Chelsea handed a devastating 3-1 defeat to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park to return to the top half of the Premier League table. Conor Gallagher, who spent a season on loan here in the 2021/2022 campaign bagged a brace to turn the game around after Jefferson Lerma had given the home side the lead before Enzo Fernandez sealed what turned out to be a comfortable win in the end.
Chelsea were absolutely 'hopeless' in the words of Gary Neville in the first half. The former Manchester United captain was working for Sky on the game and his comments were evidenced by Crystal Palace growing in the match and even taking the lead through a rocket of a strike from Colombian midfielder Lerma. This gave the home side something to hold on to and fans everything to cheer heading into the break.
But Chelsea were back in it straight away in the second half, with Mauricio Pochettino responding to his team being behind with the introduction of Christopher Nkunku for the ineffective Noni Madueke. Malo Gusto- who was so instrumental at Villa Park set up Conor Gallagher to score his first league goal of the campaign, and his second in the last seven days to draw Chelsea level. 1-1 game on.
Gallagher has scored in every game at Selhurst since he returned to Chelsea from his loan spell a couple of seasons ago, but it was still desperate stuff for Chelsea so in came the rapid Raheem Sterling for Nicolas Jackson as Chelsea attempted to force the issues.
Palace were holding on almost desperately at this point and it was Gallagher again from a similar position who broke the hearts of Eagles fans late in the game before Fernandez rounded off the win.
This is how we rated the Chelsea players out there.
1. Djordje Petrovic-6
Got beat by an absolute arrow and he could do nothing about it. Otherwise, he was fine.
2. Ben Chilwell -6
He had a few chances to cross the ball into danger but largely they were over hit or under hit. Solid at the back but quiet when going forward.
3. Thiago Silva-6
He came in for the injured Badiashile. Solid without being spectacular before being forced off through injury.
4. Conor Gallagher -8
Brilliant brace and a superb performance.