Chelsea survived an early scare when Crystal Palace had an Eberechi Eze goal controversially disallowed in a scrappy 0-0 draw in the Premier League on Sunday.
Chelsea, whose last competitive outing was winning the Club World Cup last month, failed to stamp their authority on the game against the FA Cup holders in warm southwest London sunshine.
The visitors looked to have taken the lead in the 13th minute but referee Darren England consulted the pitchside monitor and ruled Palace captain Marc Guehi, who shoved Moises Caicedo out of the way, was too close to Chelsea's defensive wall when Eze took a free kick on the edge of the area.
Chelsea, who finished fourth last season and won the Conference League, gave starts to some of their recent youthful signings including Joao Pedro and Jamie Gittens, but it was 18-year-old Brazilian substitute Estevao who made the most impact, with a lively performance down the right wing.
Follow all of the latest from Stamford Bridge with our live blog below:
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace live
- Chelsea share goalless draw with Crystal Palace Premier League opener
- 15' - Eberechi Eze free kick ruled out by VAR for Marc Guehi foul
- 73' - Liam Delap given Chelsea debut in bid to break stalemate
- FT: Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
Chelsea FC 0 - 0 Crystal Palace FC
Why Eberechi Eze holds the key to the cruel crossroads facing Crystal Palace
19:29 , Miguel DelaneyIt was yet another game where you could see why the Premier League’s wealthiest clubs want Eberechi Eze and half of Crystal Palace’s players.
Palace continued an already historic year. This was their 25th game of the year, and they have only lost three. Of those, the last 10 have involved six matches either away or at Wembley against the old “big six”, and another FA Cup semi-final against Aston Villa. They are unbeaten in all of them, and have won two trophies.
In short, Palace have become that team that the title challengers and more entitled wealthy clubs absolutely detest playing. There’s always one, but Oliver Glasner has possibly taken this side even further than any of them.
Why Eberechi Eze holds the key to the cruel crossroads facing Crystal Palace
Oliver Glasner speaks to Sky Sports after Crystal Palace's 0-0 draw with Chelsea
16:33 , Harry Latham-Coyle"The 15, 16 players who had the most minutes last year are still here,” Glasner says. “There are a lot of rumours about Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi but they were 100 per cent with this group in Crystal Palace and they have proved that in a big way.
On the future of Eberechi Eze, Glasner said: "Eb should have scored a goal today, he had one and it was disallowed. He will come tomorrow to the Crystal Palace training ground, Tuesday off, we take Wednesday and I expect him to be back playing for us against Fredrikstad."
Disjointed Chelsea labour to goalless draw with Crystal Palace
16:30 , Harry Latham-CoyleChelsea made an underwhelming start to the Premier League season as Crystal Palace ground out a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge.
After a truncated pre-season following victory in the Club World Cup, everything pointed to a Chelsea side lacking both preparation and rest as Oliver Glasner’s team coped relative easily with a new-look yet disjointed attack.
Eberechi Eze started for Palace despite speculation he is about to leave and, if there were doubts about how supporters felt about the player whose goal won them the FA Cup in May, they were dispelled when he was substituted to a standing ovation late on.
The England international provided the game with its only major talking point, lashing in a brilliant free-kick in the first half that was ruled out after Marc Guehi obstructed Chelsea’s wall, drawing a furious response from Palace fans.
Disjointed Chelsea labour to goalless draw with Crystal Palace
Nottingham Forest start season with strong win
16:10 , Harry Latham-CoyleIt ended 3-1 at the City Ground, Nottingham Forest off and running at the same speed with which they played for much of last season. Two goals for Chris Wood and an excellent start for Nuno Espirito Santo’s men against Brentford.
FT: Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
16:06 , Harry Latham-CoyleCrystal Palace look just as they did last season - organised, settled, and with enough threat to snatch a game here or there. Eberechi Eze’s future could be a spanner in the well-oiled works but Oliver Glasner will be pleased with a very solid start.
It’s Fredrikstad in the Conference League play-off round next for them at Selhurst Park on Sunday. Do they need to add to what looks a slightly slim squad in places before then?
FT: Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
16:02 , Harry Latham-CoyleGoalless, then, at Stamford Bridge - which always felt likely after that Eberechi Eze free kick was ruled out with neither side able to test the opposition goalkeeper at all often enough. Chelsea will rue not making more of a bright opening, or finding a winner in that late flurry, but victory at that stage would probably have been undeserved.
FULL TIME: Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
15:58 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 90 + 6 minutes
15:57 , Harry Latham-CoyleOne last chance for Chelsea. Cole Palmer wins a corner.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 90 + 5 minutes
15:57 , Harry Latham-CoyleTyrick Mitchell shows his experience and strength, nudging Estevao at the right time to prevent the youngster keeping the ball in play. Crystal Palace have been very solid defensively for most of this game, prevent too many clear chances for Chelsea.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 90 + 4 minutes
15:55 , Harry Latham-CoyleAnother chance for Santos! His header bounces agonisingly near Liam Delap but is collected by a cool Dean Henderson.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 90 + 3 minutes
15:54 , Harry Latham-CoyleA terrible finish! Andrey Santos had the chance to win it on his Premier League debut, the ball squared to him all alone just shy of the penalty spot in the Crystal Palace box. Pick your spot...just not in Row Z! Oh dear, oh dear.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 90 + 1 minutes
15:53 , Harry Latham-CoyleThe Brazilian takes the corner and very nearly sneaks it in at the near post. Crystal Palace scramble in time to turn it behind, and clear the follow-up.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 90 minutes
15:52 , Harry Latham-CoyleWas that the chance? Maxence Lacroix misjudges a clip forward and turns his defensive header up rather than out, allowing Liam Delap a sighting of goal. It’s low and crisp but comfortably handled by Dean Henderson.
Into added time, of which there are six minutes. Estevao wins a corner.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 88 minutes
15:49 , Harry Latham-CoyleChelsea make nothing of the set-piece.
Malo Gusto subsequently tests the alertness of any air traffic controllers in the area. High, wide and not at all handsome.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 87 minutes
15:49 , Harry Latham-CoyleLiam Delap enters the Crystal Palace box but a heavy touch and skewed cross mean all he can muster is a ruffling of the netting behind Dean Henderson’s goal.
Good hold-up play from the substitute, though, allows Cole Palmer to come forward and draw a corner out of Maxence Lacroix.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 86 minutes
15:47 , Harry Latham-CoyleNeither side is really beating the door off its hinges, here. Still we await a legitimate opener.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 84 minutes
15:45 , Harry Latham-CoyleThat’ll be Eberechi Eze’s final act today - and, perhaps, a Crystal Palace shirt if the Tottenham links are as strong as they appear.
Justin Devenny, hero at Wembley in the Community Shield shootout, is sent on.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 82 minutes
15:44 , Harry Latham-CoylePalmed over! Eberechi Eze tries to repeat his free kick trick, this time pelting one right at Robert Sanchez from open play. Unlike for the disallowed goal in the first half, the goalkeeper is equal to it, parrying hands stung by the shot but unbreached.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 81 minutes
15:43 , Harry Latham-CoyleBoth sides will fancy that there is at least one more big chance coming at either end. The question is if either will be accurate enough to take it.
Brentford have got one back against Nottingham Forest from the penalty spot. They trail 3-1 with ten minutes to go.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 79 minutes
15:40 , Harry Latham-CoyleAnother roll of the dice from Enzo Maresca. Malo Gusto and Andrey Santos arrive, replacing Reece James and Enzo Fernandez.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 77 minutes
15:39 , Harry Latham-CoyleAlmost something from nothing! A forward hoist bounces in the general area of Jean-Philippe Mateta, who cannily creates a chance for himself by using his strength and leverage to crowbar Josh Acheampong away from him. His volley of the bouncing ball is sweetly struck yet straight at Robert Sanchez.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 76 minutes
15:38 , Harry Latham-CoyleEnzo Maresca patrols his technical area, shouting a few instructions. 14 shots Chelsea have had since they last registered one on target in the third minute. Wasteful.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 74 minutes
15:36 , Harry Latham-CoyleCrystal Palace head the free kick away and Estevao Willian scythes down Daniel Munoz. The Brazilian is booked.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 73 minutes
15:34 , Harry Latham-CoylePedro Neto hits the deck and is rather generously given a free kick by referee Darren England. Maxence Lacroix, the offending party, is understandably miffed.
Chelsea will have a new striker on to contest it. Liam Delap makes his Premier League bow for his new club.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 71 minutes
15:33 , Harry Latham-CoyleNottingham Forest are still in complete control at the City Ground against Brentford.
Will the stalemate be broken here?
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 70 minutes
15:32 , Harry Latham-CoyleCrystal Palace’s first corner of the match results in a goal kick.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 69 minutes
15:31 , Harry Latham-CoyleGood from Palace. Eberechi Eze makes a strange choice, shooting from 40 yards rather than trying to find a teammate, but then reacts well to set up Daniel Munoz on the right. Munoz’s cross is turned behind by Reece James.
Jefferson Lerma replaces Will Hughes in central midfield.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 67 minutes
15:29 , Harry Latham-CoyleWasteful again from Crystal Palace. Adam Wharton floats a free kick too far in front of the assembled contestants in the Chelsea box. Oliver Glasner is still yet to make a change, of course.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 66 minutes
15:28 , Harry Latham-CoyleSloppy from Ismaila Sarr. Tyrick Mitchell springs him on the counter with a smart inside pass but the forward loses his footing with two men in space ahead of him.
Chelsea reply at speed, Cole Palmer again prominent and finding Estevao with the cross. The Brazilian’s touch is poor, though, dragging him backwards and away from goal, and his swing on the pivot is askew.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 65 minutes
15:26 , Harry Latham-CoyleMarc Cucurella is the next Chelsea player to surge into the box, but he is well marshalled by Daniel Munoz. Out of play the ball bounces harmlessly.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 63 minutes
15:26 , Harry Latham-CoyleWhat’s the next option for Enzo Maresca? Liam Delap? Still just the one shot on target for Chelsea.
Cole Palmer’s volley is blocked after a cross from Pedro Neto balloons in the No 10’s direction.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 60 minutes
15:24 , Harry Latham-CoyleWith Chris Richards still off, Tyrick Mitchell is forced to concede a corner - Chelsea’s seventh of the day with Crystal Palace yet to have their first.
Pedro Neto finds the head of Joao Pedro, who diverts it over the bar.
Richards had returned before the corner was taken, a wad of tissue up his nose.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 59 minutes
15:21 , Harry Latham-CoyleRichards looks to have taken a whack to the nose, blood trickling down out of his nostrils. Ouch. On come a couple of medics to attend to him.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 58 minutes
15:20 , Harry Latham-CoyleHis teammates steered clear of the Palace wall; Cole Palmer did not. Fired into the face of Chris Richards, bravely in the way.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 57 minutes
15:19 , Harry Latham-CoyleAlmost a magical moment to mark his arrival! Estevao shimmies past Marc Guehi, getting a bit of luck with a friendly touch of the Crystal Palace defender’s feet, and then stands up a cross that is just a bit too tall for Pedro Neto.
Chelsea soon earn a free kick 25 yards out, though, Cole Palmer territory, this - one imagines his teammates will now know to remain safely clear of the four-man. Crystal Palace wall.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 55 minutes
15:16 , Harry Latham-CoyleHere comes that Chelsea change. Welcome to the Premier League, Estevao Willian - the Brazilian teenager has impressed in pre-season and takes the place of Jamie Gittens,
Pedro Neto switches over to the left wing.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 54 minutes
15:15 , Harry Latham-CoyleMore like it from the home side. Cole Palmer powers to the byline and forces Dean Henderson into a very good bit of work, the goalkeeper out off his line and palming away with a couple of Chelsea players waiting at the far post.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 53 minutes
15:14 , Harry Latham-CoyleChanges appear to be on the way for Chelsea as they toil a touch.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 51 minutes
15:13 , Harry Latham-CoyleA delicate dummy from Eberechi Eze springs Tyrick Mitchell down the left. His cross is cut out before it can reach Jean-Philippe Mateta.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 50 minutes
15:12 , Harry Latham-CoyleA nice idea from Ismaila Sarr at the end of a bright bit of possession play, but the forward’s cushioned first-time pass is directing towards an offside Eberechi Eze. Eze halts his run, knowing the flag will go up, to Sarr’s frustration, though the situation is soon explained.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 48 minutes
15:10 , Harry Latham-CoyleA cynical tug back of Moises Caicedo’s shirt earns Will Hughes a deserved booking. He’s the third Crystal Palace man scribbled in by the referee after Jean-Philippe Mateta and Daniel Munoz earlier.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 47 minutes
15:08 , Harry Latham-CoyleChelsea do have quite the array of attacking talent on the bench if required, though Enzo Maresca will be hoping for much more from his starting forward quartet after the interval. Can they get Cole Palmer more involved?
Second half...
15:06 , Harry Latham-CoyleNo half-time alterations. Referee Darren England takes a moment or two to explain the Eberechi Eze decision to Oliver Glasner. By the letter of the law, there can be no disputing it, really.
Back underway.
Why was Eberechi Eze’s thumping free-kick disallowed against Chelsea?
14:57 , Jamie BraidwoodHere’s why Eberechi Eze’s goal didn’t count:
Why was Eberechi Eze’s thumping free-kick disallowed against Chelsea?
Nottingham Forest surge into 3-0 lead
14:55 , Harry Latham-CoyleFlying, though, are Nottingham Forest - a second for Chris Wood and debut goal from Dan Ndoye arrived in the minutes before half time to leave them virtually home and hosed at the interval.
Worrying signs for new Brentford boss Keith Andrews after a tricky summer in west London.
HT: Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
14:53 , Harry Latham-CoyleA first half dominated by one incident, really, Eberechi Eze rifling a free kick through Robert Sanchez only to see it chalked off by VAR. Marc Guehi’s barge on Moises Caicedo was legal; his straying to within touching distance of the Chelsea wall was not.
Some bright enough stuff from both teams and chances at either end suggest another breakthrough may well be to come. For now, though, we remain goalless.
HALF TIME: Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
14:50 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 45 + 3 minutes
14:50 , Harry Latham-CoyleMarc Cucurella slices one comfortably over the crossbar after a stoppage-time Chelsea attack.
Crystal Palace venture forward soon after, with a hurl into the box causing a spot of chaos and carnage after Robert Sanchez comes and fails to punch away. Sanchez just about gets enough of the ball with his swing, which largely connected with the head of Marc Guehi.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 45 + 2 minutes
14:47 , Harry Latham-CoyleThat’s not Jean-Philippe Mateta’s best work, either. The Frenchman initially does really well to nimbly move between two Chelsea defenders and present himself a passing opportunity to Eberechi Eze, though he dramatically overhits his through ball.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 45 minutes
14:46 , Harry Latham-CoyleInto four additional minutes at the end of the half. They are greeted by a woeful cross from Tyrick Mitchell.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 43 minutes
14:44 , Harry Latham-CoyleNeto is then furious with the firmness of the Stamford Bridge surface, a diagonal hopping over his head even with a healthy spring from the Portuguese to try and corral it and keep it in play. It can be tough being vertically-challenged.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 41 minutes
14:42 , Harry Latham-CoylePedro Neto is frustrated when a free kick isn’t awarded his way after an apparent Crystal Palace foul, but the Chelsea winger channels his anger well, scuttling back to dispossess Tyrick Mitchell.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 38 minutes
14:40 , Harry Latham-CoyleHaving already been shown yellow, Reece James needs to be careful. A deft bit of ballroom from Eberechi Eze sends his dance partner one way as he goes the other, and James can’t help but clip the Crystal Palace man’s heels after being beaten. A final warning, it would appear.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 37 minutes
14:38 , Harry Latham-CoyleThere’s been plenty of bite in the challenges in this first half, both sides putting themselves about with plenty of purpose. We’ve not seen much at all of Cole Palmer so far - by his standards, the Chelsea playmaker has been very quiet.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 35 minutes
14:36 , Harry Latham-CoyleMaxence Lacroix concedes a soft free kick, shoving Joao Pedro to the deck needlessly with the Brazilian wandering aimlessly on a Sunday stroll. Fortunately, Pedro Neto’s delivery is subpar, and Crystal Palace clear.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 32 minutes
14:34 , Harry Latham-CoyleSuperb from Josh Acheampong! That’s two outstanding bits of work from the 19-year-old defender, a properly crunching tackle on Daniel Munoz preventing the Colombian wing-back crossing, and Acheampong then up to his feet in a flash to beat Jean-Philippe Mateta to pick up the pieces. A frustrated Mateta takes his legs away, earning the Crystal Palace striker a yellow card.
Acheampong was linked with a move away earlier in the summer but could become a key Chelsea figure this season after Levi Colwill’s injury.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 30 minutes
14:32 , Harry Latham-CoyleA huge chance! Jamie Gittens skips inside two Crystal Palace players and pinballs a shot through a thicket of bodies. Marc Guehi can’t sort out his feet and Trevoh Chalobah thus has free swing at the ball seven yards from goal. One would uncharitably describe that as a centre-half’s finish, though, a hoick at it flying up into the rafters.
Ah, perhaps that’s unkind - there was a flick off Guehi’s posterior that went unspotted. It still probably would have cleared the crossbar but it definitely made it look worse.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 28 minutes
14:29 , Harry Latham-CoyleEek! A heavy collision between Daniel Munoz and Marc Cucurella sends the Spaniard spinning away. A caution for Munoz, with both right-backs now in the referee’s book. Cucurella is alright despite a bumpy landing.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 27 minutes
14:28 , Harry Latham-CoyleWill Hughes and Adam Wharton are going to be outnumbered at times in the Crystal Palace midfield with Marc Cucurella and Cole Palmer both slotting in near Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez. The pair are doing a very decent job so far, though.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 26 minutes
14:27 , Harry Latham-CoyleA pretty vital intervention from Jamie Gittens, there, the new Chelsea signing back sliding in on Daniel Munoz in a timely manner just as the Crystal Palace defender launches into a charge forward. Gittens turns and shoots in virtually one motion, stinging the shins of a blocking Palace player.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 24 minutes
14:25 , Harry Latham-CoyleReece James is surprised to be shown a yellow card after halting a Crystal Palace attack with a bundle in the back. Eberechi Eze stands over the free kick - this one isn’t within his range, you’d think.
Adam Wharton, in the end, takes it short to Eze, who progresses to within shooting distance and tamely curls into the embrace of Robert Sanchez.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 22 minutes
14:24 , Harry Latham-CoyleAdam Wharton’s rump deflects a Pedro Neto shot into the stands beyond the Crystal Palace goal. Another chance for Chelsea to pile bodies into the box.
Josh Acheampong and Trevoh Chalobah both pose imposing figures above the comparatively small Marc Guehi, but the similarly-sized Jean-Philippe Mateta prevents the pair making much of Reece James’s nicely judged delivery. Goal kick.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 21 minutes
14:22 , Harry Latham-CoyleThat’s more like it. Cole Palmer drifts into a pocket of space and connects with a leftward pair, following his pass to then have it returned to him. A shot or cross from 20 yards ends up being neither, bending away from Dean Henderson’s left-hand post and over the crossbar, too.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 20 minutes
14:21 , Harry Latham-CoyleChelsea have been very deliberate in their passing play so far, a few glimpses of brighter and breezier spells in possession in there but control primarily the focus.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 17 minutes
14:19 , Harry Latham-CoyleA shame for Crystal Palace, that, having really built the pressure there and deserved to go ahead. They’ll be pleased with how they’ve settled in though, after the early aerial bombardment.
RULED OUT! Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 15 minutes
14:16 , Harry Latham-CoyleChalked off! Marc Guehi’s actions are deemed illegal, the barging of Moises Caicedo seemingly drawing the VAR’s intention because it took the pair within a metre of the wall. Harsh? Perhaps. But it won’t count. Back to nil-nil.
GOAL! Chelsea 0-1 CRYSTAL PALACE (Eberechi Eze, 13 minutes)
14:15 , Harry Latham-CoyleIt had to be him! A thunderous strike from Eberechi Eze as Crystal Palace take the lead!
Phwoar! That’s some hit from the forward, absolutely leathering it through Robert Sanchez and virtually bursting the mesh behind him. Sanchez will be disappointed to have barely got hands on it - it was pretty much straight at him - but that was travelling.
Hang on, though - VAR are having a look at possible interference from Marc Guehi...
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 11 minutes
14:12 , Harry Latham-CoyleA bright spell for Crystal Palace, this. Marc Cucurella scythes into Will Hughes in the ‘D’ on the edge of the area. Free kick, very much within range. Is it too close, though?
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 9 minutes
14:10 , Harry Latham-CoyleA slightly stop-start first ten minutes continues with Ismaila Sarr the next player to get up limping.
Chance? You’d say so! The resultant free kick after the Sarr incident is swung on to the head of Chris Richards, and the defender probably should have done more with his effort. A sprawling Robert Sanchez snares it but it was going wide anyway.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 8 minutes
14:08 , Harry Latham-CoyleGittens, back amongst things after receiving treatment, loses track of a volleyed crossfield pass and lets it bounce out of play off his chest. Right out of the sun - always tough, as a regular boundary-rider in village cricket will tell you.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 6 minutes
14:07 , Harry Latham-CoyleA clash of heads allows a chance for Oliver Glasner to deliver some tactical instructions to Will Hughes and Jean-Philippe Mateta. Thankfully, it seems both Chris Richards and Jamie Gittens are alright.
Meanwhile, up at the City Ground, Chris Wood has picked up where he left off last season - the free-scoring striker has put Nottingham Forest 1-0 ahead against Brentford.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 4 minutes
14:05 , Harry Latham-CoyleCrystal Palace just about clear their lines, aided by a spot of heavy-handed defending on Enzo Fernandes from Ismaila Sarr. His shove in the back of the Chelsea midfielder is deemed the right side of the line of legality.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 3 minutes
14:04 , Harry Latham-CoyleSharp from Ismaila Sarr! A looping header from the corner might have been drifting wide but the Crystal Palace forward takes no chances, tracking back to his line and making certain the goal won’t be breached.
Chelsea earn two more corners thereafter as they put the pressure on.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 2 minutes
14:03 , Harry Latham-CoyleCrystal Palace started a little slowly at Wembley last Sunday but warmed to their work well, reacting superbly after Hugo Ekitike’s early goal.
Jamie Gittens gets a first chance to stretch his legs, driving at Chris Richards. The American defender stands up well but concedes a corner.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace, 1 minute
14:02 , Harry Latham-CoyleFamiliar tactical set-ups from the two sides, Crystal Palace with their wing-backs, Chelsea in a 4-2-3-1 with Cole Palmer in behind Joao Pedro. Trevoh Chalobah is to the left of Josh. Acheampong in the backline, with Marc Cucurella tucking in to add numbers to midfield.
KICK OFF!
14:01 , Harry Latham-CoyleOff we go!
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
14:00 , Harry Latham-CoyleAhead of kick off, a pause in the memory of Diogo Jota and Andre Silva. Chelsea’s players have donated a portion of their Club World Cup bonuses to the families of the late brothers. Pedro Neto, a close friend of Jota’s, looks to the heavens before the referee’s peep brings the silence to an end.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
13:59 , Harry Latham-CoyleEberechi Eze makes his final preparations with a sniff of what look like smelling salts and a couple of puffs on an inhaler. There’ll be plenty going on in his head, but a top professional will surely be on his game.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
13:55 , Harry Latham-CoyleChelsea have unveiled a banner denoting their status as “world champions” on the Stamford Bridge hotel, that achievement secured little more than a month ago. Are they ready to go again? Out the 22 players come.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace
13:54 , Harry Latham-CoyleStamford Bridge looks a picture, sparkling sunshine overhead with a glorious British summer continuing. The last Chelsea game I covered featured a long lightning delay - slim chances, one would guess, of that today, though you never know...
Will Chelsea's newbies fire?
13:45 , Harry Latham-CoyleJoao Pedro may already have had a big impact for Chelsea at the Club World Cup but this will be a first Premier League outing for Enzo Maresca’s new striker, the Brazilian leading the line in what looks a dynamic and versatile front four. Jamie Gittens is another newbie looking to forge quick connections with Cole Palmer and Pedro Neto.
Crystal Palace will surely spy vulnerabilities in that backline, though, with Josh Acheampong a top talent but without much experience at all.
Crystal Palace's settled squad
13:32 , Harry Latham-CoylePerhaps Eberechi Eze will move on in the coming days but Crystal Palace are surely the Premier League’s most settled squad this summer otherwise. Oliver Glasner has made just two senior signings but only really lost Rob Holding, Jeffery Schlupp and the retired Joel Ward from his first-team playing group - any Eze departure would surely necessitate reinvestment but continuity seems to be the key for now.
Oliver Glasner confident Crystal Palace can mix it with anyone
13:20 , Harry Latham-CoyleCrystal Palace players and fans now believe they have the beating of any team in the Premier League on their day, head coach Oliver Glasner has said.
The Eagles upset the odds to win the FA Cup final against Manchester City and followed up by seeing off Liverpool on penalties in the Community Shield last Sunday.
They open their league campaign against world club champions Chelsea on Sunday, and Glasner said: "I think there are things you can't measure. I think when we arrived and we were down at half-time against a team like Liverpool, maybe we wouldn't have the belief to get the turnaround and win the game. This time at half-time (in the Shield), everybody was calm, relaxed, just analysed.
"Maybe there were a few adjustments we could make. We had the honest belief, the deep belief that we could still win the game.
"And maybe not just in the dressing room. If you had asked all the Crystal Palace supporters at half-time 'do you believe you can win the game?' I think every single one would have answered 'yes'.
"And I think this is the biggest achievement for me: to create this belief in the team, in the players, that we're able to win games. It doesn't mean that we do it every single weekend. But just that you have this trust and this confidence in the team, in the players, in the squad, in the club.
"I think this is a huge achievement and this is what we want to continue."
Enzo Maresca expects stronger Chelsea challenge this season
13:10 , Harry Latham-CoyleEnzo Maresca believes Chelsea have a stronger squad than last season, but has stopped short of calling them title contenders.
The Blues started Maresca's first campaign in charge in fine form, only to tail off in the middle of the season and eventually finish fourth.
Having added more firepower to their squad this summer in the shape of Joao Pedro and Liam Delap, some are tipping Chelsea to be in the Premier League title shake-up this time around.
Blues boss Maresca said: "For sure we are better than last season. For sure we are going to face that (tough) period better compared to last season.
"I said that when we started last season, we were very far from the ones that they are competing and they are dominating English football.
"Now we are more close and the next step is to be even more close and try to compete with them."
Crystal Palace feel outraged – but CAS ruling sparks vital question over multi-club ownership
13:00 , Harry Latham-CoyleThere was bad, but probably not totally unexpected, news for Crystal Palace as their demotion to the Conference League was upheld at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas). Is their punishment fair? Miguel Delaney explains the situation.
Team news - Chelsea
12:50 , Harry Latham-CoyleEnzo Maresca hands Premier League debuts to Jamie Gittens and Joao Pedro, with youngster Josh Acheampong partnering Trevoh Chalobah at the back.
Chelsea XI: Sanchez; James, Acheampong, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandes; Neto, Palmer, Gittens; Joao Pedro.
Our MD1 Chelsea. 🔵📋#CFC | #CHECRY pic.twitter.com/a6faCtV2Ps
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) August 17, 2025
Team news - Crystal Palace
12:49 , Harry Latham-CoyleEberechi Eze starts for Crystal Palace in a familiar looking line-up despite links with a move away from the club.
Will Hughes partners Adam Wharton in central midfield after impressing off the bench at Wembley last week.
Crystal Palace XI: Henderson; Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Munoz, Wharton, Hughes, Mitchell; Sarr, Eze; Mateta.
The Palace.
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) August 17, 2025
Your XI to take on Chelsea 🫡
Team news on the way...
12:42 , Harry Latham-CoyleTeam news is imminent from Stamford Bridge. Will Eberechi Eze start? How many of his new signings can Enzo Maresca cram into his forward line? We’ll let you know in the next five minutes or so...
Chelsea on the hunt for a new centre back
12:30 , Harry Latham-CoyleRight, back to matters at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea have been busy improving their forward line this summer with Joao Pedro, Estevao Willian, Liam Delap and Jamie Gittens all brought in. Enzo Maresca thinks, though, that they need a new centre-half with Levi Colwill out for the foreseeable future.
Enzo Maresca reveals the one signing Chelsea still ‘need’ to make
Still to come this weekend
12:20 , Harry Latham-CoyleThere are three more fascinating Premier League fixtures today, before the opening round concludes at Elland Road tomorrow night with promoted Leeds taking on Everton.
Sunday 17 August (all times BST)
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace (2pm)
Nottingham Forest vs Brentford (2pm)
Manchester United vs Arsenal (4.30pm)
Monday 18 August
Leeds vs Everton (8pm)
Sunderland beat West Ham on return to Premier League
12:10 , Harry Latham-CoyleAnd let’s say a hearty welcome back to Sunderland, returning to the top flight with a bang by beating West Ham in some style. Plenty of concerns, you would say, for Graham Potter...
Pep Guardiola’s summer rebuild has restored Manchester City’s old swagger
12:00 , Harry Latham-CoyleAlso off to a flying start are Manchester City, with some of their new recruits to the fore. Neil Moxley reports on a team that look to have got their groove back.
Pep Guardiola’s summer rebuild has restored Manchester City’s old swagger
Thomas Frank toasts perfect start to Premier League life at Tottenham
11:50 , Harry Latham-CoyleThere were no such problems for Tottenham, meanwhile - a 3-0 win over Burnley proved a perfect start to Premier League life under Thomas Frank.
Thomas Frank toasts perfect start to Premier League life at Tottenham
Yesterday's action...
11:40 , Harry Latham-CoyleWe’ll continue our look ahead to today’s first fixture in a bit, but let’s look back at the opening action from the first Saturday of the Premier League season. It began at Villa Park - Alexander Isak was not present but our Richard Jolly was there, and writes how the Newcastle striker’s absence was keenly felt.
Newcastle were quick and slick at Villa but Isak saga may have cost them two points
Premier League 2025/26 predictions: Champions, top four, relegation, best signing, top scorer and more
11:29 , Harry Latham-CoyleHave any of The Independent’s team of writers tipped Chelsea for the title? Do dig in to our season predictions to find out...
Who will win the Premier League? Best signing and more predictions
Chelsea eye Premier League title tilt
11:20 , Harry Latham-CoyleFor Chelsea, this feels like a season in which a title tilt must be the aim. Their Club World Cup success and another summer of investment have raised the expectations for Enzo Maresca’s side, who started strongly but faded midway through last season to eventually finish fourth. The talent in the ranks is unquestioned, but finding consistency will be key.
Will disruption hurt Crystal Palace?
11:10 , Harry Latham-CoyleIt would certainly be good to see Eberechi Eze out there for Crystal Palace, though the timing of the reports over a possible to Tottenham could hardly be worse. Oliver Glasner and his squad have already had to handle a fair bit of disruption this summer with the Europa League demotion and subsequent Cas hearing - but they were very good in the Community Shield last week and will hope to impress again.
Will Eberechi Eze feature?
11:00 , Harry Latham-CoyleTottenham have made a strong move for Eberechi Eze in the last 24 hours, a deal worth in excess of £50m moving closer to being agreed. Will the Crystal Palace forward start today? He certainly doesn’t seem to have gone all Alexander Isak, though there are conflicting reports over his involvement.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace live
09:52 , Harry Latham-CoyleA busy opening weekend of Premier League action continues with a London derby, Crystal Palace making the short trip across the city to Stamford Bridge to meet a Chelsea side harbouring title hopes after Club World Cup success.
Kick off is at 2pm BST.
