Crystal Palace 1-3 Chelsea Player Ratings: Blues Cruise to a 3-1 Victory at Selhurst Park

Crystal Palace have been on a decline since the English side lost their FA Cup match to a sixth division team. Their captain Marc Guehi left for Manchester City, their current manager Oliver Glasner has announced his exit from the club after the conclusion of the current season and now they have suffered a 3–1 loss to one of the best clubs in Premier League history.

The Blues looked a class apart from the first whistle. Chelsea's attacks were swift and incisive, cutting through the Palace defense with ease. The home side just couldn't cope with the visitors' intensity. It was a one-sided affair for most of the match.

The scoring was opened by the Brazilian winger Estevao in the 34th minute, a tidy finish that set the tone. Joao Pedro doubled the lead shortly after halftime, capitalizing on a blistering counter-attack. The final nail in the coffin came from an Enzo Fernandez penalty, coolly dispatched after a handball. Palace's misery was compounded when Adam Wharton saw red for a second yellow, leaving his team with a mountain they could never climb. owever a late goal by the Eagles did gave the home fans something to cheer on.

Key Takeaways

• Chelsea delivered a dominant away performance to secure a convincing 3–1 win over Crystal Palace.
• The visitors controlled the game from early on, creating chances and finishing clinically.
• Palace struggled defensively and failed to pose any serious threat going forward.

Chelsea Player Ratings vs Crystal Palace

Here are Chelsea Player Ratings vs Crystal Palace

Goalkeeper

Robert Sánchez - 7.0: A quiet day at the office for the keeper, which is a testament to his defense. He made two saves when called upon, including a key stop from Mateta. His distribution was solid with 74% accuracy. We noticed he commanded his area with real confidence, claiming a high ball effectively. A very solid, no-fuss performance.

Defenders

Marc Cucurella - 7.5: A really energetic performance from the fullback. He was solid in his defensive duties, winning two tackles and making six crucial clearances. What stood out to us was his desire to get forward. He even registered a shot on target and delivered a couple of dangerous crosses. A very balanced and impressive display.

Benoît Badiashile - 6.0: A bit of a mixed bag from Badiashile today. His passing was excellent, finding a teammate 86% of the time. However, he looked a little shaky defensively, committing three fouls and an error that led to a shot. From our perspective, he needs to tighten up the defensive side of his game.

Trevoh Chalobah - 7.0: A composed and reliable performance at the back. He read the game beautifully, making three interceptions and four recoveries. His passing was near-perfect, keeping possession ticking over for his team. We were impressed by his calm demeanor under pressure, a really mature display.

Reece James - 7.0: The captain led by example with a solid, all-action display. Defensively sound, he also tried to make things happen going forward, though his final ball from 8 crosses wasn't quite there today. An error leading to a shot was a minor blemish on an otherwise strong performance. His leadership was evident throughout.

Midfielders

Pedro Neto - 6.0: It was a surprisingly quiet outing for Neto. He struggled to get into the game and make his usual impact before being substituted. With only 26 touches, he just couldn't seem to influence the proceedings. Not his best day, but the team's dominance meant it didn't matter much.

Enzo Fernández - 8.0: He just oozes class. Controlled the tempo of the game from the middle of the park with his intelligent passing. He created a big chance and then showed nerves of steel to slot home the penalty. What a complete midfielder he is. He made the game look easy.

Andrey Santos - 7.5: What a fantastic shield for the backline. He was an absolute machine in midfield, making a staggering five interceptions and breaking up play consistently. His pass accuracy of 92% shows his quality on the ball as well. An unsung hero in this victory, from our perspective.

Moisés Caicedo - 7.0: The engine room of the team. He was relentless in his pressing and won the majority of his duels, drawing four fouls in the process. He picked up a booking but his tenacity was vital in overwhelming the Palace midfield. A typical all-action display before his substitution.

Estêvão - 9.0: Simply sensational. The highest-rated player on the pitch and for very good reason. He was the spark that ignited Chelsea's attack, scoring the opener with a smart finish and then assisting João Pedro's goal after a brilliant run. He was a constant menace, creating chances and terrorizing the defense. A true match-winning performance that we won't forget anytime soon.

Forwards

João Pedro - 8.0: He led the line superbly. He took his goal with fantastic composure, a clinical left-footed strike that showcased his quality. But it wasn't just the goal; his work rate was immense. He won 5 duels and was a constant physical presence, making it a nightmare for the Palace defenders. An excellent striker's performance.

Substitutes

Wesley Fofana - N/A: Came on late to see out the game.
Jamie Gittens - N/A: Replaced the brilliant Estêvão with the game already won.
Malo Gusto - N/A: Had little time to make an impact.

Manager

L. Rosenior - 8.5: Got his tactics spot on. His team was organized, aggressive, and clinical. He set his side up to exploit Palace's weaknesses on the counter, which worked to perfection for the second goal. A dominant away performance that the manager can be very proud of. He completely out-thought his opposite number.

Crystal Palace Player Ratings vs Chelsea

Here are Crystal Palace Player Ratings vs Chelsea

Goalkeeper

Dean Henderson - 5.0: A tough afternoon for the Palace captain. He was left exposed by his defense and couldn't do much about the three goals conceded. He made a couple of saves but it was a long day at the office. From our perspective, he'll want to forget this game quickly.

Defenders

Maxence Lacroix - 5.5: He had a difficult time dealing with Chelsea's fluid attack. While his passing was tidy, he was part of a backline that was breached far too easily. He made five clearances but struggled to impose himself on the game. A challenging debut in a chaotic defensive unit.

Jaydee Canvot - 4.0: A horror show. It just went from bad to worse for the defender. He was booked for a clumsy handball which led to the penalty, and his overall performance was littered with poor decisions. An error leading to a goal and being subbed off after 65 minutes summed up his dreadful afternoon. The worst performer on the pitch.

Chris Richards - 6.5: He was the steadiest of a very shaky back three, but that isn't saying much. His pass completion was high, but he offered little resistance against the wave of Chelsea attacks. He was a passenger for large parts of the game, unable to stem the tide but scored a goal.

Midfielders

Daniel Muñoz - 5.0: He worked tirelessly down the right flank but was ultimately outclassed by his opposite numbers. He lost possession 15 times and struggled to provide any meaningful contribution in attack or defense. A day where he was chasing shadows for the most part.

Tyrick Mitchell - 5.5: He couldn't get a foothold in the game. He was pinned back by Chelsea's attackers and was unable to offer his usual threat going forward. Substituted after 65 minutes, which was probably a mercy. A frustrating and ineffective outing.

Jefferson Lerma - 5.0: He fought a losing battle in the heart of midfield. While he won most of his aerial duels, he was overrun by Chelsea's dynamic trio. He lost possession too often and his two fouls showed his frustration. He was simply outmatched.

Adam Wharton - 4.5: A moment of madness cost his team dearly. After a promising start where he showed flashes of his quality, his ill-discipline let him down. Picking up two yellow cards for needless fouls was inexcusable and left his team with no chance of a comeback. A harsh lesson for the midfielder.

Forwards

Ismaïla Sarr - 5.5: A very frustrating game for Sarr. He had a golden opportunity to score but missed a big chance from close range. He showed moments of danger but his final product was lacking. He was caught offside and struggled to make a real impact on the game.

Brennan Johnson - 5.5: Full of running as always, but he had very little to work with. He was isolated for large periods and struggled to get into dangerous positions. He couldn't provide the spark that Palace desperately needed. A quiet and ineffective performance.

Jean-Philippe Mateta - 5.0: A thankless task leading the line today. He battled gamely, winning a lot of aerial duels, but was starved of any decent service. He was dispossessed four times and snatched at the one big chance he had. He fought hard but it was a lonely and fruitless afternoon.

Substitutes

Yéremy Pino - N/A: Came on into a chaotic situation.
Borna Sosa - N/A: Replaced Mitchell but couldn't change the flow of the game.
Chadi Riad - N/A: Had little time to make an impression.
Will Hughes - N/A: Brought on after the red card with the game lost.

Manager

O. Glasner - 4.5: A day to forget for the Palace boss. His team looked tactically naive and were completely outplayed in every department. They had no answer to Chelsea's system and the performance lacked any real fight or organization. He has a lot of work to do on the training ground after this display.

Player of the Match

Estevao is sportsdunia's player of the match.

Worst Player

Adam Wharton was the worst player of the game.