Chelsea began their Premier League campaign with style, beating Crystal Palace 3-0 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday (August 14).
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Chelsea began their Premier League campaign with style, beating Crystal Palace 3-0 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday (August 14). Goals from Marcos Alonso, Christian Pulisic and Trevoh Chalobah sealed what turned out to a regulation win for the Blues. The defending European champions, who won the Super Cup on Wednesday, started their first league game on the front foot. Palace were content to let the home side dominate the ball. But given that the side are in some form of transition, it made sense they would not look to be too assertive. However, it discounts just how high on momentum this Chelsea side are.
They won the Super Cup on a penalty shootout and recently added Romelu Lukaku to the side. The Belgian was not available for selection here but will add some goals to the side when he’s available.
Not that it mattered on this day. The Blues dominated the ball and peppered shots on the Palace goal. When Alonso converted a trademark free-kick to give the home side the lead, it felt like the inevitable had come to pass.
Chelsea would add one more before the half time break. Mount, who won the free-kick that Alonso converted, was again key to the goal. His cross was parried out by Vicente Guaita but only to Pulisic.
The American winger had to essentially tap in and did not miss, doubling their lead just before the break. It was more of the same in the second half too.
And the third goal came from a relatively unlikely source. Chalobah, who was a surprise starter against Villareal earlier this week, kept his place in the XI.
He picked up the ball just inside the half, ran for a bit and unleashed a thundering shot into the net to seal the win.
In another matche that kicked off at 3 PM UK time, Everton beat Southampton 3-1 after going a goal down early on. Goals from Richarlison, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Dominic Calvert-Lewin cancelled out Adam Armstrong’s opener.
A super goal from Jamie Vardy saw Leicester City beat Wolves 1-0 to begin their campaign with a win. Brighton and Hove Albion also came back from a goal down to beat Burnley 2-1.
Watford were leading 3-0 at one point against Aston Villa. However, late goals from John McGinn and Danny Ings meant the newly-promoted side needed to hang on for dear life for the three points.
Earlier in the day, Manchester United beat Leeds United 5-1 courtesy of a Bruno Fernandes hat-trick and goals from Mason Greenwood and Fred. Paul Pogba ran the show, registering five assists in the game – the first player in Premier League history to do so.
The day will end with Norwich City taking on 2019-20 champions Liverpool.
