Summer signing Ben Chilwell scored one and assisted another on his first Premier League start since his £45m move from Leicester City as Chelsea returned to winning ways against Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge.
Having made his first appearance on Tuesday as Frank Lampard’s side were knocked out of the Carabao Cup on penalties by Tottenham, Chilwell marked his 100th Premier League appearance by firing in at the back post following Mamadou Sakho’s failed clearance.
This time the Frenchman makes no mistake, leaping highest to direct Chilwell’s cross into the corner of the net with a brilliant header. ????
???? 2-0 ???? #CHECRY https://t.co/xnYxJKMuN1 pic.twitter.com/2S1Cmsy0XV
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) October 3, 2020
Chilwell, 23, then delivered an excellent cross from the left to allow Kurt Zouma to head in a second after 66 minutes, before Jorginho stepped up to convert two penalties in the space of four minutes to seal victory.
Manager Lampard also handed a league debut to £22m goalkeeper Edouard Mendy as the hosts, led in defence by fellow summer addition Thiago Silva, registered a first clean sheet of the season.
The Blues struggled to break down a typically solid Palace defence in an uneventful first half, as Timo Werner shot straight at Vicente Guaita and both Jorginho and Abraham failed to hit the target from Chilwell corners.
It’s all over! An excellent second-half performance from the Blues secures the three points, with goals from @BenChilwell, @KurtZouma and Jorginho (2)! ???? #CHECRY pic.twitter.com/F3cRWvThyL
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) October 3, 2020
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Visitors Palace failed to muster a shot on target in a toothless display and never looked likely to respond as Chelsea’s quality told after the interval.
Chelsea climb in to the top four before the rest of the weekend’s action, while defeat leaves Crystal Palace in eighth.
