Chelsea vs Crystal Palace LIVE!
The world champions Chelsea were held to a goalless draw by Crystal Palace in their first Premier League outing of the season today. Eberechi Eze was central to the pre-match narrative amid reports he was set to be dropped from the matchday squad amid transfer interest from Tottenham, but he was named in Oliver Glasner’s starting eleven and starred for the visitors.
He buried a stunning free-kick in the first half to open the scoring, but his effort was cruelly ruled out by VAR after Marc Guehi was deemed to be too close to the defending wall. The flashpoint triggered a dominant spell for the Eagles, but they could not capitalise on it. Chelsea were similarly impotent in attack despite investing heavily in forwards this summer. With 80 minutes played, they had mustered just one solitary shot on target.
The introductions of Liam Delap and Estevao Willian late did lead to a late flurry of forward pressure, but they too failed to find the back of the net. Chelsea come away from the tie with a rash of awkward misses, but Andrey Santos’ in injury time was perhaps the most glaring as he fired well over from the edge of the box under minimal pressure. Catch up with the action as it happened below.
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace latest news
- VAR controversy reigns as Eze wondergoal ruled out
- Kick off: 2pm BST, Stamford Bridge
- Chelsea starting XI
- Crystal Palace starting XI
The action as it happened
16:06 , Arthur FerridgeChelsea were held to a goalless draw by Crystal Palace in their Premier League opener.
Catch up with the action with Standard Sport’s match report HERE!
Or if you want some analysis from Dom Smith, find his player ratings HERE!
And stay tuned for further reaction and analysis from Standard Sport.
FULL TIME: Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
15:58 , Arthur FerridgeDespite heaping on some late pressure, Chelsea cannot find a breakthrough. That does it at Stamford Bridge. The points are shared.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
15:55 , Arthur Ferridge90+4mins: Almost a chance for immediate redemption as Santos gets a header goalwards from Neto’s cross, but Henderson is equal to it.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
15:55 , Arthur Ferridge90+3mins: Delap breaks free in the right channel and finds Cucurella who squares it to Santos. He gets under the shot in a terrible way, and sends it vertical. Chelsea’s finishing has been absolutely appalling today. Unbecoming of world champions.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
15:53 , Arthur Ferridge90+2mins: Two more corners go begging for Chelsea.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
15:52 , Arthur Ferridge90+1mins: Six minutes added on.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
15:52 , Arthur Ferridge90mins: Delap gets free from his marker and tallies Chelsea’s second shot on target of the afternoon. Henderson saves.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
15:50 , Arthur Ferridge89mins: Gusto finds himself in space and sees his name in lights. Having never scored for Chelsea, he takes a pop from some 30 yards. Not sure where it ended up, really.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
15:49 , Arthur Ferridge88mins: You get the distinct impression this won’t end goalless. Both sides are pushing hard, and Palace look the more likely.
Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
15:48 , Arthur FerridgeThere's now only four minutes plus stoppage time left of what has been a frustrating opening game for Chelsea.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
15:45 , Arthur Ferridge83mins: Eze is withdrawn and receives a standing ovation from the away end. Devenney replaces.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
15:44 , Arthur Ferridge82mins: Eze stings Sanchez’s palms.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
15:43 , Arthur Ferridge80mins: Ten minutes to play. Chelsea have a colossal amount of attacking talent on the pitch, monetarily speaking, but have still only managed one shot on target. That came in the third minute.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
15:40 , Arthur Ferridge79mins: Malo Gusto and Andrey Santos replace Reece James and Enzo Fernandez.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
15:39 , Arthur Ferridge78mins: Mateta takes a shot from range, but it is right into Sanchez’s hands.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
15:37 , Arthur Ferridge75mins: On reflection, Estevao did not get enough of the ball to get away without a booking there. He didn’t get much of the ball at all.
Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
15:36 , Arthur FerridgeI think we'll put that down as a 'professional foul' - and one deserving of a yellow card.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
15:36 , Arthur Ferridge74mins: The free kick is cleared away and Estevao just about beats Munoz to it. He looks to have won the ball - maybe - but he’s booked for it.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
15:34 , Arthur Ferridge73mins: Neto wins a free kick by the left corner flag. Goes down easily but fools the ref. Joao Pedro is withdrawn for Liam Delap.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
15:33 , Arthur Ferridge72mins: James plays a nice ball over the top to Cucurella, but it is just slightly too heavy for the Spaniard to reach it before Henderson.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
15:31 , Arthur Ferridge69mins: Achemapong’s loose pass sets Eze free. Palace attack quickly and win a corner. Jefferson Lerma replaces Will Hughes.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
15:28 , Arthur Ferridge67mins: Palmer finds Estevao in the box, but he too hesitates before shooting, and fires over when he eventually pulls the trigger.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
15:26 , Arthur Ferridge65mins: Ball drops to Palmer in thebox, but he hesitates before shooting and is closed down by Hughes.
Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
15:24 , Arthur FerridgeLovely start to this debut cameo from Estevao Willian, who has just tracked back and helped to tackle Eze. The teenager looks like he fits right in already.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
15:23 , Arthur Ferridge62mins: Chelsea’s seventh corner of the day is headed over by Joao Pedro. The hosts have been poor in front of goal today.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
15:23 , Arthur Ferridge62mins: Chalobah’s inswinging cross is headed behind for a corner, thanks to Marc Guehi.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
15:22 , Arthur Ferridge60mins: That free-kick has clearly stung Ricahrds, who looks to be bleeding from his nose. Unclear whether he will continue.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
15:20 , Arthur Ferridge58mins: After the first-half debacle, the referee has put down an extra line of disappearing foam to show Marc Cucurella how close he is allowed to get to the Palace wall. Palmer rattles the free kick into Chris Richards’ face, and he needs a moment to recover.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
15:18 , Arthur Ferridge56mins: Estevao beats Guehi and puts a great cross into the box, which really should have been finished off. James hits the deck on the edge of the box and its a Chelsea free kick.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
15:16 , Arthur Ferridge55mins: Caicedo down in agony after colliding with Mateta.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
15:16 , Arthur Ferridge54mins: The moment so many have been waiting for is here as one of the Premier League’s brightest talents comes on to make his debut.
Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
15:15 , Arthur FerridgeEstevao Willian is on for his competitive Chelsea debut at the age of 18. Gittens makes way. Neto will go to the left and Estevao on the right.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
15:15 , Arthur Ferridge54mins: Henderson bats away Palmer’s cross.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
15:14 , Arthur Ferridge53mins: Palace under a bit of pressure here as Chelsea settle into a pattern of passing around in the final third.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
15:12 , Arthur Ferridge51mins: Estevao is warming up!
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
15:11 , Arthur Ferridge50mins: Palmer, anonymous in the first half, puts a cross behind the Palace goal.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
15:10 , Arthur Ferridge48mins: A cynical foul from Hughes, who pulls Caicedo back as he looks to break. He is duly booked.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
15:09 , Arthur Ferridge47mins: Pedro and Lacroix are both down after coming together off the ball, and the referee decides in favour of Palace.
2ND HALF: Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
15:07 , Arthur FerridgeBack underway at the Bridge!
HALF TIME: Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
14:51 , Arthur FerridgeWe are goalless at the break, but should we be? Get ready to debate Eze’s disallowed free-kick goal for quite some time.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
14:50 , Arthur Ferridge45+4mins: Palace get into the final third and take a few pot-shots, all blocked. Chelsea cannot clear it away, and the attack ends with a shot wide of the right post.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
14:49 , Arthur Ferridge40+3mins: Neto does well to redirect Chalobah’s long ball into the box, but nobody is there to finish it off. Chelsea recycle and Cucurella has a shooting chance, but becomes the latest Blue to blast one into the top tier of the Shed.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
14:46 , Arthur Ferridge45mins: Four minutes added on to end the first half.
Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
14:43 , Arthur FerridgeIt's a real tussle, this match. It's become very bitty, with lots of fouls and regular changes of possession as the first half draws to an end. Pretty evenly-matched, so far.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
14:43 , Arthur Ferridge42mins: Sarr picks up possession on halfway and drives into Chelsea territory, but Cucurella does well to track back and dispossess him.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
14:40 , Arthur Ferridge39mins: Eze delivers a brilliant ball from the free-kick, but Lacroix can’t quite reach it.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
14:39 , Arthur Ferridge38mins: Reece James, on a yellow, trips Eze on the flank. Foul given and he gets a talking to from the referee. He’ll be on thin ice now.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
14:36 , Arthur Ferridge36mins: Neto’s ball in is cleared without complaint.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
14:35 , Arthur Ferridge35mins: Joao Pedro wins a free-kick about 30 yards from the Palace goal.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
14:33 , Arthur Ferridge32mins: Acheampong makes a pair of wonderful last-ditch tackles to dispossess Munoz and prevent Mateta from picking up the pieces.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
14:33 , Arthur Ferridge32mins: Players on both sides look rather aggravated with the referee, and those in the stands are echoing their frustrations in song.
Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
14:32 , Arthur FerridgeThat's a dire miss by Chalobah from so close in, and it's little wonder he's pretending he should have a corner for a deflection. Wrong player in the right place.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
14:31 , Arthur Ferridge30mins: Gittens has a go from range and it pinballs through the area. It falls to Chalobah but he shoots over from the edge of the six-yard box. Suppose there’s a reason he’s a centre-back.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
14:30 , Arthur FerridgeChelsea issue a statement apologising for growing pains with the launch of their new digital ticketing system.
“The club is aware there were some issues with the ticketing system for approximately 30 minutes, between 12.30pm and 1pm, before today’s Premier League match against Crystal Palace. We will do everything we can to ensure this does not happen again. We apologise to supporters who were affected by this and thank them for their patience. The issue was resolved, and all ticketed supporters were admitted to the stadium safely in time for kick-off.”
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
14:29 , Arthur Ferridge28mins: Munoz clatters Cucurella and is booked. That doesn’t look to be quite as bad as a collision as first thought, though, and both continue.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
14:26 , Arthur Ferridge25mins: Eze has another go from range in this, the latest free kick, but Sanchez will not be fooled twice. Neto counters apace and wins a corner for Chelsea.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
14:25 , Arthur Ferridge24mins: Reece James is booked for a heavy-handed tackle on Sarr.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
14:24 , Arthur Ferridge24mins: See below, the official reasoning for Eze’s free-kick being ruled out.
#CHECRY – 13’ VAR OVERTURN
— Premier League Match Centre (@PLMatchCentre) August 17, 2025
After VAR review, the referee overturned the original decision of goal to Crystal Palace.
Referee announcement: “After review, away number six is less than one metre away from the wall as the shot is taken. Therefore, it's an indirect free kick and a…
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
14:23 , Arthur Ferridge23mins: James plays a long pass up to Pedro and Chelsea work the ball to the edge of the area. Neto’s shot is into the second tier, but a deflection from Wharton spares his blushes.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
14:22 , Arthur Ferridge21mins: Palmer finds a little space at the edge of the box and looks to bend one at the far corner, but his effort is over the bar.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
14:21 , Arthur Ferridge20mins: “Same old Chelsea, always cheating,” chant the away end.
Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
14:20 , Arthur FerridgeThat's a really smart stop from Sanchez to deny Mateta, who knew he didn't have much time to sort his feet out before the challenge came in. Sanchez blocked well with his midriff; Palace are pushing.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
14:20 , Arthur Ferridge19mins: Wharton finds Mateta with a slide-rule pass and he takes a snap shot which demands a smart save from Sanchez.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
14:19 , Arthur Ferridge18mins: Palace win the ball high and Mateta looks to drive at goal, but a brilliant tackle from Caicedo halts him.
Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
14:17 , Arthur FerridgeHow about that for narrative. Eze steps up and thwacks the ball through the wall and past a helpless Robert Sanchez, and he thinks he's put Palace ahead in fine fashion (in a match he last night looked like missing), but then VAR rules it out for a push by Guehi on Caicedo in the wall. I have to say, that feels very harsh on Palace. It's a contact sport, after all, and it wasn't enough of a shove for Caicedo to go down. But Chelsea are relieved and it stays 0-0.
GOAL DISALLOWED! Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
14:16 , Arthur Ferridge15mins: Welcome back, VAR. Eze’s wonder goal is ruled out. What an injustice.
Chelsea 0-1 Crystal Palace
14:15 , Arthur Ferridge14mins: For some reason, this is being reviewed by VAR.
GOAL! Chelsea 0-1 Crystal Palace
14:14 , Arthur Ferridge13mins: Eze has a smile on his face as he takes the free kick, and he pounds it into the top right corner. Who ever said transfer rumours were distracting?
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
14:12 , Arthur Ferridge11mins: Good spell for Palace here as Chelsea again look shaky in defence. Hughes goes down at the edge of the area and it is another free kick for the visitors.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
14:10 , Arthur Ferridge9mins: Poor defending at the set piece from Chelsea. Richards’ header at goal is wide, but Sanchez had to be quick off his line to get there before a yellow-shirted attacker.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
14:09 , Arthur Ferridge8mins: Sarr is down injured, and takes his time getting back up.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
14:07 , Arthur Ferridge6mins: A moment to breathe here as Gittens and Richards knock heads. Both look O.K. to continue.
Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
14:05 , Arthur FerridgeThe first crunching tackle of the season by Moises Caicedo goes in, and normal service is restored. The world is healing.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
14:05 , Arthur Ferridge5mins: Fernandez is pushed down in the box as Chelsea take another corner, but the referee waves away his appeals. Didn’t look to be much in it, in fairness.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
14:04 , Arthur Ferridge3mins: Cucurella heads at goal and Sarr gets there to clear it off the line.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
14:03 , Arthur Ferridge3mins: Gittens gets free down the left flank and wins a first corner of the season.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
14:03 , Arthur Ferridge2mins: Chelsea are into the Palace box for the first time thanks to Joao Pedro, but he can’t do much with the territory.
Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
14:02 , Arthur FerridgeCheers of "We've won it all" sound out around Stamford Bridge from Chelsea fans. And they have, to be fair.
Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
14:02 , Arthur Ferridge1mins: Confident start from Acheampong, who steps up into midfield and fizzes a pass out to Cole Palmer.
KICK OFF! Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
14:01 , Arthur FerridgeAfter a moment of silence in memory of Diogo Jota and Andre Silva, we are underway at Stamford Bridge!
Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
13:56 , Arthur FerridgeSome flares are let off from both stands behind the goal as the world champions, Chelsea, emerge from the tunnel for their Premier League opener.
Here come the players
13:55 , Arthur FerridgeThe Liquidator echoes around Stamford Bridge and the squads are out.
How we’ve missed that tune...
Today's XIs
13:53 , Arthur FerridgeWith kick-off just a few minutes away, here’s a reminder of how Chelsea and Palace line up.
Chelsea: Sanchez; James, Acheampong, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Neto, Palmer, Gittens; Joao Pedro
Crystal Palace: Henderson; Munoz, Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Mitchell, Wharton, Hughes; Sarr, Eze, Mateta
Nearly time to go
13:50 , Arthur FerridgeTen minutes to kick off!
Todd Boehly and Paul Winstanley in attendance
13:45 , Arthur FerridgeThe Chelsea brain trust are at Stamford Bridge today to watch their big-money signings in action.
Wonderkid on the bench for Chelsea
13:41 , Arthur FerridgeChelsea fans had to wait 14 months to see Estevao Willian in action after he signed, but what an impact he had on arrival.
The Brazilian scored on debut in the Leverkusen friendly, and was electric off the bench against Milan.
Will he feature today?
Chelsea's latest signing?
13:38 , Arthur FerridgeFair play to Chelsea, who have signed a football legend as their new No11 today. Romário. #CFC pic.twitter.com/hmkRqyIgXa
— Dom Smith (@MrDomSmith) August 17, 2025
Dom Smith at Stamford Bridge
13:30 , Arthur FerridgeIt's a big opportunity today for Josh Acheampong, who starts alongside Trevoh Chalobah in central defence. Maresca wants a new centre-back after Levi Colwill's ACL injury, but the club are not minded to oblige. A knock keeps Tosin Adarabioyo out today. If Acheampong puts in a solid display, the Chelsea hierarchy will be reassured the squad can cope without Colwill for the majority of the season.
If you hadn't heard...
13:25 , Arthur FerridgeGet used to hearing about Chelsea’s latest honorific. The Blues are set to spend this season making sure everybody knows they are champions of the world.
Last time out
13:17 , Arthur FerridgeCrystal Palace beat Liverpool on penalties to clinch the Community Shield in their last match.
The fell behind but equalised twice in the match, thanks to goals from Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaila Sarr.
Dean Henderson then came up trumps with some key saves in the shootout.
Can they make it three straight wins over big six opposition today, albeit with less on the line?
Enzo Maresca previews the tie
13:15 , Arthur FerridgeEnzo Maresca speaks to Sky Sports.
On short pre-season: “It has been just a week, ten days. It was a short break, but a good break.”
On Adarabioyo: “Tosin had a small problem. Hopefully we can have him for the next game.”
On choosing between Pedro and Delap: “Absolutely, yes. It was difficult, but it is a nice choice because they are both very good.”
Chelsea season preview
13:10 , Arthur FerridgeDom Smith dares to ask: where do Chelsea go after winning the Club World Cup?
The message from Enzo Maresca was clear: don’t think we’ve done anything yet, because we haven’t.
The football Chelsea produced in pre-season wins over Bayer Leverkusen and AC Milan was breathtaking at times — a marked improvement on last season, and a continuation of their free-flowing state at the Club World Cup.
Maresca rather burst that bubble, though, urging caution against reading too much into those games.
“If you remember our pre-season in the USA last season, we played seven games and lost six of them,” he said. “Pre-season, they are not real games.”
How is Eze in the fold today?
13:00 , Arthur FerridgeAllow Dom Smith to explain, live and direct from the Stamford Bridge press box.
🗣️ "It appeared last night as though Eberechi Eze wouldn't be involved today but Oliver Glasner changed his opinion this morning."
— Standard Sport (@standardsport) August 17, 2025
🎙️ @MrDomSmith with the inside line on Eze's move to Spurs and why he's involved today...
FOLLOW LIVE: https://t.co/VtqfNagcBz#CHECRY pic.twitter.com/zKnYcw0O5P
What to make of the Chelsea squad
12:56 , Arthur FerridgeEnzo Maresca seems to have opted for a back four in Levi Colwill and Tosin Adarabioyo’s absence.
Josh Acheampong and Trevoh Chalobah start as his centre-back pairing.
Jamie Gittens and Joao Pedro will make their first Premier League starts for the Blues, while Estevao features on the bench next to Liam Delap.
The biggest storyline of the day settled
12:51 , Arthur FerridgeEze starts for Crystal Palace amid significant transfer links to Tottenham Hotspur.
Chelsea starting XI
12:49 , Arthur FerridgeEnzo Maresca names his side.
Chelsea starting XI: Sanchez; James, Acheampong, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Neto, Palmer, Gittens; Joao Pedro
Subs: Jorgensen, Gusto, Fofana, Hato, Essugo, Andrey Santos, Estevao, George, Delap
Crystal Palace starting XI
12:47 , Arthur FerridgeEze starts!
Crystal Palace starting XI: Henderson; Munoz, Richards, Lacroix, Guehi; Mitchell, Wharton, Hughes; Sarr, Eze, Mateta
Subs: Benitez, Lerma, Clyne, Esse, Edouard, Sosa, Rak-Sakyi, Devenny, Cardines
How many Chelsea debutants today?
12:40 , Arthur FerridgeChelsea have signed a fair few players this summer. How many will make their Premier League debuts for the club today?
Joao Pedro, Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens, Jorrel Hato, Estevao, and Dario Essugo could be among their number.
What's coming ahead of kick-off?
12:35 , Arthur FerridgeChelsea have asked fans to arrive at the match early today, for two reasons.
The first is not so interesting. The club is using digital ticketing for the first time, and growing pains are expected.
The second, though, has sparked intrigue. An ‘unveiling’ has been promised.
What will be unveiled, you ask? Nobody knows just yet.
The popular theory, though, is that Chelsea’s new Total 90 third kit will be released.
Stay tuned!
Eze arrives with Crystal Palace
12:34 , Arthur FerridgeEberechi Eze has arrived at Stamford Bridge with the Crystal Palace squad, as does Marc Guehi.
Will both start today?
Eze and Guehi are at Stamford Bridge despite continued links away from Crystal Palace. pic.twitter.com/576rvGnPSz
— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) August 17, 2025
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