Chelsea

Alex Howell
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Chelsea do have a recall option on Trevoh Chalobah, who is on loan at Crystal Palace.

The Blues have injuries to Benoit Badiashile and Wesley Fofana and started the match with the Eagles on Saturday with 18-year-old Josh Acheampong at centre-back.

It was Acheampong's first Premier League start, with Tosin Adarabioyo and Axel Disasi on the bench after the youngster was promoted into Enzo Maresca's first team squad.

Chelsea's decision around Chalobah's potential recall could be impacted by Wesley Fofana's injury situation.

Maresca effectively ruled the 24-year-old central defender out for remainder of the season last week but sources close to players insist he can be back sooner.

Palace manager Oliver Glasner was asked about the possibility of Chalobah going back to his parent club following the 1-1 draw at Selhurst Park.

"I could see that there was Disasi and Tosin on the bench," said Glasner.

"I don't know if you need [more] if you play with two. I was just reading that Anselmino comes back so they have five [centre-backs].

"I don't know if they need eight. I don't know what they are planning. Trevoh is doing very well for us and we are planning with him."

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We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Crystal Palace and Chelsea.

Here are some of your comments:

Palace fans

Glen: The team have to be more consistent. The first half was far too respectful and we just let Chelsea play. The second half was like watching a different team. The energy and pace of the play was excellent and what is needed. Overall, it was a decent match. My only worry is the lack of depth in the squad at the moment.

Derek: A massive point considering Chelsea are one of our bogey sides. There is a lot to look forward to, given the long-awaited returns of Matheus Franca and Adam Wharton.

Adam: I just love the fact that Chelsea can't beat us! Yes, we weren't great in the first half, but the next 45 minutes were epic. We fought and created chances. It was good to watch. Well done Oliver Glasner - that must have been one hell of a half-time team talk.

Al: Three months ago, we would have lost this game, but the team is showing a resilience, a togetherness and a refusal to give up. We had injuries and loan restrictions but we still showed our potential. Consistency is key and hopefully 2025 will bring this, under Glasner's guidance.

Chelsea fans

Freddie: It's an age-old issue that has come back to haunt us; many chances created and not enough taken. I can't fault anyone in particular, except for Nicola Jackson, who should have put away at least one goal. But it doesn't look great after the last few games. Josh Acheampong looked amazing at centre-back though, could he be the answer to our injury woes?

Jarvis: Enzo Maresca has no Plan B. He lacks the technical ability to change the team's shape during the game. Every time we go ahead but we don't score a second or third when we are actually bossing the game. The opposition suss us out and get on top. We need a world-class striker. It's pointless making all these chances if we don't score from them. Too early for Maresca out?

Jamie: Substitutes were far too late again, just like against Fulham. Either go for the second goal and change a winger or add some reinforcements to the midfield. We desperately need Romeo Lavia back.

John: Every team has a wobble and as long as Maresca can get us a Champions League spot, he has done his job properly.

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Chelsea's winless Premier League run extended to four games when they failed to hold on to their narrow one-goal lead against Crystal Palace at Selhurt Park on Saturday.

Despite dominating throughout the first half, Chelsea were made to pay for their inability to grab a second when the home side struck late to salvage a draw.

"There are a few alarm bells ringing because they had 15 attempts against Palace and only one on target," said former Premier League striker Clinton Morrison on the BBC Radio 5 Live Football Daily podcast. "That is a big problem and not just for the centre-forward, but for the whole team.

"They are too reliant on Cole Palmer. Jadon Sancho had a good game and I think his game has gone to a new level since joining, but I am a bit worried that Chelsea are not killing off games.

"Enzo Maresca was right and they were probably never in the title race but we had to talk about them because they were high in the league.

"It is now a worry if they can still finish in the top four. I believe they can and it is just a blip they are going through but it is going to be an interesting end to the season."

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Will Perry
Final Score reporter

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The fact that Jadon Sancho has already matched his Manchester United assist total in 68 games fewer at Chelsea shows you how much he is enjoying his football under Enzo Maresca.

That was clear to see when I spoke to him for Match of the Day about setting up Cole Palmer for the Blues' opener at Selhurst Park.

A brilliant, instinctive dummy through his legs, making Chris Richards look silly as he spun around him and collected the ball with still plenty of work to do, to then pick out Palmer.

He was back doing the dirty work in his own box in the second half too.

Quite understandably labelled a flop at Old Trafford, Sancho is swiftly finding his mojo again.

At 24 years old, there are plenty of miles left on the clock and it is clear to see he wants to prove the critics and doubters wrong.

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Former Premier League midfielder Danny Murphy spoke to BBC Match of the Day about Chelsea's performance against Crystal Palace:

"Chelsea very rarely play a game where they don't create chances and, in the first half, there was urgency about them. It was a good reaction from recent defeats. They went on to make chances but didn't finish them off.

"The other thing is game management when you're winning late in a game. Chelsea haven't done this very well - they are a young side and I've seen it a few times recently.

"It's difficult for a young group to manage games really well when you don't have the experience and the wisdom. It will [come with time]."

Watch to the full analysis on BBC iPlayer

Chelsea's Cesare Casadei has agreed a deal to join Serie A side Torino, although the clubs remain apart on a fee for the midfielder. (Gianluca di Marzio), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Gary Lineker introduces highlights and analysis from Saturday's seven Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea

• Brighton 1-1 Arsenal

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Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has been speaking to Match of the Day following the game: "It is a shame because I think we deserved to win the game. We had so many chances. We know we have to be clinical, otherwise the game is always open, and we conceded a goal.

"Sometimes you are going to win at the end, sometimes lose and sometimes draw.

"We were in control of the ball, lost it and then conceded. If we had been more clinical before the goal was scored then the game could have been finished. We had three or four clear chances for 2-0 and to kill the game but, at 1-0, they got belief and unfortunately we conceded.

"Josh Acheampong was fantastic for us. We really trust Josh and it's just a matter of the right path for him, but he will be an important player for the club.

"When you don't win three or four games, it is normal that the rest will come closer to you. In the last four games, we have drawn two and lost two - so the gap [between the top four] is closer, but there are still 18 games to go."

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Chelsea have failed to win any of their last four Premier League games (D2 L2). The Blues last went on a longer run without a victory, within a season, in May 2023 (seven games).

Bobbie Jackson
BBC Sport Journalist

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Just a matter of weeks ago Chelsea were being touted as potential rivals to Liverpool in the Premier League title race, however, a disappointing end to 2024 and a sluggish start to 2025 has seen them fall well off the pace.

Eager to halt a three-game winless run - two defeats and a draw - Chelsea started positively at Crystal Palace with Cole Palmer finding the breakthrough after some fine work from Jadon Sancho to lay on the assist.

It felt inevitable that they would grab a second and maybe even a third or fourth as the chances continued to flow.

However, Nicolas Jackson, Sancho, Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo and Josh Acheampong all failed to take their opportunities leaving Chelsea with just a slim 1-0 lead at the break.

Palace were vastly improved for the second period, limiting Chelsea's sight at goal and starting to create chances of their own.

Eberechi Eze gave the Blues a warning just four minutes after the restart when he dragged his effort wide and the game became a more open affair in the aftermath.

Despite being one of the most potent sides in the division - only Liverpool and Tottenham have scored more than Chelsea's 39 - they just couldn't apply the required finishing touch.

Chelsea were punished in the closing stages when Jean-Philippe Mateta popped up with the equaliser.

The draw leaves Chelsea nine points adrift of Liverpool, who have a game in hand, and means they now need to adjust their goals to battling for a top four spot.

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Chelsea forward Jadon Sancho has been speaking to Match of the Day about the result at Selhurst Park: "It's very annoying to not get the three points. You have to take your chances and, if you don't, it's never over. To concede that goal, right at the end, is very frustrating.

"I'm very happy to be improving my football. I've felt good since day one here and the staff and players have welcomed me. I just have to show 100% on the pitch.

"There is still a long way to go this season. Today was frustrating but we move on and learn from it."

Danny Murphy
Former England midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

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It's game management where Chelsea are lacking at times.

They need to know when to slow things down, such as having some men drop off or having someone sitting alongside Moises Caicedo in the base of midfield, instead of this constant trying to go forward.

Against Fulham, it was similar to today. It ended up being end-to-end, like a basketball game towards the end, and they lost.

There is still the quality there and they are a young side. I still think they will be strong in the second half of the season.

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

Crystal Palace fans - what did you make of the game?

Chelsea supporters, let us know your thoughts

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

There are seven games in the Premier League on Saturday, and we will bring you every moment.

• Tottenham v Newcastle (12:30)

• Aston Villa v Leicester

• Bournemouth v Everton

• Crystal Palace v Chelsea - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Man City v West Ham

• Southampton v Brentford

• Brighton v Arsenal (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 15:00 GMT unless stated

Follow all the action and reaction here

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League games this season, against a variety of guests.

For week 20, he takes on The Zutons frontman Dave McCabe, who supports Liverpool.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Chelsea are having a wobble, and the worry for manager Enzo Maresca is when will it end?

Their performance in their shock defeat by Ipswich was very flat and although Maresca had made a few changes for that game, I saw nothing to suggest they will bounce back with a win at Selhurst Park.

Crystal Palace have only lost two of their past 11 league games, and they seem to have turned a corner.

This game smells of a draw to me, which will keep Palace moving away from the bottom three, but does not help Chelsea much at the top of the table.

It looks like Maresca was right when he played down his side's title chances after people like myself said before Christmas that they were genuine contenders.

I thought he was just taking the pressure off his players but he is in the building with them every day and he knows them better than the rest of us.

Their past three results suggest they are not going to go the distance, and I can see them dropping more points here.

McCabe's prediction: 0-2

Chelsea will win this - they need to, just to make things more interesting for themselves.

Read the full predictions and have your say here

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Enzo Maresca has said Levi Colwill has the potential to be a future captain of Chelsea.

Fellow defender Reece James currently wears the armband but has missed large parts of the season because of injury.

He last played as a late substitute in the draw with Arsenal on 10 November and did not make it off the bench in Monday's 2-0 loss at Ipswich. However, James could start at Crystal Palace on Saturday.

The club skipper's absence has left Maresca searching for alternative leaders, and he namechecked 21-year-old Colwill on Friday.

"I can see day by day, since we started pre-season, it's something [leadership] that he can improve. He is improving a lot," said the Blues boss.

"Even if he doesn't wear the armband, he is one of the captains. In future, he could be one of the captains for this club."

As we enter a new calendar year and the halfway point of the season, the Opta Supercomputer has been busy making its predictions.

But who has the best chance of securing Champions League football next season?

With England given a 97.8% chance of finishing in the top two of Uefa's coefficients rankings and receiving a bonus place in next season's competition, it is highly likely to be a race to finish in the top five of the Premier League this campaign.

One team essentially guaranteed a Champions League spot season, according to the Supercomputer's simulations, is high-flying league leaders Liverpool (100%).

Following closely on their heels are Arsenal and Chelsea, who occupy second and fourthgoing into this weekend's fixtures, with a 99.8% and 91.7% chance of finishing in the top five respectively.

Despite their unprecedented drop-off in form over the past two months, Manchester City fans will be pleased to hear Opta still gives them a 89.1% chance of clinching the potential final Champions League spot next season.

It then becomes a hotly fought battle between two of the most in-form teams in the league right now.

Despite third-placed Nottingham Forest's incredible campaign so far, Nuno Espirito Santo's side still fall below Newcastle United in the predictions for fifth place - with a 33.6% chance compared to the Magpies' 44.6%.

Four teams still have an outside chance of getting that coveted spot, with Aston Villa (13.8%), Bournemouth (9.8%), Fulham (6.2%) and Tottenham (5.4%) in the race.

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game at Crystal Palace (kick-off 15:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Maresca confirmed that Wesley Fofana's hamstring injury will keep him out "for a very long time", while Benoit Badiashile "will be out at least until February".

• On defender Fofana, who "could be out for the season", he added: "We are together here since we start and every time you ask me about Wes I say many times - I am in love with Wes. That is because he is that kind of defender that gives you a chance to press and be aggressive in one on one on the pitch. Wes is a big loss."

• Maresca also confirmed Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall "is still out", but midfielder Romeo Lavia "is very close" to a return and captain Reece James "can have minutes" against the Eagles on Saturday.

• On the transfer window, Maresca said "there are players that are probably going to leave" and suggested Ben Chilwell "could" be one of those.

• On being proved right about Chelsea not being in the title race: "I didn't need to wait to lose games to understand that. I always said why I would like to tell you we are there - because it is something nice, not something bad to be in the title race. But the reason why I said [we are not] was because I didn't think we were ready. I didn't need to wait to lose two games in a row to prove to me or you I was right."

• The Blues boss also said that at the start of the season, no-one expected Chelsea to be where they are now but that "means the team is doing very well" and they do not need to "panic" about their position in the race for Champions League football.

• He said the recent dip in form is "not going to affect our journey" and added: "This is a journey that started five or six months ago, not five or six years. Other teams started five or six years ago and now are fighting to win the Premier League. We just started five or six months ago."

• On if it is about more than just Lavia's absence that has impacted the team: "Football is all about players. You can have the best idea but without the players, you will struggle. Romeo is a top player. With Romeo, we are a better team but when he is not there, we need to manage that kind of game."

• He continued: "We have won games without Romeo, but for sure we are better with him. Not only him, but we are a much, much better team with Reece James. [It is] all about the players. I can give players the tools, but if they are not good enough we will not win games."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Full commentary of Crystal Palace v Chelsea on BBC Radio 5 Live from 15:00 GMT on Saturday

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Teenage defender Aaron Anselmino has officially ended his loan at Boca Juniors and arrived at Chelsea.

The 19-year-old moved to Stamford Bridge from Argentina in the summer for £15m but was immediately loaned back to his former club.

It was always the intention for him to return to Chelsea in January but the Blues will ease the young centre-back into Premier League life.

He will be given time to acclimatise to the level, demands and scrutiny within English football.

That might mean first-team minutes are limited in his initial time in west London.

Anselmino also had a hamstring injury at the end of his spell in Argentina that caused him to miss his final five games at Boca.