Hakim Ziyech scored for a third consecutive league game
Hakim Ziyech scored a last-minute winner as Chelsea edged past Crystal Palace on their return to Premier League action.
Thomas Tuchel's side last played in the top flight almost a month ago when they defeated Tottenham, and have had a week's rest since winning the Club World Cup last Saturday.
It looked like they would be frustrated by their hosts but Ziyech popped up at the back post to stroke in a delightful volley from Marcos Alonso's cross.
Moroccan Ziyech had converted earlier in the second half when he swept home following Jack Butland's save, but Romelu Lukaku was adjudged to be offside by VAR.
Vicente Guaita had made good saves in the first half from N'Golo Kante's effort and Antonio Rudiger's long range thunderbolt, before the Palace goalkeeper was taken off at half-time because of a knee injury.
The home side, meanwhile, did not have a single shot on target in the entire contest - both Michael Oliseh and Wilfried Zaha failing to work Edouard Mendy from promising positions.
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Lukaku struggles with limited supply
Winners keep going until the very end, a quality illustrated perfectly by reigning world and European champions Chelsea at Selhurst Park as they scored the decisive goal in the 89th minute.
Up until that point, they had been finding it difficult to make inroads against a resolute Palace backline, with striker Lukaku particularly suffering.
Without injured wing-backs Reece James and Ben Chilwell, Tuchel switched from a 5-3-2 to a 4-3-3 formation, but the Belgium international lacked any service and had just seven touches of the ball in the whole game.
Lukaku netted in both games at the Club World Cup but has now netted just once in the past eight games in domestic action and question marks remain about whether he fits into the Chelsea system.
He was involved in the disallowed goal on 75 minutes when a thumping shot was batted out for Ziyech to pounce on, but Lukaku failed to time his run and was caught offside.
His team-mates Kante and Rudiger did force Guaita into action in the first half and substitute Butland thought he was on the way to a clean sheet before Ziyech struck for his third consecutive Premier League game.
In the end, a stubborn display ended up being a disappointing day for Palace boss Patrick Vieira and there will be some concern after his side extended their winless run to six games in the league.
In-form Oliseh should have done better when he screwed wide in the first half and Zaha may be left feeling he could have netted too, but the Ivorian side-footed wide and flashed a shot across goal when searching for the equaliser in injury time.
Player of the match
ZiyechHakim Ziyech
with an average of 7.17
- Crystal PalaceCrystal PalaceCrystal PalaceChelseaChelseaChelsea
Crystal PalaceAvgSquad number6Player nameGuéhiAverage rating
6.08
Squad number7Player nameOliseAverage rating
6.06
Squad number13Player nameGuaitaAverage rating
5.94
Squad number8Player nameKouyatéAverage rating
5.86
Squad number3Player nameMitchellAverage rating
5.86
Squad number10Player nameEzeAverage rating
5.81
Squad number18Player nameMcArthurAverage rating
5.77
Squad number17Player nameClyneAverage rating
5.74
Squad number16Player nameAndersenAverage rating
5.73
Squad number9Player nameJ AyewAverage rating
5.71
Squad number15Player nameSchluppAverage rating
5.70
Squad number11Player nameZahaAverage rating
5.66
Squad number1Player nameButlandAverage rating
5.58
Squad number14Player nameMatetaAverage rating
4.84
ChelseaAvgSquad number22Player nameZiyechAverage rating
7.17
Squad number7Player nameKantéAverage rating
6.67
Squad number2Player nameRüdigerAverage rating
6.61
Squad number6Player nameThiago SilvaAverage rating
6.59
Squad number8Player nameKovacicAverage rating
6.55
Squad number16Player nameMendyAverage rating
6.54
Squad number3Player nameAlonsoAverage rating
6.41
Squad number29Player nameHavertzAverage rating
6.28
Squad number4Player nameChristensenAverage rating
6.21
Squad number10Player namePulisicAverage rating
6.09
Squad number31Player nameSarrAverage rating
5.78
Squad number12Player nameLoftus-CheekAverage rating
5.76
Squad number5Player nameJorginhoAverage rating
5.72
Squad number9Player nameLukakuAverage rating
4.82
- Line-upsMatch StatsLive Text
Line-upsCrystal Palace
Formation 4-2-3-1
13Guaita17Clyne16Andersen6Guéhi3Mitchell8Kouyaté18McArthur9J Ayew7Olise15Schlupp11Zaha
- 13GuaitaSubstituted forButlandat 45'minutes17Clyne16Andersen6Guéhi3Mitchell8Kouyaté18McArthurSubstituted forMatetaat 90+2'minutes9J AyewSubstituted forEzeat 85'minutes7OliseBooked at 68mins15Schlupp11Zaha
Substitutes
- 1Butland4Milivojevic10Eze12Hughes14Mateta20Benteke22Édouard34Kelly45Adaramola
Chelsea
Formation 4-3-3
16Mendy4Christensen6Thiago Silva2Rüdiger31Sarr7Kanté5Jorginho10Pulisic22Ziyech9Lukaku29Havertz
- 16Mendy4Christensen6Thiago Silva2Rüdiger31SarrBooked at 62minsSubstituted forAlonsoat 74'minutes7KantéSubstituted forKovacicat 74'minutes5JorginhoSubstituted forLoftus-Cheekat 74'minutes10PulisicBooked at 90mins22Ziyech9Lukaku29HavertzBooked at 90mins
Substitutes
- 1Arrizabalaga3Alonso8Kovacic11Werner12Loftus-Cheek14Chalobah17Saúl23Kenedy68Vale
Referee:David CooteAttendance:25,109Match StatsHome TeamCrystal PalaceAway TeamChelseaPossessionHome42%Away58%ShotsHome7Away9Shots on TargetHome0Away3CornersHome4Away4FoulsHome4Away20Live TextPost update
Match ends, Crystal Palace 0, Chelsea 1.
90'+4'Full Time
Second Half ends, Crystal Palace 0, Chelsea 1.
90'+3'Post update
Foul by Kai Havertz (Chelsea).
90'+3'Post update
Marc Guéhi (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick on the left wing.
90'+3'Booking
Christian Pulisic (Chelsea) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90'+3'Post update
Foul by Christian Pulisic (Chelsea).
90'+3'Post update
Cheikhou Kouyaté (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+2'Post update
Antonio Rüdiger (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+2'Post update
Foul by Cheikhou Kouyaté (Crystal Palace).
90'+2'Substitution
Substitution, Crystal Palace. Jean-Philippe Mateta replaces James McArthur.
90'+2'Booking
Kai Havertz (Chelsea) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
90'+2'Post update
Foul by Kai Havertz (Chelsea).
90'+2'Post update
Marc Guéhi (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90'+1'Post update
Attempt missed. Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) left footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Cheikhou Kouyaté.
89'goalGoal!
Goal! Crystal Palace 0, Chelsea 1. Hakim Ziyech (Chelsea) left footed shot from the right side of the six yard box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Marcos Alonso with a cross.
87'Post update
Attempt missed. Cheikhou Kouyaté (Crystal Palace) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Marc Guéhi.
86'Post update
Foul by Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea).
86'Post update
Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick on the right wing.
85'Post update
Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Tyrick Mitchell.
85'Substitution
Substitution, Crystal Palace. Eberechi Eze replaces Jordan Ayew.
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Source: bbc.com