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Kai Havertz thrives as Thomas Tuchel lets Chelsea attack off the leash at Palace

Pulisic smashes in Chelsea's second   - PA
Pulisic smashes in Chelsea's second - PA
  • Christian Pulisic scores twice as Chelsea move into Champions League spots

  • Mason Mount impresses once again as west Londoners brush Palace aside with ease

Thomas Tuchel released the handbrake on his team’s Champions League qualification bid as Kai Havertz produced his best performance as Chelsea’s false nine and Christian Pulisic gave notice that he is ready to finish the season strongly.

Chelsea had not scored more than two goals in a game since Tuchel’s arrival before their trip to Crystal Palace and Havertz had still not scored a goal under the club’s latest head coach.

But the former Bayer Leverkusen man repaid Tuchel’s faith in him, when Olivier Giroud and Tammy Abraham could justifiably have thought they deserved a chance, by scoring his second Premier League goal, registering an assist and almost recreating one of Paul Gascoigne’s magic moments.

“Kai needed to show he can do better,” said Tuchel. “He got a second chance to show up after the Porto game. It was another chance to show he can do better and he did it, even though he could have scored more goals and he can be more ruthless.”

As referenced by Tuchel, Havertz’s only regret may be that he did not finish with his first Premier League hat-trick for Chelsea, as he missed two good second-half chances, but there was plenty to be encouraged by in the 21-year-old’s performance.

“In my position you always want to score,” said Havertz. “I have the freedom to go where I want to go and I hope I can continue like that. In the second half, I had one or two good chances to score but of course, I'm happy.

“It's always easy to play with players that have this quality but after winning 4-1, it's easy to say you are a good attacking team, but we have to go again and after the season we can speak about it. I think I have to prove it in more games but I will give my best and try to improve and I will continue like that.”

Pulisic, preferred to Timo Werner, scored twice in a game for the first time since October 2019 and Kurt Zouma also netted as Chelsea blew apart a Palace defence that had kept three successive home clean sheets before Saturday.

Kai Havertz set up this chance in the first half with an audacious first touch - AFP
Kai Havertz set up this chance in the first half with an audacious first touch - AFP

Havertz had been taken off during the Champions League victory over Porto in which he had missed a glaring chance and was fortunate to keep his place. But he made a brilliant start to Saturday’s game at Selhurst Park, as Chelsea raced into a two-goal lead in the opening 10 minutes.

The German, whose only other Premier League goal had come back in October, scored the visitors’ first and then teed up Pulisic for their second.

Palace goalkeeper Vicente Guaita had made a good save to deny Pulisic, but Havertz was alert to dispossess Eberechi Eze and the ball was worked to Callum Huson-Odoi, who played in Havertz to find the bottom corner of the net.

The home team were shaken and just over a minute later Chelsea doubled their lead with Havertz once again heavily involved. This time he received a pass from Ben Chillwell and found Pulisic at the front post, and the American hammered a shot high into the net.

Havertz would have only been three years old when Gascoigne scored his famous Euro ‘96 goal for England against Scotland and yet the £62million signing almost recreated it.

He brilliantly flicked the ball over the Palace defence himself and unleashed a right-foot volley that looked to be heading for the same corner of the net in which he scored Chelsea’s opener, but Guaita produced a superb save.

It had been Mount who had played the delicious ball over the top for Havertz’s spectacular effort and it was the England midfielder who delivered the free-kick from which Zouma scored Chelsea’s third.

Zouma had come into the team because of an injury to Andreas Christensen and Thiago Silva’s suspension, and the Frenchman had already threatened in the Palace penalty area before he found the net on the half-hour mark.

Pulisic slots home his second and Chelsea's fourth  - PA
Pulisic slots home his second and Chelsea's fourth - PA

Rising high above former Chelsea captain Gary Cahill, Zouma gave Guaita no chance with his header from Mount’s delivery and the goal prompted Palace’s shell-shocked players to start arguing among themselves.

It would have quickly gone from very bad to even worse for Roy Hodgson’s team, had Patrick van Aanholt not been in position to clear an Antonio Rudiger header off the line.

Chelsea immediately went straight back on to the front foot after the half-time break and, buoyed by his goal against Porto, Ben Chilwell checked inside and tried to find the far corner of the net with a shot that drifted wide.

Palace had a rare sight of the Chelsea goal, when Callum Hudson-Odoi gave away possession inside his own penalty area, but Eze did not manage to pick out Jordan Ayew.

Eze was replaced by Jeffrey Schlupp and it was the Palace substitute who produced the cross from which Christian Benteke pulled a goal back that would have annoyed Tuchel, as he rose above Chilwell to head past Edouard Mendy with just under half-an-hour remaining.

Havertz should have added to his tally and Cahill produced a goal-saving block on Mount, but Pulisic ended any chance of late drama by tapping in at the back post from a low cross from substitute Reece James.

Palace manager Hodgson said: “We know they are a good side, everybody knows that, but we can't afford to play the way we did in the first half.

“The players did better in the second half, but the bottom line is we played against a Chelsea team that we believed we could stretch and we're on the end of a 4-1 defeat and needed to do some last-ditch defending to keep it down to four."


06:23 PM

FULL TIME: Crystal Palace 1-4 Chelsea

That was impressive. From the start Chelsea dominated. They're back into the top four all thanks to their biggest win under Tuchel.


06:22 PM

90 mins: Crystal Palace 1-4 Chelsea

The plaudits keep coming for Mount - he's won man of the match. It's been a fine team performance by the west Londoners but the midfielder has stood out. He's set the tone and run the show.


06:20 PM

89 mins: Crystal Palace 1-4 Chelsea

Another sweeping move from one side of the pitch to the other ends with Chilwell playing a low cross to Ziyech who completely misses the ball.


06:17 PM

87 mins: Crystal Palace 1-4 Chelsea

Havertz should have made it five - Ziyech finds the German and his super run ended with a half-hearted finish that Guaita saved with ease.


06:16 PM

85 mins: Crystal Palace 1-4 Chelsea

VAR makes an appearance as Zouma goes down on the halfway line - Benteke caught him while they both went for the ball. The check is over and it's a case of shake hands and carry on.


06:12 PM

83 mins: Crystal Palace 1-4 Chelsea

Kovacic is off for Ziyech.

Chelsea do have a strong squad...


06:11 PM

82 mins: Crystal Palace 1-4 Chelsea

Zaha wins a free kick - every time he is fouled he looks mortally offended - near the Chelsea box. The replay show James actually won the ball.

Alas, Palace make nothing of the set piece.


06:09 PM

79 mins: Crystal Palace 1-4 Chelsea

Pulisic is a fine player and when on song it's hard to see how he isn't guaranteed a starting spot at Chelsea. His two goals today won't have done his claims any harm.


06:07 PM

GOOOOOAAAALLL!! Crystal Palace 1-4 Chelsea

That is game over.

Mount plays in James on the right and his low ball is fired in at the back post by Pulisic.


06:05 PM

73 mins: Crystal Palace 1-3 Chelsea

Mount tries his luck from outside the box - why wouldn't he, he's been brilliant this match - and his attempt flies over the bar.

Hudson-Odoi, who's played well - is off for Reece James.

For Palace Townsend is on for Ayew.


06:01 PM

70 mins: Crystal Palace 1-3 Chelsea

Mount gets the ball in acres of space on the right-hand side of the box and his low shot is well blocked by Cahill. This match is more open now.

Mount has been at the heart of everything good about Chelsea today.


05:59 PM

Benteke likes facing Chelsea


05:58 PM

67 mins: Crystal Palace 1-3 Chelsea

Havertz near gets his second - Pulisic plays in the German down the central and he hits it early with his left forcing Guaita into a good save, low to his left.


05:57 PM

66 mins: Crystal Palace 1-3 Chelsea

Havertz is nearly in on goal after a poor header back to the Palace goal but Guaita rushes off his line and clears.


05:54 PM

64 mins: Crystal Palace 1-3 Chelsea

Chelsea should have been at least five goals up - but now the lead is back to two. Could the hosts come back? Going on the match so far you'd have to say no. But stranger things have happened (Exhibit A: West Brom beating Chelsea last week..)


05:51 PM

GOOOOOAAAAALLLL!! Crystal Palace 1-3 Chelsea

Benteke heads in from close range!

Zaha has cut a frustrated figure this match but he works with Schlupp on the left before the sub gets in a great cross that the Belgian meets well with his head to give Mendy no chance.

That was their first attempt on goal.


05:50 PM

60 mins: Crystal Palace 0-3 Chelsea

Kante is on for Jorginho.

It's a Chelsea corner - Mount's delivery isn't great, it comes back to him and his second attempt is better that is ultimately well defended by McCarthy.


05:48 PM

57 mins: Crystal Palace 0-3 Chelsea

Another fine move from Chelsea - again featuring Hudson-Odoi and Mount - ends with a cross going deep to Chilwell whose shot is high and wide.

Palace make two changes Schlupp is on for Eze and McCarthy is on for Riedewald


05:44 PM

54 mins: Crystal Palace 0-3 Chelsea

Hudson-Odoi and Mount - once again - combine done the right (playing free-flowing, one-touch football) before Hudson-Odoi puts in a great cross that Palace do well to clear.


05:41 PM

51 mins: Crystal Palace 0-3 Chelsea

Better from Palace - they press Chelsea in the final third and cause an error - Benteke and Eze combine before Chelsea are able to clear their lines.

That's what the hosts have to do more off - get in the visitors' faces and cause them to make mistakes.


05:38 PM

48 mins: Crystal Palace 0-3 Chelsea

Early on it may be, but the signs are that Palace aren't going to be so passive this half - they need to be more on the front foot both with and without the ball.

A basic aim would be to win the second half...


05:35 PM

46 mins: Crystal Palace 0-3 Chelsea

Pulisic links with Chilwell down in the inside-left channel. the full-back cuts inside and decides to shoot with his right - it goes well wide. Mount was in a great position inside the box and the pass was the far better option.


05:33 PM

45 mins: Crystal Palace 0-3 Chelsea

No half-time changes are they get under way for the second period in south London.

Can Palace get into this match in anyway, shape or form? A shot would do...


05:27 PM

How about these for some half-time stats?

They tell a one-word story for Chelsea: DOMINANCE

ATTEMPTS: CP 0- 12 CHELSEA
TOUCHES IN OPPO BOX: CP 2 - 21 CHELSEA
CORNERS: CP 0 - 7 CHELSEA
POSSESSION: CP 37%-67% CHELSEA


05:19 PM

HALF TIME: Crystal Palace 0-3 Chelsea

Nothing's gone right for the hosts - Ayew tries to win a corner in a battle with Chilwell and only succeeds in kicking the ball out of play himself.

That's the first half over and what a half for Chelsea. They have been brilliant to watch and as much as Palace have been poor the visitors have been superb and great to watch.


05:16 PM

43 mins: Crystal Palace 0-3 Chelsea

Mount and Hudson-Odoi link well down the right again. Palace defend the attack well.


05:14 PM

41 mins: Crystal Palace 0-3 Chelsea

Mendy, in the Chelsea goal, has just touched the ball - it must have felt weird for him as he's just been a spectator so far.


05:12 PM

Dead-ball specialist


05:10 PM

37 mins: Crystal Palace 0-3 Chelsea

The question is: How many will Chelsea score? A place in the top four could come down to goal difference and based on the first 40 minutes of this match there are more on offer for the visitors. They still look the hungrier of the sides, pressing Palace with greater energy that that shown by the hosts.


05:06 PM

34 mins: Crystal Palace 0-3 Chelsea

Zouma nearly has another headed goal - from a corner the Chelsea defender gets a good run and leap and the attempt is cleared off the line by Van Aanholt. So close to a fourth before half-time.


05:05 PM

32 mins: Crystal Palace 0-3 Chelsea

Palace are all over the place at the moment.

Hudson-Odoi plays in Mount whose fierce shot just inside the box is well saved by Guaita.


05:03 PM

GOOOOOOAAAAALLLL!!! Crystal Palace 0-3 Chelsea

It's definitely GAME OVER now.

Zouma heads home from the Chelsea free kick wide on the left. That was simple and just what the hosts didn't want.


05:02 PM

28 mins: Crystal Palace 0-2 Chelsea

BREAKING NEWS: Palace have had an attack - Eze and Ayew combine in the final third but the move is snuffed out by the Chelsea defence.


05:01 PM

Havertz shows his class

Havertz - POOL

04:58 PM

26 mins: Crystal Palace 0-2 Chelsea

Corner to Chelsea - Zouma rises to head it in but that great defending from Cahill and it's another corner to the visitors. Palace clear their lines from the next set piece.


04:57 PM

23 mins: Crystal Palace 0-2 Chelsea

Sorry to write the same thing over and over BUT Palace just aren't in this. They haven't had more than two passes when in possession and it looks as if there are at least five divisions separating these two side.


04:55 PM

21 mins: Crystal Palace 0-2 Chelsea

Great save from Guaita - awesome first touch from Havertz.

The Chelsea striker's touch their was sublime, he flicked it over a defender and set up a volley that the Palace keeper did very well to stop.

That's the sort of form the west Londoners hoped they'd see more often when they bought the German.


04:53 PM

20 mins: Crystal Palace 0-2 Chelsea

Chelsea are first to everything - they may be two-goals up but they are chasing, harassing everything as if they are two-goals down. Palace have been good the past six matches but they're not at the races here.


04:50 PM

17 mins: Crystal Palace 0-2 Chelsea

Hodgson looks very grumpy - it's not hard to work out why. His side are two down and cannot keep the ball - they are stuck in their half.


04:48 PM

Into the groove


04:47 PM

14 mins: Crystal Palace 0-2 Chelsea

When Palace do get the ball they are struggling to hold onto it. It's one-way traffic at the moment.

Chelsea haven't scored more than two goals in a match since Tuchal took over - I am no Nostradamus, but I reckon that stat may kicked into Row Z today.


04:45 PM

11 mins: Crystal Palace 0-2 Chelsea

This is brutal, clinical stuff from Chelsea. One-touch passing at its best. They are toying with Palace at the moment and the hosts just have to hope they can keep the west Londoners out for the next 20 or so minutes or this could get a wee bit messy.


04:42 PM

GOOOOOAAAALLLL!!! Crystal Palace 0-2 Chelsea

Game over - I reckon.

1 min and 48 secs after the first and Pulisic smashes home at the near post from inside the box.


04:41 PM

GOOOOOAAAALLLL!!! Crystal Palace 0-1 Chelsea

What a cool finish from Havertz - his second Premier League goal.

Pulisic forced a fine save from Guaita before Chelsea kept possession passing the ball well with it ending at the feet of the German who passes it into the corner with his left. Sublime.


04:39 PM

6 mins: Crystal Palace 0-0 Chelsea

86 per cent possession for the visitors so far - can they make it count?


04:37 PM

4 mins: Crystal Palace 0-0 Chelsea

I suspect the tone for the match - Chelsea with the lion's share of possession and Palace happy to sit back - has already been set.

Mount ends a decent love from Chelsea - crossfield ball to Hudson-Odoi, who lays it off for the midfielder - with a shot high and wide.


04:35 PM

2 mins: Crystal Palace 0-0 Chelsea

The hosts are in their traditional red and blue kit while Chelsea are in the baby blue shirts.

The visitors see most of the early possession, they're passing it around nicely, with CP sitting deep. The hosts defend in numbers and Chelsea are forced backwards.


04:32 PM

1 min: Crystal Palace 0-0 Chelsea

We're under way in South London.


04:29 PM

There's a two-minute silence for Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh

Football pays it's respects to His Royal Highness who died aged 99 yesterday.


04:23 PM

Roy Hodgson speaks...

On the challenge facing Crystal Palace today...

"We know the magnitude of the test ahead but if we play to our best we can give them a good game."


04:22 PM

Thomas Tuchel speaks...

On picking Pulisic…

“We used Timo Werner lots and are close to overuse. Christian is in good form and I want to have that competition for position. We didn't do many changes in formation but Christian can show up and challenge for Timo. It is still offensive formation.”

On the need to bounce back from the West Brom defeat…

“We reacted well [in Europe] but we got under pressure with our home defeat to West Brom. We need to restart in the league. It is an important game today because it is the only game today. We have to win.”


04:15 PM

For all their money...

...Chelsea still have a striker conundrum.

Tuchel has switched between a traditional and false nine. The German has so far trying four players, Timo Werner, Kai Havertz (who starts today), Olivier Giroud and Tammy Abraham. But between them they have scored just two Premier League goals. Not great, is it...

READ: Despite outstanding start at Chelsea, Thomas Tuchel still faces a striker conundrum


04:10 PM

Expect a victory (most likely for Chelsea)

Here are two stats that explain my thinking behind that prediction...

  • Crystal Palace have lost their last six league matches against Chelsea, their worst run in this fixture.

  • There hasn't been a draw between these two sides in 19 previous Premier League meetings.


04:01 PM

Hudson-Odoi starts

The visitors have made three changes from the side that saw off Porto t in the Champions League.

Andreas Christensen is replaced by Kurt Zouma. While further forward Christian Pulisic and Callum Hudson-Odoi start, with Reece James and Timo Werner dropping to the bench.

Hudson-Odoi - SHUTTERSTOCK 
Hudson-Odoi - SHUTTERSTOCK

03:56 PM

Crystal Palace's side

Hodgson has named the same starting XI that drew 1-1 draw at Everton. On the bench is the highly rated by 18-year-old midfielder Jesurun Rak-Sakyi, of whom no photos exist on the wires so I am unable to show what he looks like - anyway, one to watch should he make an appearance.


03:49 PM

The Chelsea XI

CHELSEA XI TO FACE CRYSTAL PALACE: Mendy, Azpilicueta, Zouma, Rudiger, Hudson-Odoi, Jorginho, Kovacic, Chilwell, Mount, Pulisic, Havertz. Subs: Arrizabalaga, Alonso, Kante, Abraham, Werner, Giroud, Ziyech, James, Emerson Palmieri


03:49 PM

Here be the hosts

CRYSTAL PALACE XI TO FACE CHELSEA: Guaita, Ward, Kouyate, Cahill, van Aanholt, Ayew, Milivojevic, Riedewald, Eze, Benteke, Zaha. Subs: Butland, Dann, Townsend, Mateta, Schlupp, McCarthy, Mitchell, Kelly, Rak-Sakyi


03:43 PM

Nothing but victory will do for Chelsea

In a season of shocks - let’s face it there has been loads - perhaps Chelsea’s 5-2 home defeat by West Brom last week has been the most jaw-dropping?

Thomas Tuchal was manager of the month for March, the side were on a 14-game unbeaten run and they hadn’t conceded a goal at Stamford Bridge under their new coach. Oh, and they were up against West Brom, a side that looks destined for the drop with a manager not exactly known for producing side that score at will away from home.

Before that defeat Tuchal must have been wondering what all the fuss was about regarding the thankless task of being Chelsea manager. If he did it’s a good bet that he doesn’t now. He knows he needs to secure the west Londoners Champions League football next season and the defeat to West Brom did damage in Chelsea’s bid for a top-four finish.

They head into today’s match against London rivals Crystal Palace in fifth spot, knowing victory will get them into the top four - albeit with West Ham facing Leicester tomorrow. Nothing short of a win will do for Chelsea.

Mason Mount will be key for the visitors today - he has been in great form for both club and country. When asked if Mount can handle the praise for his top form, Tuchel said: “I have the feeling he is very down to earth and he can handle it a lot.

“It does not change him at all if he is doing good games or bad games or mediocre games, or if he's praised or not praised.

"He is very focused and not a moody guy. He is very mature, but at the same time has a sparkle in his eyes which is a very good mix.”

For Palace there is a sense of ennui. It’s another season where top-flight football has been secured - always the No 1 priority for a club such as the south Londoners - but the fans want more. They’re not happy with the defence-first approach of Roy Hodgson and want to be entertained and see a club with a definitive identity over and above ‘we want to stay up and that’s it’ one Palace seemingly have now.

A win over Chelsea would be a result to lift the spirits of some frustrated fans. Stay here for all the team news and action.