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:
Good morning and welcome to The Independent's live coverage of the Premier League.
There are four games this afternoon in what should be an action-packed slate of action. First up, Crystal Palace vs Chelsea. Team news for that one shortly.
Right, without further ado off we go.
Team News
Here are the teams for today's early kick off at Selhurst Park:
This is another difficult test for Maurizio Sarri and Chelsea. Their away form has been inconsistent of late - they were beaten at Tottenham and Wolves - and Crystal Palace are certain to disrupt them in the early stages.
It's a drab, uninspiring day in London, but the Blues come into this on the back of a crucial win at Watford. That will have given them confidence. A win this afternoon, after defeats for both Tottenham and Arsenal yesterday, would be a significant step towards a place in the top four.
Chelsea will be aware, though, that this won't be easy. A Wilfried Zaha-inspired Palace beat them at Selhurst Park last season, so complacency will need to be avoided.
Changes
Palace make just the one change to their starting lineup: Jeffrey Schlupp replaces Max Meyer, perhaps an indication that Roy Hodgson intends to play in a more direct manner today.
For Chelsea, Ross Barkley and Olivier Giroud come in for Mateo Kovacic and Pedro.
Palace, despite failing to beat Cardiff in their last home game, might be feeling quietly confident about today. Their stunning victory at Manchester City is still fresh in the memory, and Chelsea have certainly not been infallible in recent weeks.
Results are still crucial for Palace, too. They remain just five points clear of 18th placed Fulham, and will want to pull away from the bottom three as soon as possible.
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Chelsea will be hopeful of an improvement on this particular record:
The teams are out at Selhurst Park. Kick off is moments away...
Crystal Palace 0-0 Chelsea
3 minutes
It's been a slow opening to this one. Both sides are settling in, trying to get a foothold in the game. Chelsea have controlled possession and Palace have made clear their intention to sit back and soak up pressure.
Crystal Palace 0-0 Chelsea
6 minutes
Chelsea are probing, playing some nice intricate football. But so far they have been met by a wall of Palace shirts. This is a pattern that looks like it might continue throughout.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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