Crystal Palace vs Chelsea player ratings: Zaha 7, Mitchell 6; Ziyech 8, Lukaku 5

Chelsea striker Lukaku touches ball just seven times in 90 minutes in 1-0 win over Eagles

CRYSTAL PALACE RATINGS: Vicente Guaita – 7. The Palace shot-stopper faced a busy start to the match after having been forced into a terrific save to keep out an effort from distance. Forced off at half time. AP Photo

Nathaniel Clyne – 6. The 30-year-old made just his second league start this season having been kept out by Joel Ward. He did well at right-back, but will feel disappointed to let Alonso get his cross over to Ziyech at the far post. Getty Images

Joachim Andersen – 7. A good display by the defender, who kept Chelsea’s frontline quiet for large portions of the game. Getty Images

Marc Guehi – 7. The former Chelsea man made the move across London in the summer and alongside Andersen did a good job defending against his former side. AFP

Tyrick Mitchell – 6. A busy game for the Palace left-back, working to limit Ziyech on the wing. He did well for most the game before being caught out by Ziyech for the goal. AFP

James McArthur – 7. Brought in to replace the ineligible Conor Gallagher, McArthur proved to be an asset in the middle of the park alongside Kouyate. Getty Images

Cheikhou Kouyate – 6. The Senegal international played his first Premier League minutes in 2022, having been away at the Africa Cup of Nations. Kept himself busy. Getty Images

Jeffrey Schlupp – 7. Scuppered Kante’s move into Palace’s box before sending a glorious ball to Zaha on the left wing, which tore apart Chelsea’s defence. Saw his own shot fly over the crossbar in the 54th minute. AFP

Michael Olise – 7. The young Frenchman came close to netting the opener when his strike missed the far post by inches. Sparked a break on the stroke of half time to release Zaha into the box, who couldn’t convert from a tight angle. Booked. Getty Images

Jordan Ayew – 6. Busy and hardworking, Ayew was guilty of losing possession too often. Getty Images

Wilfried Zaha – 7. Came close to giving his side a half-time lead but saw his effort bobble wide of the far post. Brushed off several challenges in stoppage time before seeing a shot go narrowly wide again. Getty Images

Jack Butland (Guaita 46’) – 6. Let off the hook when he parried away Lukaku’s shot into the path of Ziyech, who saw his goal disallowed for offside. AFP

SUB: Eberechi Eze (Ayew 85’) – N/R. A late substitute for Patrick Vieria’s side. Getty Images

SUB: Jean-Philippe Mateta (McArthur 90+1) – N/R. Another late change with McArthur seeing out his first 90 minutes since November. Getty Images

CHELSEA RATINGS: Edouard Mendy – 6. The AFCON winner returned to Premier League action and had very little to do. Getty Images

Andreas Christensen – 6. After two successful starts in the Fifa Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi, the Danish centre-back started his first Premier League game since December. Getty Images

Thiago Silva – 7. The 37-year-old veteran found himself in the right place several times after the restart to cut out Palace. AP Photo

Antonio Rudiger – 6. The German was denied a goal by a terrific Guaita save. AP Photo

Malang Sarr – 6. The 23-year-old kept his place in the starting line-up after his side’s league win against Spurs, and despite putting in a brilliant ball to Kante in the first half, he was caught out by Palace’s fast attacks early on. AFP

Hakim Ziyech – 8. The Moroccan looked to be one of the few influences Chelsea had to get things going. Couldn’t have had it easier than when the ball was parried into his path by Butland, though his goal was disallowed for offside by VAR. Finally got the goal he deserved. PA

N’Golo Kante – 6. Released through on goal after a brilliant pass by Sarr but Guaita was equal to the shot by the Frenchman. Getty Images

Jorginho – 5. The Italian came back into the starting line-up and whilst busier in the second half, struggled to have much influence on the game. Reuters

Kai Havertz – 5. A tough afternoon for the German, who glanced a header over the bar in the final 10 minutes. EPA

Romelu Lukaku – 5. A grand total of two touches in the opening 45 minutes summed up an anonymous display from the Belgian. Had one shot saved. Getty Images

Christian Pulisic – 5. The American will rue an early miss when he failed to convert at the far post. Anonymous in the second half. Getty Images

SUB: Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Jorginho 74’) – N/R. Part of a triple substitution from Thomas Tuchel, which seemed to kick on Chelsea after a disappointing start to the second half. AFP

SUB: Mateo Kovacic (Kante 74’) – N/R. Played Lukaku in with a beauty of a ball immediately after coming off the bench, ahead of Ziyech’s disallowed goal. AFP

SUB: Marcos Alonso (Sarr 74’) – N/R. The Spaniard put a good ball across from the wing to the far post, making it easy for Ziyech to volley home. AP Photo

Thomas Tuchel conceded Romelu Lukaku "wasn't involved" after the Chelsea striker touched the ball just seven times during the 1-0 victory against Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Tuchel's side made a winning return to Premier League action after securing the Fifa Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi last weekend.

They took the points at Selhurst Park thanks to Hakim Ziyech's 89th-minute volley.

But it was Lukaku's anonymous display which was the centre of attention when Tuchel faced the media after the final whistle.

The former Inter Milan star's difficult season continued as he failed to make any impact.

He managed the fewest touches in a single top-flight game for a player who played 90 minutes since Opta started collecting data back in the 2003/04 season.

Lukaku had scored twice in the Club World Cup to reach 10 goals for Chelsea since his £97 million ($131 million) club record move to Stamford Bridge last year.

However, the 28-year-old has not netted in the Premier League since December, when he gave a controversial interview that featured criticism of the way he was being used at Chelsea and hints he wanted to rejoin Inter.

Tuchel opted against criticising Lukaku, but offered little defence of his latest flop.

"I am not so sure if I have a good answer to your question. I don't know what it says. It says he was obviously not involved and could not make a point. I am not sure if it says so much about us in general," Tuchel said.

"We look a bit drained, a bit exhausted, and you can see everybody tries hard. Everybody is looking for the flow where you try hard but nobody sees you are trying hard.

"We are looking for it but in this moment we struggle, which is not a bad thing because everybody wants to be part of it and everybody gives their best but we do struggle a bit.

"For that it is important to win and keep a clean sheet so we keep on going."

Chelsea win Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi

Chelsea celebrate winning the Fifa Club World Cup final after defeating Palmeiras at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, February 12, 2022. All images Chris Whiteoak / The National

Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta celebrates winning the Fifa Club World Cup final in Abu Dhabi.

Kai Havertz scores the winner for Chelsea against Palmeiras in the Fifa Club World Cup final at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium.

Chelsea celebrate after Romelu Lukaku scored against Palmeiras in the Fifa Club World Cup final at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Romelu Lukaku scored Chelsea's opener against Palmeiras in the Fifa Club World Cup final at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Raphael Veiga of Palmeiras scores from the penalty spot.

Former Chelsea captain John Terry during the Fifa Club World Cup final at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel speaks with Mateo Kovacic.

Palmeiras fans set off a flare during the final at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium.

Chelsea fans during the final at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

Palmeiras fans at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium.