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January 5, 2025
Chelsea headed to Crystal Palace for a vital Premier League clash on Saturday afternoon.
Chelsea dropped more valuable points in the Premier League after being held to a 1-1 draw by Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. The Blues have now gone four consecutive top-flight matches without a win and find themselves nine points behind runaway leaders Liverpool, having played two games more.
Chelsea took the lead early, breaking the deadlock in just the 14th minute. Jadon Sancho brilliantly outpaced Palace defender Chris Richards in the middle of the pitch before charging into the penalty area and setting up Cole Palmer, who calmly slotted the ball past goalkeeper Dean Henderson.
However, Chelsea couldn’t build on their advantage, failing to finish the game in the second half. Jean-Philippe Mateta found the equalizer for Palace late in the match. Here’s a look at the player ratings following the encounter.
Robert Sanchez: 5
Recalled to the starting lineup after being dropped in favor of Filip Jorgensen for the trip to Ipswich, Sanchez struggled with his distribution. A key moment came when he kicked the ball straight to Daniel Munoz midway through the first half, putting his side under unnecessary pressure. His performance won’t guarantee him a start in the next match.
Malo Gusto: 6
A quiet game for Gusto, with much of Crystal Palace’s attacking play coming down the opposite flank. He was largely pinned back by the Eagles’ offensive threats and failed to offer much going forward.
Josh Acheampong: 6
Making his first Premier League start, Acheampong was deployed at the heart of Chelsea’s defense. Though he can also play on the right, this was a valuable opportunity for him to showcase his talents. He held his ground well and will likely be pleased with his performance in such a high-pressure environment.
Levi Colwill: 7
A steady presence at the back, Colwill guided Acheampong through the match and dealt with most of the threats that came his way. His standout moment came with an outstanding block to deny Jean-Philippe Mateta a goal, though he couldn’t help his side secure a clean sheet.
Marc Cucurella: 5
Had limited opportunities to advance up the pitch and struggled to prevent Palace from delivering too many crosses from the right flank.
Enzo Fernandez: 6
Controlled the midfield in the first half, looking to transition the ball quickly from defence to attack. Defended set pieces well, positioning himself alongside Sanchez to block Palace players’ efforts.
Moises Caicedo: 5
Worked tirelessly to shield the back four and win possession in the centre, but Palace managed to break through his protection on several occasions.
Pedro Neto: 6
Showed plenty of intent by running at defenders and nearly assisted Palmer with a dangerous run midway through the first half. Was brought down by Tyrick Mitchell inside the box, though Chelsea’s penalty appeal was turned down.
Cole Palmer: 6
Scored a well-taken goal, calmly finishing into the corner after a great assist from Sancho. Showcased his ability with a fine half-volleyed through ball to Jackson, but was unable to maintain his influence in the second half. Made an error in possession leading to Palace’s equalizer.
Jadon Sancho: 7
Created the opening goal with a clever run and precise pass to Palmer, leaving Chris Richards behind in the build-up. Showed flashes of his talent but didn’t sustain his impact throughout the match and will be eager to contribute more in future outings.
Nicolas Jackson: 4
Was constantly active in getting behind the Palace defence but lacked the clinical finishing touch. Missed a golden opportunity to double Chelsea’s lead after a brilliant pass from Palmer, a miss that proved costly as the game progressed.
Marc Guiu: 6
Did well to add energy in attack but wasn’t able to influence the game in a significant way.
Noni Madueke: 6
Came on and showed his usual trickery, but couldn’t help Chelsea regain control of the match or add another goal.
More insights: Man City 4-1 West Ham: Haaland’s Brace and Savinho’s Spark Lead Guardiola’s Side to Consecutive Victory
Katarzyna Nowak is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in editorial content, news reporting, and cricket sportsbook app reviews. As an author for 24kbet, she combines her deep understanding of the sports betting industry with a passion for cricket, delivering insightful and accurate content that keeps readers informed and engaged.
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