
37 min: A quick stat, courtesy of Opta, as Willian whizzes in another free-kick: Alvaro Morata has scored in back-to-back games in the Premier League for the first time since November 2017.
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36 min: Morata does well on outside of the edge of the box, before rolling the ball infield for Ross Barkley, who is in acres of space. There is only one thing in his mind, but he gets it all wrong, blazing over Hennessey’s goal. It’s Row Z stuff.
35 min: Chelsea goal disallowed! Willian prods home, but was – very marginally – offside after picking up Pedro’s deflected shot inside the box. Jorginho had initially fed Willian, who had cleverly diverted the ball into the path of the Spanish forward. Suddenly, Palace look frail and Chelsea very much in the ascendency.
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33 min: That goal has really settled Chelsea down, who are now knocking the ball about for fun. Palace should take heart from a promising half an hour or so, but credit to Morata for instinctively firing home his fifth goal of the season.
GOAL! Chelsea 1-0 Crystal Palace (Morata, 32)
The Spain striker does brilliantly, tucking the ball away after a neat first touch. Pedro stabs in a cross and Morata earns himself a yard of space by nudging the ball away from Aaron Wan-Bissaka before hammering it home hard and low. The hosts had piled on the pressure in the last few minutes, but, having dominated large spells of this game, Palace may well feel hard done by.
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29 min: Morata does well, buying a corner out of Sakho and Van Aanholt, who eventually team up on the Chelsea forward in a crevice of the pitch. But when it comes in, Palace look to counter, clearing the ball straight towards Zaha, who is soon stopped in his tracks. Chelsea have been warned.
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27 min: Chelsea ghost in a cross from the right, through Azpilicueta but Morata is, a little harshly, flagged offside as he looks to leap on to the ball before a statuesque Scott Dann. For a moment, Morata was in and Palace half asleep. The hosts are trying to ramp things up a little, up the ante but it all feels a little forced.
25 min: Zaha breaks, but it is him against four Chelsea defenders. David Luiz backs off but eventually forces him to play a blind pass. There is a hands on hips moan, but McArthur could not keep pace with his speeding Palace team-mate.
24 min: Chelsea are yet to truly threaten Wayne Hennessey, though Mamadou Sakho has just outmuscled a leaping Morata as the Spaniard attempted to meet Willian’s cross from the left. Palace, in truth, have been the better team.
20 min: Another slick move by Palace, with Meyer and Zaha again instrumental. Townsend does well down the right, before Zaha dinks a cute little pass through for Meyer. The German latches on to it before striking goalwards, but Chelsea dive in to block his effort. Palace do not look short of confidence going forward.
19 min: Meyer shoots over! McArthur does well, reacting first to Alonso’s poor clearance and Zaha seizes possession. He drives forwards before picking out the German, in space lingering on the edge of the box. Meyer wraps his right foot around the ball but is always rising, and never worrying Kepa.
17 min: Rudiger plays a neat ball over the top for Morata. He flicks it towards Wayne Hennessey ... but the linesman’s flag is already up. The Palace goalkeeper thumps the ball back downfield. Chelsea are still finding their feet.
15 min: Zaha is a magnet for Palace. The forward drives forward before being hauled down by Ross Barkley, one of four Chelsea shirts in close proximity. The resulting free-kick is underwhelming, but the hosts are not having it all their own way.
14 min: Van Aanholt plays a neat give-and-go with Zaha as Palace counter, but the left-back, bombing down the left wing, fails to spot the unmarked Townsend breaking his neck down the opposite flank. Palace are deadly on the break.
13 min: Dann’s crossfield ball is hopeful, and Chelsea re-build down the right flank. Palace have looked dangerous with the ball in the opposition half, with both Zaha and Townsend keeping the Chelsea defence on tenterhooks.
12 min: Willian dances his way past a couple of Palace shirts as he navigates into the box, but Alonso cannot latch on to his neat pass. That was a silky little run by Willian but Palace win it back and Townsend earns a free-kick 40 yards from goal.
10 min: David Luiz hoofs the ball straight out of play for a Palace goal-kick in search of the marauding Cesar Azpilicueta. A Sarri shake of the head. Palace look to calm things down, but it just keeps coming straight back at them.
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7 min: A couple of minutes of panic for Palace, with Barkley’s low ball troubling the back line. Scott Dann and co went missing for a moment. Townsend hurries down the right to alleviate pressure.
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5 min: Barkley gifts the ball to Townsend after a poor pass in search of Jorginho. The Palace forward does well to hold the ball up with scarce support, before eventually laying the ball on for Wilfried Zaha. Chelsea back off as he drifts inside but the attack fizzles out. Palace have made a decent start, prompting a healthy rendition of Glad All Over from the away supporters.
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4 min: Jorginho’s not had a brilliant opening few minutes. He has just been penalised for handball on halfway, after scooping the ball away from Townsend. Chelsea easily clear the free-kick downfield.
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2 min: Willian pries down the left, beating Aaron Wan-Bissaka to the byline. The Brazil winger drills in a low, where Pedro is lurking, having beaten James Tomkins to the ball but he cannot make any firm contact on the ball. Now Palace look to counter themselves, with Wilfried Zaha winning an early corner.
1 min: Meyer turns over possession on halfway. He has a spring in his step. After laying the ball back for Scott Dann, he shuffles upfield and easily shifts past Jorginho just outside the box before Marcos Alonso takes the sting out of his low cross. Palace have seemingly settled quickly, with Meyer influential early on.
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Peeeeeeeeeeep!
Chelsea get things started.
The teams are out of the tunnel at Stamford Bridge. We are just a few pre-match formalities away from the off, plus a minute’s silence to mark Remembrance Day as well as the five people who died in last weekend’s helicopter crash in Leicester.
Roy Hodgson talks. “Max Meyer has been in such good form really, coming on to the field from the bench and each time he has made a bit of a difference for us,” the Crystal Palace manager says. “The job up front, Wilf and Andros understand it very well, so it has been harder and harder to leave Max out of the team, so I decided to rejig things a little bit. It’s very good to have two centre-forwards of Ayew and Sorloth’s class on the bench. Football is becoming much more of a 14-man game than it was. There is so much pace, intensity in the game these days.”
Of Meyer, the injured Crystal Palace defender Joel Ward says the German forward “has a little bit of the devil in him”. He said: “Going forward, he has got that eye for the pass and he offers us something slightly different.”
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Maurizio Sarri speaks. “I spoke with the doctor yesterday and he said to me that Hazard is doing better and better, but probably he is not ready play for 90 minutes,” he says. “We decided altogether for the bench, I think that it is very important for us to have him on the bench for the last 30-35 minutes, if necessary of course.” Asked if he would only call upon the Belgium international if required, Sarri replied: “At the moment, yes. At the moment, yes.” Of the match itself, he said: “I think it will be a very dangerous match for us, because they have a lot of players very fast. They are very dangerous on counterattacks. We need to keep the right positions in the offensive phase, not to give them too much space.”
There is another start for Ross Barkley, the midfielder transformed under Maurizio Sarri. After scoring in each of his last three appearances, Barkley has been undroppable of late, though was rested for the Carabao Cup win over Derby County in midweek. Roy Hodgson, the Crystal Palace manager who handed Barkley his maiden England cap five years ago, admits the former Everton midfielder has unlocked some of his undoubted potential:
Ross is showing everything we thought he could and should be. He was unlucky with his injury, which set him back when he got to Chelsea, but he has done exceptionally well to battle through that. He certainly looks a lot fitter than the last time he was working with England. When he came to us [in 2016], he did realise he wasn’t as fit as he should be and, to get a place in that 2016 squad, he really worked unbelievably hard to get his weight down and his body back into the right shape. He hadn’t been playing a lot of regular football at that time. But Barkley was one of many talents that came into the England team a few years ago and a player who, if he can get a run of games and keep himself fit, has everything you are looking for in a midfield player. I’m very pleased for him.
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In Manchester, it has already turned into a non-event:
Headline team news: Eden Hazard, as expected, is on the substitutes bench for Chelsea, while Crystal Palace’s own playmaker, Max Meyer, is handed only his second league start. Wilfried Zaha, James McArthur and Cheikh Kouyate all shake off minor knocks to start at Stamford Bridge. Ruben Loftus-Cheek, the midfielder who shone on loan at Palace last season, starts on the bench for Maurizio Sarri’s unbeaten side:
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The teams!
Chelsea: Kepa; Azpilicueta, Rudiger, David Luiz, Alonso; Kante, Jorginho, Barkley; Pedro, Morata, Willian
Subs: Caballero, Cahill, Zappacosta, Fabregas, Loftus-Cheek, Kovacic, Hazard
Crystal Palace: Hennessey; Wan-Bissaka, Tomkins, Sakho, Van Aanholt; Milivojevic; Meyer, McArthur, Kouyate, Townsend; Zaha
Subs: Guaita, Kelly, Schlupp, Riedewald, Puncheon, Sorloth, Ayew
Referee: Michael Oliver
Preamble
Unbeaten, in imperious form and boisterous mood, Chelsea are a force to be reckoned with. Maurizio Sarri’s side are plainly enjoying themselves, none more so than Eden Hazard, who is expected to feature after recovering from a back injury, though Ross Barkley’s emergence from the Stamford Bridge shadows means there is no need for the Belgium forward to be needlessly thrown in from the off. For Crystal Palace, the good news is they have their own injury boost, with Wilfried Zaha fit again after a shoulder problem. Without Zaha, Palace are predictable and bereft of any sting in attack. Palace are without a win in their past five games, and unsurprisingly Roy Hodgson has been loth to play down the challenge. “We can’t disguise the enormity of the task,” he said. “We can’t make out it will be easier than it is going to be.”
Kick-off: 4pm (GMT)
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