BLOCK! Chelsea give possession away cheaply once again and this time Townsend goes on the surge. He reaches the edge of the box before firing at goal, but Azpilicueta puts his body on the line to make the block.
90' +1
It has been a frustrating day for Zaha. He dispossesses Pedro and then charges forward into the Chelsea box. However, before he can fire at goal, the forward is crowded out by David Luiz and Rudiger.
90'
There will be three minutes of added time.
88'
Pedro almost threads the needle to release Morata in the box. However, Milivojevic does just enough on the slide to stop the offload reaching the Spaniard as Hennessey gathers the loose ball.
86'
L. Milivojević gets yellow.
Milivojevic goes into the book for a loose challenge on Fabregas.
85'
Chelsea's work ethic has been excellent since Palace equalised. The Blues had to step up their intensity and have been flawless since.
83'
Alonso continues to be a thorn in the side of Palace in the final third. His low cross almost finds Pedro in the box, but Kouyate is there to make the intervention for the visitors.
80'
Cesc Fàbregas enters the game and replaces Jorginho.
J. Schlupp enters the game and replaces J. McArthur.
Fabregas comes on for the home side to see out the result, replacing Jorginho.
McArthur has had a solid afternoon, notching the assist for Townsend's strike. He makes way now for Schlupp.
79'
WIDE! Chelsea move the ball with speed in the final third as Kovacic, Kante and Hazard combine. Space opens up for the former to fire at goal, but he loses his balance and it results in his strike travelling wide of the target.
Minute
Description
77'
Frustration gets the better of Van Aanholt as he lines up a strike from distance after Palace's attempts to break into the box are blunted. The full-back fires his effort well over the bar.
75'
Zaha has been quiet since Chelsea restored their advantage. The Blues have done a solid job in the second half of keeping him at bay.
73'
Palace just allowed their standards to slip for a couple of minutes in the second half and allowed Chelsea to regain their control. Hodgson will not be pleased with their defending.
71'
J. Ayew enters the game and replaces M. Meyer.
Meyer makes way for the visitors and is replaced by Ayew.
70'
Pedro has scored a goal for Chelsea! Assist by Marcos Alonso.
GOALLLLLLLLLL!!!! PEDRO CONVERTS!!!! 3-1 CHELSEA! The Blues take control of the contest as the Spaniard converts in the box. Chelsea build down the left flank and Alonso is afforded space and time to fire a low cross into the penalty area. Palace fail to cut out the danger and Pedro times his run before firing past Hennessey from 10 yards.
Alonso surges down the left and picks out the run of Pedro with a good cross, allowing the Spaniard to convert.
68'
Palace have to keep themselves in the contest here. They remain a threat on the break, but have to ride out the spell of pressure from the home side.
65'
Álvaro Morata has scored a goal for Chelsea! Assist by E. Hazard.
GOALLLLLLLLLL!!! MORATA NOTCHES HIS SECOND!!! CHELSEA 2-1!!! Morata restores Chelsea's advantage with a fine finish at the back post. Hazard's free-kick into the box travelled all the way through to the forward beyond the back stick. He took a touch to control before drilling a left-footed effort towards the target. It made its way through a crowd of players before finding the bottom corner. Relief for the Blues.
Hazard's free-kick makes its way through to the back post where Morata scores.
64'
M. Kovačić enters the game and replaces R. Barkley.
E. Hazard enters the game and replaces Willian.
David Luiz meets the resulting corner from Willian on the charge at the near post. This effort is harder to attack, with the defender glancing his attempt over the bar.
Kovacic replaces Barkley, who has not been at his best today.
Sarri does call for Hazard, although the Belgian may not be at 100%. Hazard replaces Willian for the Blues.
63'
SAVE! DAVID LUIZ HAS TO SCORE! Willian puts the ball on a plate from a free-kick and the Brazilian has a free header at goal from 12 yards. He has to put the ball either side of Hennessey, but he sends his effort too near to the Welshman, allowing the Palace keeper to make the stop.
62'
BLOCK! Willian sends a throughball behind the Palace backline for the run of Morata in the right inside channel. Tomkins has to get across to make the block to send the ball out for a corner.
60'
Zaha causes havoc down the left flank and he fires a low ball across the face of goal. David Luiz is there to clear the danger, but Palace remain on the attack. Meyer tries to squeeze an effort towards the near post, although Kepa is there to make the stop.
58'
Hazard is going through a warm-up on the sideline. We'll see if Sarri needs to use his star man this afternoon.
56'
Azpilicueta breaks into space down the right flank and floats a cross into the box. Morata meets it with a headed effort at goal, although he fails to hit the back of the net. The Spaniard was in an offside position anyway.
53'
A. Townsend has scored a goal for Crystal Palace! Assist by J. McArthur.
GOALLLLLLLLLLL!!!! TOWNSEND EQUALISES!!! 1-1!! Palace are level with a strike on the counter from Townsend. The winger plays a neat one-two with McArthur and bursts away from David Luiz into the box. There's still work to do on his weaker foot, but Townsend buries his effort with power into the bottom corner giving Kepa no chance. Game on.
McArthur releases Townsend with a neat pass with the outside of his boot, allowing the winger to finish in style.
51'
Milivojevic catches Pedro late, but the referee allows play to continue with an advantage for the home side. When play stops, the referee only has a word with the Palace midfielder.
50'
Chelsea have started the second half with an attacking impetus and forcing the visitors back towards the edge of their own box.
48'
Kante drives towards the edge of the box and feeds Pedro in space on the right flank. He fires a low ball into the box, but Palace have men back in the box to clear the danger.
46'
We're back underway at Stamford Bridge.
45' +1
HALF-TIME: CHELSEA 1-0 CRYSTAL PALACE
45'
There will be one minute of added time.
43'
Chelsea work the ball patiently down the left. Willian tries to up the ante with a surge at Wan-Bissaka, but he holds his ground to make the challenge and knocks the ball off the Brazilian to earn a goal-kick for the visitors.
41'
Palace's attacking threat has been quelled since the Chelsea opener. Hodgson may have to alter his approach to get back into the game to provide Zaha with more support in the final third.
39'
Chelsea win a free-kick down the left flank and Willian floats the ball deep to the back post. Alonso wins the initial header, knocking it towards the back post. Morata goes for the second effort from a tight angle, only to see his attempt sail over the bar.
36'
Barkley has been in good form of late, but he won't want to see much of his last effort. The England collects Morata's cutback on the edge of the box and blazes his left-footed strike well over the bar.
35'
DISALLOWED GOAL! Jorginho floats the ball forward for Willian, who knocks the ball back to Pedro. The Spaniard sees his first-time effort well blocked by Wan-Bissaka, but the ball travels towards Willian. He converts from close range, although the flag is raised immediately for offside.
34'
Palace just their standards slip at the back for a brief period. Chelsea applied sustained pressure and the Eagles were unable to resist. Their task now becomes a tougher one this afternoon.
32'
Álvaro Morata has scored a goal for Chelsea! Assist by Pedro.
Pedro makes a positive run and breaks into the box. Fortune is on his side as he gets two cracks at the ball, knocking his second attempt inadvertently towards Morata.
GOALLLLLLLLLLL!!!! MORATA FINDS THE NET!!! CHELSEA 1-0!!! The Spaniard opens the scoring with a neat finish from close range. Pedro caused the damage with a run into the box and he was not closed down by the Palace defence. His first strike was charged down before he scuffed his second attempt. The ball found its way to Morata, who took one touch to control before burying his strike into the bottom corner.
30'
Chelsea lose possession and Palace work the ball to Zaha on the break. However, once again the forward lacks support from his team-mates and the Blues are able to crowd him out before he can pose a serious threat.
28'
Azpilicueta looks for the run of Morata in the box, but the Spaniard is just offside as he moves a fraction beyond Tomkins.
27'
A long ball over the top has Zaha interested and David Luiz and Rudiger sprinting back towards their own goal. Kepa senses the danger and runs out 30 yards from his area to clear downfield with precision to Azpilicueta.
25'
Zaha collects in an advanced position and runs at David Luiz. The Brazilian does just enough to hold off the forward before support arrives. Zaha loses control with a loose pass where he may expected support from Townsend.
24'
Kante looks for the run of Azpilicueta down the right flank with a chipped offload, but he misplaces his pass and it bounces out for a goal-kick.
23'
Palace will be satified with their exploits this afternoon thus far. Chelsea have not had a serious attempt at goal, while the visitors have looked the brighter of the two teams in the final third.
21'
BLOCK! Zaha and Meyer combine in the final third once again and the German finds space to unleash a drive, but this time David Luiz gets across to make an important block.
20'
OVER! Zaha breaks into the right inside channel and offloads to Meyer on the edge of the box. The German shapes to shoot and goes for the sidefoot rather than with power, only to guide his effort over the bar.
18'
Palace have had a couple of free-kicks inside the Chelsea half, although they've not managed to produce a decent cross into the box. Roy Hodgson's side will need a better touch of quality to earn a positive result this afternoon.
16'
Barkley loses out to McArthur on the edge of the Palace box and Zaha is allowed to break on the counter. Chelsea have to stop his progress as Barkley brings down the forward before he can provide a serious threat.
14'
Van Aanholt makes an interception on the edge of the Palace box and gallops forward on the counter. He exchanges a one-two with Zaha to break into the left inside channel, but his delivery into the box is cleared away by David Luiz.
13'
Townsend flashes his pace on the break as he wins a free-kick as Alonso brings him down on the half-way line.
12'
Willian and Alonso attempt to combine down the left flank, but the former's offload into the inside channel is cut out on the slide by Wan-Bissaka.
11'
Chelsea are trying to build a rhythm to their play, although they will be wary of the pace Palace have available on the break.
9'
Barkley does well down the left once again and he fires a low ball across the face of goal. Van Aanholt is well placed for the visitors to control then clear the danger ahead of Willian.
8'
Barkley turns on the left and whips a low ball into the box looking for Morata. Tomkins appears to be there to cut off the cross, but he slices his attempted clearance into the hands of Hennessey.
6'
David Luiz floats a long ball over the top down the left flank. Pedro tries to take it out of the air first time on the volley, but he fails to connect with his attempt.
4'
Palace have come out with an attacking intent and are putting pressure on the home side in possession.
3'
Zaha and Meyer combine in the final third for the visitors, but the former's low cutback towards the near post is diverted behind for a corner by David Luiz.
1'
We're underway at Stamford Bridge.
Meyer makes a neat turn in the final third and finds space to fire the ball across the face of goal. Chelsea clear as far as McArthur on the left. He sends a delivery to the back post where Alonso chests it back to Kepa.
Good afternoon and welcome to the live commentary of the Premier League clash between Chelsea and Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea remain unbeaten in therr Premier League campaign from their 10 matches thus far, although they have dropped six points from their three draws. Manchester City are on course to reclaim top spot with a commanding 3-1 lead over Southampton currently, but the Blues can keep pace with the reigning champions with a victory themselves this afternoon. They've won three games on the bounce in all competition, including a triumph over Derby County in the EFL Cup during the week.
Palace are struggling for form at the moment, having gone five matches without a win in all competitions. They were dumped out of the EFL Cup in midweek, suffering a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Middlesbrough. The Eagles are winless in the Premier League since the 15th September, and although a draw against Arsenal last time out provided respite, there's growing pressure near the relegation zone.
CHELSEA (4-3-3): Kepa Arrizabalaga; Cesar Azpilicueta, Antonio Rudiger, David Luiz, Marcos Alonso; N'Golo Kante, Jorginho, Ross Barkley; Pedro, Alvaro Morata, Willian.
SUBS: Cesc Fabregas, Eden Hazard, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Willy Caballero, Mateo Kovacic, Davide Zappacosta, Gary Cahill.
CRYSTAL PALACE (4-3-3): Wayne Hennessey; Aaron Wan-Bissaka, James Tomkins, Mamadou Sakho, Patrick van Aanholt; Cheikhou Kouyate, Luka Milivojevic, James McArthur; Andros Townsend, Wilfried Zaha, Max Meyer.
SUBS: Alexander Sorloth, Jordan Ayew, Jeffrey Schlupp, Vicente Guaita, Martin Kelly, Jason Puncheon, Jairo Riedewald.
The players are out on the pitch, so we should be underway shortly.
Chelsea take a 1-0 lead into the break against Crystal Palace courtesy of Alvaro Morata's strike. It took time for the Blues to find their stride in the final third. Palace had a couple of moments early in the game on the counter, but were not able to test Kepa Arrizabalaga. Maurizio Sarri's men upped the ante and went ahead in the 32nd minute when Pedro's attempt at goal was collected by Morata, who converted with a neat finish from close range. Chelsea controlled the rest of the half from that point and looked hungry for more goals.
Wilfried Zaha has cut an isolated figure in the final third. He has had a couple of moments when he looked to be free on the break, but has lacked the support to trouble the Chelsea goal. Max Meyer did have an attempt from distance that he sent over the bar and another opening that was quickly closed down by David Luiz. Roy Hodgson may have to look to his bench to get back into the contest.
Thanks for joining our commentary this afternoon. Until next time, goodbye.
Chelsea are next in action against BATE in the Europa League on the road next Thursday, while Palace face Tottenham at Selhurst Park in the Premier League next Saturday.
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