After an entertaining first-half at Selhurst Park, the teams go into the break level at 1-1. Chelsea dominated possession throughout the opening 45 minutes but Crystal Palace took the lead against the run of play through Odsonne Edouard, before Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang equalised with his first goal for the club. Thiago Silva was involved in that strike, having been fortunate to stay on the pitch after stopping Jordan Ayew going clean through.
Graham Potter is in charge of Chelsea for the first time in the Premier League this afternoon. The postponement of matches after Queen Elizabeth II’s death followed by the international break means that it is almost a month since either side last played in the league.
Since then Thomas Tuchel has been sacked and Potter saw his draw to RB Salzburg in the Champions League, a performance where the Blues’ shortcomings at both ends of the pitch were evident. While most of his squad have been away on international duty, the Chelsea boss will be hoping the recent break has given his side a chance to reset. Follow Crystal Palace vs Chelsea LIVE with Standard Sport’s blog below!
Live updates
57 mins: Good work from Sterling, sets up a chance for Chilwell but it’s a pretty wild effort.
Space out there for both sides since the restart, still there for either side to win.
56 mins: Potter has seen enough, he turns to his bench for the first time this afternoon.
Loftus-Cheek on, Jorginho off. Should give Chelsea a bit more going forward in midfield.
54 mins: Eze clips a free-kick into the box, it’s a bit of a mess as Guehi heads it across the six-yard box.
Chelsea unable to get it properly clear, until the whistle goes for a foul and Palace are penalised. Went down well with the home fans…
52 mins: Ayew kicks the ball away and he earns a yellow card for that. Entirely pointless.
Palace fans getting increasingly frustrated, Olise was hauled down as he tried to break but advantage was played – came to nothing. And now Olise is pulled back again by Kovacic, Palace man shrugs him off and drives forward.
Lot of pressure being put on the referee.
50 mins: Kovacic drives into the area, all came from a very calm pass out from Kepa.
Ball played in, comes to nothing though as once again Palace have enough men back to clear the danger.
47 mins: Zaha breaks away down the left, he has men to pick out in the middle.
He tries to find Doucoure, midfielder can’t get on the end of it though and Mount gets back to clear the danger. Bright start to the half from Palace.
Palace chairman not exactly thrilled
Back underway!
Palace eventually decide they will come out for the second-half. Here we go again.
Chelsea back out for the second-half – no sign of Crystal Palace yet.
Back up and running very shortly.
Around the grounds…
Look away now Fulham fans. It’s not going well – we’ll leave it at that.
George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism