Ebere Eze’s second-half equaliser gave Crystal Palace a point against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Nicolas Jackson had opened the scoring before the break but Enzo Maresca’s side had to settle for a point after a much improved second-half display from Crystal Palace.
Here are five big talking points from the game…
Similar story for Chelsea
Chelsea’s inability to take their chances while they are on top and before their opponents grow into the game has been a recurring theme over the past couple of seasons, particularly at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea fans will be feeling like they have seen this game plenty of times already, with their side comfortably better than Palace in the first half but managing to score just one goal before losing control of the game in the second. Their opponents were poor in the first 45 minutes but much improved after the break, showing greater impetus and attacking with more pace, and grabbed an equaliser through Eze. This is an all too similar story for Chelsea and one which they cannot afford to allow to continue if they are to improve on last season.
Eze makes the difference
Eze was uncharacteristically quiet in the first half, even frustrating the away supporters when he declined the chance to run into space and instead turn back to take the safer option. It was unlike the England forward, who is usually so direct and positive. But he led Palace’s changed approach after the restart, attacking with more speed and directness and scored a fantastic equaliser, curling past Robert Sanchez from the edge of the box. Only Phil Foden has scored as many goals from outside the box as Eze in 2024, and after the departure of Michael Olise, there is no question as to who Palace’s main man is.
Madueke and Palmer partnership a positive
Dropping points at home obviously comes with more negativity than positivity, but Maresca and Chelsea can at least take positives from the partnership that is growing between Cole Palmer and Noni Madueke on the right-hand side. Palmer played out on the right for much of last season but under Maresca has been used in a more central role with Madueke as the right winger. They combined well for the first goal, with Madueke picking out Palmer who then squared it to Nicolas Jackson to score, and Palmer’s excellent passing ability saw him send Madueke away down the right on a couple of occasions in the first half. Palmer set up all three of Madueke’s goals against Wolves last week and they complemented each other well again against Palace, despite Madueke’s wastefulness in front of goal.
Jackson’s mixed performance
After failing to bring in either Ivan Toney or Victor Osimhen before the transfer deadline, there will be increased responsibility on the shoulders of Jackson this season, who again looks set to be the favoured choice to lead the line for the Blues. He showed fantastic desire to score by bursting towards the back-post to tap in from Palmer’s ball to open the scoring, but after a pretty anonymous second half, spurned two massive chances to win it for his side right at the end, smashing into the side-netting after getting in down the right before missing an even bigger one moments later down the left when his tame finish was kept out by Dean Henderson. Jackson is not the only one who must take responsibility for missed chances, with Madueke also wasteful in the first half, but his two big chances right at the death will be the big talking point.
Hughes gets away with one
It was a feisty affair at Stamford Bridge with both sides playing in aggressive fashion, which also resulted in many yellow cards being handed out. Will Hughes was one of those booked and was perhaps fortunate to get away without a second yellow after bringing down Cole Palmer when he was on the attack. Maresca was incensed on the touchline and let his feelings be known in his post-match press conference too. “It was clear for all of us that it was a second yellow card and a red card, the only one who thinks differently is the referee.”
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