Crystal Palace 0-1 Chelsea: Highlights and recap

Chelsea beat a determined Crystal Palace side 1-0 at Selhurst Park on Saturday, Dec. 17. Here are all the highlights from the match.

Chelsea have been dominant since manager Antonio Conte switched to a 3-4-3 in the second half of a loss to Arsenal in late September. Since then, the Blues have won 10 matches in a row, conceding only two goals (one against Tottenham and one against Manchester City), and have stretched their lead at the top of the table to six points.

That is, needless to say, title-winning form, and with an easy-looking run of games to finish the year, Chelsea could well increase their lead before traveling to face Tottenham in their first match of 2017. Eden Hazard missed the Blues’ last match against Sunderland, but is fit to return against Crystal Palace. Cesc Fabregas, meanwhile, will be hoping to keep his place in the starting XI after scoring the match-winner against the Black Cats.

Crystal Palace have been trending in the opposite direction to Chelsea over the last couple of months. Alan Pardew’s side went on a six-match losing streak through October and November before a 3-0 home win against Southampton two weeks ago. They followed that with a 3-3 draw away at Hull and defeat against Manchester, via a last-minute Zlatan Ibrahimovic goal, on Wednesday.

The Eagles have been prolific in attack — they’ve scored more goals than every team outside of the top four — but the league’s joint-third worst defense has let them down. That’s bad new against a Chelsea side as fearsome up front as this one, but after three decent performances in a row, things are beginning to look a little brighter for Palace heading into the new year.

Recap

The first half was closely contested, with neither side creating many clear cut chances. Jason Puncheon miscued on a Wilfried Zaha cross midway through the half, but that was as good as it got for Palace in attack. They spent most of the half defending, and defending very well, as Chelsea dominated possession. Then, with halftime approaching, Cesar Azpilicueta played a diagonal ball into the Palace box which Diego Costa met with a precise header to the back post.

The second half followed the same pattern, though Chelsea were more content to cede possession in the opening 15 minutes. Palace were still unable to create much, even with more of the ball. Their best chance fell to Christian Benteke, who didn’t connect well with a shot that went straight at Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois. The best chance of the half came from Marcos Alonso, who hit the bar with with a free-kick.

Highlights

Chelsea have stretched their lead at the top of the table to nine points with the rest of the top four still to play. Their closest rivals, Arsenal and Liverpool, face difficult matches against Manchester City and Everton, respectively.

Next: Premier League Power Rankings

Palace remain stuck on 15 points, and could be above of the relegation zone only on goal difference depending on the results of Swansea and Hull later on Saturday.