Chelsea secured a deserved victory behind goals from Estevão, Joao Pedro, and Enzo Fernández, further compounding the misery of a Crystal Palace side facing a departing manager, wantaway stars, and a mounting suspension list.
The dark clouds over Selhurst Park have turned into a full-blown storm. For Crystal Palace, the high of last season’s FA Cup triumph feels like a distant memory as their miserable run of form continued this weekend. From the boardroom to the pitch, the club appears to be in a state of freefall, and their latest outing against a clinical Chelsea side did nothing to stop the bleed.
The “shocking” season for the Eagles has been defined by a mass exodus of leadership and talent. Having already sold captain Marc Guehi, the club is now dealing with top scorer Jean-Philippe Mateta pushing for a move and manager Oliver Glasner preparing his exit. To make matters worse, the squad’s depth took another hit as midfield engine Adam Wharton saw red, ensuring he will miss their next crucial fixture.
Chelsea’s Star Power Dominates
While Palace struggled with internal turmoil, Chelsea showcased their rising stock. The Blues were firmly in control for the majority of the match, driven by a lethal attack that Palace simply couldn’t contain. The victory was spearheaded by a trio of standout performers:
- Estevão: Continued his meteoric rise with a clinical display.
- Joao Pedro: Proved to be a constant thorn in the Palace defense.
- Enzo Fernández: Dictated the tempo from midfield and capped his performance with a goal.
By the time Wharton was dismissed, Chelsea had already effectively wrapped up the three points.
A Nervous Finish for Rosenior
Despite the dominance, Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior will likely have words with his squad regarding their late-game composure. A late goal from Chris Richards served as a consolation for Palace and sparked a brief period of pressure where the Eagles missed several chances to make the scoreline even tighter.
“Chelsea were good for the win; they controlled the majority of the game,” but the lapse in control toward the final whistle showed that Rosenior’s side is still a work in progress. Nevertheless, the result leaves Palace searching for answers in a season that is rapidly getting away from them.