• CRYSTAL PALACE RATINGS: Vicente Guaita - 6: Pulled off a fingertip save to deny Mount at the end. Reuters
    CRYSTAL PALACE RATINGS: Vicente Guaita - 6: Pulled off a fingertip save to deny Mount at the end. Reuters
  • Joel Ward - 7, combined well with his winger Zaha to cause Chelsea problems down the right. Reuters
    Joel Ward - 7, combined well with his winger Zaha to cause Chelsea problems down the right. Reuters
  • Scott Dann - 6: Could have earned his side a point they deserved but saw his header crash against the post. Reuters
    Scott Dann - 6: Could have earned his side a point they deserved but saw his header crash against the post. Reuters
  • Gary Cahill - NA, limped off after suffering a bad injury chasing Willian in the buildup to Giroud opener. His season looks to be over. EPA
    Gary Cahill - NA, limped off after suffering a bad injury chasing Willian in the buildup to Giroud opener. His season looks to be over. EPA
  • Patrick van Aanholt - 9: The Dutchman was Palace's best defender and attacker and gave James a torrid time all evening. EPA
    Patrick van Aanholt - 9: The Dutchman was Palace's best defender and attacker and gave James a torrid time all evening. EPA
  • Cheikhou Kouyate - 7: Seemed confused as to whether he was meant to track Mount or pressure Gilmour in the first half. Grew into the game in the second. Reuters
    Cheikhou Kouyate - 7: Seemed confused as to whether he was meant to track Mount or pressure Gilmour in the first half. Grew into the game in the second. Reuters
  • James McArthur - 7: Presented with a chance to embarrass Kepa early doors but fluffed his lines from distance. A tireless worker in midfield. AFP
    James McArthur - 7: Presented with a chance to embarrass Kepa early doors but fluffed his lines from distance. A tireless worker in midfield. AFP
  • Luka Milivojevic - 7: The Serb destroyer loves nothing more than getting physical. Tired badly at the end though to the point he could barely jog. AFP
    Luka Milivojevic - 7: The Serb destroyer loves nothing more than getting physical. Tired badly at the end though to the point he could barely jog. AFP
  • Jordan Ayew - 6: Good linkup with Van Aanholt and always looking to drive at James. EPA
    Jordan Ayew - 6: Good linkup with Van Aanholt and always looking to drive at James. EPA
  • Wilfried Zaha - 8: Palace's star man hasn't produced the heights of last year, but his first-half effort was a scorcher. Tormented Chelsea's full-backs in the second half.
    Wilfried Zaha - 8: Palace's star man hasn't produced the heights of last year, but his first-half effort was a scorcher. Tormented Chelsea's full-backs in the second half.
  • Christian Benteke - 8: The big Belgian scored his first league goal at Selhurst Park in over two years. Could have levelled at 3-3 but took too long on the ball. General hold-up play was solid throughout. Reuters
    Christian Benteke - 8: The big Belgian scored his first league goal at Selhurst Park in over two years. Could have levelled at 3-3 but took too long on the ball. General hold-up play was solid throughout. Reuters
  • SUBS: Mamadou Sakho (on for Cahill, 8') - 6: Probably played more minutes than he was anticipating and struggled in his battle with Giroud. EPA
    SUBS: Mamadou Sakho (on for Cahill, 8') - 6: Probably played more minutes than he was anticipating and struggled in his battle with Giroud. EPA
  • SUBS: McCarthy (on for McArthur) - NA; Andros Townsend (on for Ayew) - NA; Max Meyer (on for Milivojevic) - NA
    SUBS: McCarthy (on for McArthur) - NA; Andros Townsend (on for Ayew) - NA; Max Meyer (on for Milivojevic) - NA
  • CHELSEA RATINGS: Kepa Arrizabalaga - 5, The Spaniard has the lowest save percentage in the Premier League, and there was little he could do to stop Zaha's thunderbolt, but just isn't a goalkeeper who inspires confidence. AFP
    CHELSEA RATINGS: Kepa Arrizabalaga - 5, The Spaniard has the lowest save percentage in the Premier League, and there was little he could do to stop Zaha's thunderbolt, but just isn't a goalkeeper who inspires confidence. AFP
  • Reece James - 6: Given a stern test by Palace's marauders. Came off largely second best. Reuters
    Reece James - 6: Given a stern test by Palace's marauders. Came off largely second best. Reuters
  • Andreas Christensen - 5: Switched off at the end which almost allowed Benteke to level and was bullied throughout by the Belgian. Reuters
    Andreas Christensen - 5: Switched off at the end which almost allowed Benteke to level and was bullied throughout by the Belgian. Reuters
  • Kurt Zouma - 8: Should have scored with a header in the first half and produced a game-clinching tackle at the death to deny Benteke. Reuters
    Kurt Zouma - 8: Should have scored with a header in the first half and produced a game-clinching tackle at the death to deny Benteke. Reuters
  • Cesar Azpilicueta - 7: Mr Dependable again. Reuters
    Cesar Azpilicueta - 7: Mr Dependable again. Reuters
  • Billy Gilmour - 6: Tracked back well but Chelsea needed Jorginho's control and influence to see out the game. Reuters
    Billy Gilmour - 6: Tracked back well but Chelsea needed Jorginho's control and influence to see out the game. Reuters
  • Mason Mount - 7: Showed some fine footwork in the final third in the opening 45 minutes. Reuters
    Mason Mount - 7: Showed some fine footwork in the final third in the opening 45 minutes. Reuters
  • Ross Barkley - 6: midfielder's passing was well down on the levels against Watford. AFP
    Ross Barkley - 6: midfielder's passing was well down on the levels against Watford. AFP
  • Willian - 7: Brazilian had little joy out wide against Van Aanholt but plenty of it drifting in field to generally make a nuisance of himself. EPA
    Willian - 7: Brazilian had little joy out wide against Van Aanholt but plenty of it drifting in field to generally make a nuisance of himself. EPA
  • Christian Pulisic - 7: A tale of two halves for the American - electric in the first and anonymous in the second. EPA
    Christian Pulisic - 7: A tale of two halves for the American - electric in the first and anonymous in the second. EPA
  • Olivier Giroud - 7: Showed some velvet touches at the spear of Chelsea's attack and was well worth his goal after Chelsea played on with Cahill stricken. Reuters
    Olivier Giroud - 7: Showed some velvet touches at the spear of Chelsea's attack and was well worth his goal after Chelsea played on with Cahill stricken. Reuters
  • SUBS: Tammy Abraham (on for Giroud, 65') - 6: Took his goal really well to end a 10-game goal drought. Completely shanked a later attempt though. Reuters
    SUBS: Tammy Abraham (on for Giroud, 65') - 6: Took his goal really well to end a 10-game goal drought. Completely shanked a later attempt though. Reuters
  • Ruben Loftus-Cheek (on for Barkley, 65') - 7: Sumptuous pass to set up Abraham for what proved to be the winner. Reuters
    Ruben Loftus-Cheek (on for Barkley, 65') - 7: Sumptuous pass to set up Abraham for what proved to be the winner. Reuters
  • Jorginho (on for Gilmour, 80') - 6: Italian's passing helped Chelsea regain a measure of control. Reuters
    Jorginho (on for Gilmour, 80') - 6: Italian's passing helped Chelsea regain a measure of control. Reuters

Football

Christian Pulisic 7, Tammy Abraham 6; Patrick van Aanholt 9, Wilfried Zaha 8 - Crystal Palace v Chelsea player ratings

Chelsea continue push for a top-four finish with hard-fought win at Selhurst Park

Steve Luckings
Steve Luckings
Abu Dhabi

July 07, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

Chelsea kept up their push for a top-four finish in the Premier League and Champions League football next season with a 3-2 victory at London rivals Crystal Palace on Tuesday thanks to goals from Olivier Giroud, Christian Pulisic and Tammy Abraham.

Palace could have levelled at the death but Christian Benteke, who made it 3-2 with his first goal at Selhurst park since April 2018, took too long in the area and allowed Kurt Zouma to intercept.

FootballSportChristian BentekeWilfried Zaha