On a chilly Sunday at Selhurst Park, Chelsea delivered a statement performance, dispatching a reeling Crystal Palace side 3-0 in front of a restless South London crowd. The January 25, 2026, Premier League clash saw the Blues continue their recent dominance over Palace, capitalizing on a side grappling with injuries, managerial uncertainty, and a string of poor results. Under the stewardship of new manager Liam Rosenior, Chelsea showcased attacking flair and defensive resilience, keeping their European qualification hopes alive while deepening Palace’s woes.
The build-up to this contest was marked by contrasting narratives. Chelsea, despite a topsy-turvy campaign, entered the weekend sixth in the Premier League table, just one point adrift of Manchester United and two behind Liverpool. Their morale had received a timely boost with a 2-0 win over Brentford the previous Saturday, which snapped a five-match winless streak in league play. Meanwhile, Crystal Palace had tumbled from fourth to thirteenth since early December, languishing on a seven-match winless run in the EPL and reeling from a 2-1 defeat at Sunderland the week prior. The Eagles’ struggles were compounded by off-field turbulence: manager Oliver Glasner’s impending departure, the sale of their captain to Manchester City, and swirling rumors around star forward Jean-Philippe Mateta’s future.
As kick-off approached, both clubs revealed lineups reflecting their current realities. Chelsea’s starting XI featured Robert Sánchez in goal, shielded by a back four of Reece James (captain), Trevoh Chalobah, Benoît Badiashile, and Marc Cucurella. The midfield pairing of Moisés Caicedo and Andrey Santos provided stability, while Enzo Fernández, Pedro Neto, and Estêvão supported João Pedro up front. Notable absentees included Cole Palmer (not in squad), Filip Jorgensen (injury), and several others rotated out from the midweek win over Pafos. Teddy Sharman-Lowe, rather than Gaga Slonina, served as backup goalkeeper—a minor but interesting tweak.
Crystal Palace, meanwhile, lined up with Dean Henderson donning the captain’s armband between the posts. The defense comprised Daniel Muñoz, Chris Richards, Maxence Lacroix, Jaydee Canvot, and Tyrick Mitchell. In midfield, Jefferson Lerma and Adam Wharton partnered up, while Ismaïla Sarr and Brennan Johnson flanked Jean-Philippe Mateta in attack. The Eagles’ bench was stretched thin, with Will Hughes, Yeremy Pino, and Justin Devenny all missing out, and four recognized centre-backs on the pitch in a 3-4-2-1 formation.
From the opening whistle, Chelsea looked the more assured side, but Palace carved out the first real chance—Mateta, clean through, was denied by Sánchez’s quick reflexes. That miss would prove costly. As the match settled, Chelsea began to find their rhythm. Estêvão, the teenage sensation, was a constant menace on the break, and it was he who broke the deadlock in the 34th minute. After latching onto a loose ball near halfway, Estêvão surged forward, held off Tyrick Mitchell, and rifled a left-footed shot past Henderson. The goal was a testament to his pace, strength, and composure, giving the Blues a 1-0 lead and the traveling supporters plenty to cheer about.
Palace responded with a flurry of attacks, but their finishing let them down. Brennan Johnson squandered a golden opportunity, dragging his shot wide before being substituted. Ismaïla Sarr also went close, flicking an effort wide after a long throw was inadvertently nudged on by Reece James. Chelsea, for their part, threatened on the counter, with Caicedo and Fernández both firing off target from promising positions. The first half ended with Chelsea narrowly ahead, but the sense was that more drama was to come.
The second half saw Palace push forward in search of an equalizer, but it was Chelsea who struck next. In the 50th minute, João Pedro played a slick give-and-go with Estêvão, cut inside Adam Wharton, and drilled a low shot past Henderson. The goal, coming so soon after the restart, seemed to sap the energy from the home side. According to live updates, "Joao Pedro plays a lovely give-and-go with Estevao and is away. He still has plenty to do but cuts inside Wharton and drills a low shot on goal which squirms through Henderson."
Palace’s afternoon went from bad to worse when Adam Wharton, already on a yellow card, slid in late on Caicedo and was promptly dismissed for a second bookable offense. Down to ten men with just under 20 minutes left, the hosts’ hopes of a comeback faded rapidly.
The decisive blow arrived in the 64th minute. After a VAR review, the referee awarded Chelsea a penalty for a handball by Jaydee Canvot, who was also booked for the infraction. Enzo Fernández stepped up and coolly converted, sending Henderson the wrong way and sealing a 3-0 advantage for the visitors. As reported, "VAR check for a potential penalty kick for Chelsea as Joao Pedro’s shot hits Canvot’s arm. The referee gives a penalty after a long check as he books Canvot for accidental handball."
Managerial tactics came to the fore as both teams made a flurry of substitutions. Palace introduced Will Hughes, Chadi Riad, Borna Sosa, and Yéremy Pino in a bid to stem the tide, while Chelsea brought on Malo Gusto, Jamie Gittens, and Wesley Fofana to keep legs fresh and see out the result. Henderson, despite conceding three, made several saves to prevent a heavier defeat, while Sánchez produced a crucial stop in the first half that kept Chelsea’s clean sheet intact.
For Chelsea, this win marked a significant step in their quest for a top-four finish and European football next season. Liam Rosenior’s side now boasts back-to-back league victories, with confidence seemingly restored after a rocky patch. The likes of Estêvão and João Pedro provided a glimpse of the club’s attacking future, while the midfield duo of Caicedo and Santos offered balance and bite. The Blues’ defensive unit, marshaled by James and Badiashile, held firm against Palace’s sporadic threats.
Crystal Palace, by contrast, find themselves mired in uncertainty. Without a win in eight league games, manager Oliver Glasner’s tenure appears to be winding down amid speculation he could exit even before season’s end. The loss of key players and a lack of cutting edge in attack have left the Eagles vulnerable, and with Mateta’s future up in the air, the challenges are mounting. The Selhurst Park faithful, ever passionate, will be hoping for a swift turnaround as the relegation battle intensifies.
As the final whistle blew, Chelsea’s players celebrated a job well done, while Palace trudged off knowing they’d missed their chances and face a tough road ahead. The Blues’ supporters, buoyed by victory, can look forward to the next fixture with renewed optimism. For Palace, the search for answers—and points—continues.