Chelsea are yet to move on from the title challenge that never was. Carelessness has crept into their game and Enzo Maresca must find a way to ensure a blip does not turn into something more damaging.
This draw with a spirited Crystal Palace must have infuriated him. Chelsea were dominant during the first half, Cole Palmer giving them a deserved lead, but they did not push on and were caught at the end. Jean-Philippe Mateta’s late equaliser was no surprise and leaves Maresca’s team in fourth place, with Newcastle United and Manchester City closing in on them.
Six changes from Maresca hinted at a determination to right some wrongs after a joyless festive period for Chelsea. Christopher Nkunku, Noni Madueke and João Félix were notable omissions after floundering in attack during defeat to Ipswich last Monday, though the most eye-catching call came in the decision to shake up the defence by leaving out Axel Disasi and Tosin Adarabioyo for an 18-year-old prospect who had never started in the league before.
With Wesley Fofana and Benoît Badiashile long-term absentees through injury, was Maresca sending out a message about the need for signings by bringing Josh Acheampong into the starting 11? Perhaps, but the thought did not last long. Acheampong, fresh from signing a new deal last month, certainly did not look out of place next to Levi Colwill during the first half.
If there was a nagging doubt, though, it was that Palace had not placed the youngster under enough pressure. There were a few dangerous deliveries from Daniel Muñoz, plus a few winding dribbles from Eberechi Eze, but there was little to concern Chelsea before Mateta saw a shot deflected wide shortly before half-time.
Palace were strangely muted. Then again Chelsea were in the mood during the early stages. Their pressing confounded Palace, whose centre-backs were repeatedly hurried into errors, and their forwards soon clicked into gear. Pedro Neto, a livewire on the right, was quick to run at Tyrick Mitchell and Palmer was a menace in the inside-right channel, his movement elusive and his ability to take the ball on the half-turn allowing him to lift his head and bring teammates into play.
This was Palmer playing the game on his terms, moving at his own leisurely pace, the imagination unrivalled. Palace were befuddled, Cheick Doucouré and Jefferson Lerma both unsure who was supposed to be tracking Chelsea’s main threat. Soon Nicolas Jackson was through on goal, Palmer releasing him with a gorgeous pass, only for Chris Richards to deny the striker with a crunching tackle.
Richards was eager to impress after coming in for Trevoh Chalobah, who was ineligible against his parent club. However, the American centre-back did not look quite as assured when Chelsea targeted him again. This time the danger came from Jadon Sancho duping Richards with an outrageous dummy on the left. It was lovely, impudent stuff from Sancho and he backed it up as he approached the area, twisting left and right before cleverly finding Palmer, who had time and space to set himself and slip a low shot past Dean Henderson.
Fourteen minutes were on the clock and Palace had not got going. Chelsea sensed weakness and went for more. The problem, though, was that Jackson is going through a rut in front of goal. He volleyed one presentable chance wide, then stabbed another off-target after evading Marc Guéhi and Maxence Lacroix.
Palmer, who had played Jackson through, wore a rueful grin when the second opening went begging. Did he fear that Chelsea were going to regret their profligacy? Palace were brighter after the break and should have equalised before the hour, only for Eze to screw wide from Muñoz’s cutback.
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The mood changed, Palace attacking with renewed vigour, Chelsea growing edgy. There were further openings for the hosts. Robert Sanchez tipped Lacroix’s header over. Malo Gusto made a crucial block on Eze and Colwill deflected Mateta’s drive over. Sancho, working hard, had to help Marc Cucurella deal with Muñoz’s repeated raids.
Chelsea’s composure had disappeared. Enzo Fernández and Moises Caicedo had lost their grip in midfield and the visitors began to make some erratic decisions. Colwill and Fernández picked up bookings as tempers frayed and there was more frustration when Jackson slashed wide when he could have killed Palace off.
It was a big moment. Palace still had hope and they capitalised when Ismaïla Sarr slid a pass between Gusto and Acheampong with eight minutes to go, sending Eze through to roll the ball across for Mateta to tap into an empty net.
Chelsea only had themselves to blame. They went in search of a winner but never with much conviction.
Source: theguardian.com
