STAMFORD BRIDGE, LONDON — On an afternoon in west London that began with a touching tribute to Chelsea legend Gianluca Vialli, who tragically passed away earlier this month, and also saw the Blues announce the signing of €100m man Mykhailo Mudryk, the actual football on show could have been quite the subplot.
Yet Chelsea emerged as 1-0 winners in an exciting London derby as Kai Havertz scored his fifth league goal of the season to earn a vital three points for the Blues.
An entertaining first 45 minutes of action saw both goalkeepers deliver a couple of saves each taken right out the drop drawer.
Kepa Arrizabalaga was the first who needed to be at his best to deny Tyrick Mitchell's shot from close range at the back post and then later tip over Michael Olise's thunderous half-volley from the edge of the box on 20 minutes.
At the other end, it was Chelsea's defenders who drew the best out of Vicente Guaita. Thiago Silva must have thought his half-volley from the edge of the box at a corner was destined for the back of the net until the goalkeeper got down brilliantly to deny him with his left hand. Lewis Hall looked lively on the left and caused Nathaniel Clyne problems and should have converted Conor Gallagher's low cross, but he fluffed his lines.
With Havertz struggling up top, it was Palace's attackers who came close to scoring at the end of the first half. This time, Kepa showing brilliant reactions to deny Jeffrey Schlupp's near post header from Olise's corner.
But Havertz's struggles and missed opportunities were forgotten about by the time he'd put Chelsea ahead on 64 minutes, rising highest in the box from Hakim Ziyech's cross to head home from close range and give Potter some breathing space.
Palace had chances once again late on, the best a Doucoure volley from 20 yards that again prompted a stunning save from Kepa, and by the end Potter brought on defensive reinforcements to grind out the game and hold on for three points.
MORE: Watch every Premier League match live with fuboTV in Canada
Where does Mykhailo Mudryk play for Chelsea?
Having signed a seven-and-a-half year deal with the option of a further year, you'd think Mudryk will have enough time to play every single position he fancies in a Chelsea shirt if he stays for the entirety.
"He is a young player with exciting quality in the final third. He is very fast and direct and I think the crowd will like him," Potter said after today's game on his new signing.
That may be the case but do Chelsea really need another attacker who can run with the ball at his feet? Hakim Ziyech, even though he plays on the right wing (the opposite to Mudryk) was the man tasked with showing Potter what he has to offer today, starting from the off and being a constant threat throughout. He had Mitchell in knots at times and wasn't afraid to show off some neat skills either.
His performances since the return of the World Cup haven't been quite what we saw in Qatar but today he was back to his best and even delivered the assist for Havertz's header. Mason Mount played on the opposite flank and was less exciting. They've still got Raheem Sterling, Armando Broja and Christian Pulisic to come back from injury. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is also back in the fold and David Fofana and Joao Felix are raring to go.
With the sort of fee Chelsea have forked out for Mudryk you'd expect him to start next time out against Liverpool but rest assured if he doesn't hit the ground running within a few weeks and months, he'll have plenty of teammates in his position eager for a chance to take his place. If Chelsea, 10 points adrift of the top four at present, want to finish in the Champions League places this season, Potter can't afford to be too patient.
Graham Potter jokes "if I'm here for the length of [Mudryk's] contract then I'll be happy!" He adds: "In the transfer window things happen like you don't expect. He's a young player with a big future. He's exciting one-vs-one, can threaten goal & our supporters already like him." pic.twitter.com/tbmNgvyD5t
— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) January 15, 2023
How did Benoit Badiashile do on his Chelsea debut?
Pretty well. In fact, it was perhaps more that he didn't stand out for any of the wrong reasons that saw him impress in a Blues shirt for the first time since his £35m move from Monaco. Unlike Joao Felix on Thursday, who looked like the brightest spark on the pitch against Fulham before getting sent off for a horrific challenge on Kenny Tete, Badiashile went about his business quietly.
His only error throughout the 90 was letting Wilfried Zaha muscle him off the ball in the first half before Kepa came to his side's rescue, but aside from that he kept Palace's attacking front three fairly quiet.
He looked composed on the ball, and comfortable taking passes on the front foot ready to play out to the wings... and of course did the actual defending part pretty well alongside Thiago Silva. Playing next to someone of Silva's calibre and CV might have been a daunting task for some on their Premier League debut but the 21-year-old, whose last match came in mid-November for Monaco, slotted in perfectly to Potter's backline.
And his performance impressed the boss too. "I thought Benoit did well, really well," Potter said. "It was a good game for him. Koulibaly has had a lot of football and the turnaround from Thursday was a consideration. He passes the ball well, when he needed to head the ball out he did. He has to adapt to the Premier League, it will take him some time, but it was very positive."
Benoît Badiashile's game by numbers vs. Crystal Palace:
— Squawka (@Squawka) January 15, 2023
100% tackle success
88 touches
73 passes attempted
71 passes completed
10 duels won
9 clearances (most)
5 aerial duels won
4 tackles made
0 x dribbled past
0 fouls
Flawless display. pic.twitter.com/SG9QZHjeRh
Chelsea starting XI (4-3-3): Arrizabalaga — Chalobah, Thiago Silva, Badiashile, Hall (77' Koulibaly) — Gallagher, Jorginho, Chukwuemeka (62' Aubameyang) — Ziyech (89' Azpilicueta), Havertz (89' Kovacic), Mount
Crystal Palace starting XI (4-3-3): Guaita (GK) — Clyne, Guehi, Andersen (37' Tomkins), Mitchell — Olise, Doucoure, Schlupp (69' Hughes) — Eze (69' Mateta), Zaha, Ayew (69' Edouard)
Chelsea vs. Crystal Palace final score
| 1H | 2H | Final | |
| Chelsea | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Crystal Palace | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Goals:
CHE — Havertz (64th min)
Chelsea vs. Crystal Palace live updates, highlights from Premier League
5️⃣ - Kai Havertz's fifth #PremierLeague goal this season gives Chelsea their first win in 2023. #CFC pic.twitter.com/5IzJ9QOfaZ
— Sporting News Football Club (@sn_footballclub) January 15, 2023
FULL TIME: CHELSEA 1-0 CRYSTAL PALACE
A desperate final three minutes as Palace continue to put balls in the box but Silva clears. It's scrappy but the Blues hold on. Palace will rue missed chances again but Potter will be relieved his side have finally got back to winning ways in the league.
94th min: Palace can't get a hold of the ball and Chelsea are edging closer to a big three points.
90th min: Seven minutes added on.
89th min: Azpilicueta and Kovacic are on. Ziyech and Havertz off.
87th min: Gallagher gets a yellow card for himself after a foul on Clyne. Seconds later Doucoure hits a stunning volley from 25 yards that forces Kepa to tip over. Palace knocking on the door late on.
*Available to watch in US:
Kepa denies a ROCKET from Doucoure! 🚀
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) January 15, 2023
📺: @USA_Network #MyPLMorning | #CHECRY pic.twitter.com/YDtErHPxCl
83rd min: Another booking for Palace. This time Hughes for a cynical challenge on former team-mate Gallagher.
81st min: Havertz HAS to score! He misses a header from about two yards out!
80th min: Patrick Vieira gets a yellow card. He's left his technical area to complain to the linesman about a foul and the referee is having none of it.
76th min: Kalidou Koulibaly is on. He replaces Lewis Hall who has had a decent game and looked exciting going forwards down the left.
69th min: Vieira responds by making a triple substitution. Mateta, Edouard and Hughes come on for Ayew, Eze and Schlupp.
64th min: GOAL! Havertz heads home from inside the six-yard box. A quick corner catches Palace off guard as Ziyech whips the ball in and the German rises highest to guide his header past Guaita.
*Available to watch in US:
A perfect cross from Ziyech leads to a beautiful header from Kai Havertz! 🙌
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) January 15, 2023
📺: @USA_Network #MyPLMorning | #CHECRY pic.twitter.com/lu5i2QWXbz
62nd min: Potter makes his first change as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang comes on for Carney Chukwuemeka.
58th min: Gallagher plays in Havertz down the left and the German gets his shot off but it's straight at Guaita.
56th min: Gallagher gives the ball away poorly in the middle of the park and Palace counter. It results in Zaha getting a fierce shot off from the right which Kepa deals with.
52nd min: Eze is the third Palace player to pick up a yellow card. He clumsily brings down Silva in the centre circle.
50th min: A cagey start from both teams since the break. Wilfried Zaha has been fairly quiet by his standard so far but is on the left up against Trevoh Chalobah. He beats his man but the cross is poor.
Back underway!
Mykhailo Mudryk is introduced to the Chelsea faithful 👏 pic.twitter.com/WNPpr8dOsx
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) January 15, 2023
HALF-TIME: Chelsea 0-0 Crystal Palace
45th min+1: At the other end Ziyech gets a shot away on the half-volley but it's tipped over by Guaita. A lively finish to the half!
45th min: Palace have a corner as Eye whips one into the near post and Schlupp gets his head to the ball that forces a stunning save from Kepa.
42nd min: Clyne is also into the book for a chopping down Mount.
40th min: CHANCE! Gallagher gets down the right wing after Mitchell loses his man and plays in a dangerous low cross that finds Hall arriving at the back post, but he doesn't connect with it cleanly and somehow blasts it back across the goal and out for a goal-kick! Another big chance wasted but poor defending from Palace.
37th min: Early change for Palace as Joachim Andersen is forced off with an injury. James Tomkins is on to replace him.
32nd min: HUGE chance for Havertz to open the scoring. Hakim Ziyech plays a delightful ball into the box and the German beats Guaita to it with his head but it's just over the bar. Havertz is clattered into in the process.
29th min: Just Chelsea casually announcing a €100m signing mid-game...
Mykhailo Mudryk has finalised his move from Shakhtar Donetsk after agreeing personal terms with the Blues. 🤝
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) January 15, 2023
26th min: The first booking of the match goes to Cheick Doucoure who is late with a tackle on Conor Gallagher.
24th min: Silva forces a brilliant save from Vicente Guaita from the corner. Palace clear the ball but it falls to the Brazilian who strikes it so sweetly on the half-volley but Guaita gets down brilliantly to palm it out for a corner with his left hand.
21st min: Another huge chance for Palace! This time Olise hits one on the half-volley from the edge of the box and Kepa is at full stretch to tip over the bar. A few warning signs for the Blues.
19th min: Olise gets the better of Hall down the right and floats a cross into the box which Kepa fails to punch clear. The ball falls awkwardly to Tyrick Mitchell who drills a shot from close range but Kepa makes amends with a brilliant reaction save.
15th min: Kai Havertz is getting Chelsea fans frustrated with a few poor touches of the ball to hold onto possession but he is working his socks off to get it back once he loses it... if that counts for anything!
10th min: Wilfried Zaha gets the better of Benoit Badiashile on the edge of the Chelsea box but Kepa Arrizabalga is quick off his line to head the ball clear. Palace showing a bit more attacking intent.
8th min: A game of scrappy passes and corners so far, this time Michael Olise does well down the right wing to force a set-piece but it's easily dealt with by Chelsea.
4th min: Palace look a little nervy so far and have hardly touched the ball. The home side have another corner but Thiago Silva heads over.
1st min: Chelsea have an early corner cleared before Lewis Hall picks up the ball and drills in a low cross which is well cleared.
We're underway!
2 mins from kickoff: Both sets of fans pay their respects to Vialli with a round of applause. Fellow Chelsea legends such as John Terry joined the players in the centre circle to pay their respects also.
5 mins from kickoff: The teams are out and there's a great atmosphere here at Stamford Bridge. Plenty of Vialli chants too.
10 mins from kickoff: Found him! Look away Arsenal fans. Here's the man from Shakhtar Donetsk that looked destined for the Gunners only for Chelsea to come in with a reported €70m offer with a further €30m in add-ons.
…and here’s Mykhaylo Mudryk now at Stamford Bridge, as expected 🔵📸 #CFC pic.twitter.com/ORT3rJlgjV
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 15, 2023
20 mins from kickoff: Potter needs a big win today but he knows all too well the Palace fans will be making life difficult for him having been the former coach of their biggest rivals, Brighton. However, the ex-Seagulls boss has never won at home to Palace in all competitions in his managerial career, drawing one and losing three of four previous such games in charge of Swansea and Brighton.
Potter is currently 2/1 to be the next Premier League manager sacked with only Frank Lampard more likely to get the chop than him, according to the bookmakers.
35 mins from kickoff: Vieira said this week his side need more of a "physical presence" on the pitch and midfield could once again be a concern today. With so much attacking talent in the Eagles side the defensive aspects of midfield duties has largely fallen on Cheick Doucoure's shoulders. The Palace boss may have been tempted to look at bringing in extra defensive midfield cover today to cope with Chelsea's threat but he's stuck with his 4-3-3 formation.
"I always say we want to improve the squad and we know the profile that we want. We just have to keep working and hopefully then we will bring in a couple of new faces," Vieira said.
"We are looking at the squad we have. I always talk about the experience and the physical side of the game. We need more physical presence on the field, so these are the kind of profiles we have identified."
Afternoon, lads 👋🦅@cinchuk 💜#CPFC | #CHECRY pic.twitter.com/pBcxqZmrDr
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) January 15, 2023
50 mins from kickoff: It's a big day for Benoit Badiashile who makes his Chelsea debut today following his January move from Monaco and is one of five changes to the team beaten at Fulham on Thursday. Jorginho, Conor Gallagher, Carney Chukwuemeka and Hakim Ziyech also return.
Kalidou Koulibaly, Cesar Azpilicueta and Mateo Kovacic drop to the bench.
60 mins from kickoff: The teams are in!
Your Chelsea team news! 🔵@ParimatchGlobal pic.twitter.com/9RQXsMzAxk
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) January 15, 2023
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) January 15, 2023
70 mins from kickoff: Team news to come shortly... until then we're on Mykhailo Mudryk watch....
Mykhaylo Mudryk has successfully completed all the medical tests in the morning. 🔵 #CFC
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 15, 2023
✍🏻 Mudryk’s signing the contract as new Chelsea player until 2030 right now, in club’s headquarters.
🇺🇦 Chelsea want to unveil Mykhaylo today at Stamford Bridge.
80 mins from kickoff: It's set to be an emotional afternoon at Stamford Bridge with it being the first home match since legend Gianluci Vialli's tragic passing on January 6, aged 58. A minute's applause will take place before the match and players will also be wearing a black armband to pay their respects.
We'll be wearing special t-shirts during today's warm-up.
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) January 15, 2023
For you, Luca. #️⃣9️⃣ pic.twitter.com/JvA2n0P7Zn
100 mins from kickoff: Chelsea have won only one of their last nine league games, their latest defeat coming on Thursday night to rivals Fulham. "It's really frustrating, it's incredibly challenging and it's a tough moment. I feel for the supporters," Potter said afterwards.
Widespread reports suggest Potter still has the backing of Chelsea owner Todd Boehly but you feel if results don't improve and his side continue to drop down the table, the American could be tearing up his contract much sooner than anyone anticipated.
120 mins from kickoff: Hello, and welcome to The Sporting News' live coverage of today's Premier League London derby. Palace have lost all ten of their most recent league meetings with the Blues but the Eagles may fancy their chances today given Graham Potter's struggles in recent weeks.
The setting for today 🏟#CPFC | #CHECRY pic.twitter.com/e34L35LKQw
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) January 15, 2023
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace lineups
Potter is still battling against a lengthy injury list in his Chelsea squad with N'Golo Kante, Reece James, Raheem Sterling and Christian Pulsic all out of action.
Joao Felix won't be available for selection following his red card against Fulham and Denis Zakaria also misses out after limping out in the same match.
Chelsea starting XI (4-3-3): Arrizabalaga — Chalobah, Thiago Silva, Badiashile, Hall — Gallagher, Jorginho, Chukwuemeka — Ziyech, Havertz, Mount
Subs: Bettinelli, Kovacic, Aubameyang, Loftus-Cheek, Koulibaly, Fofana, Azpilicueta, Cucurella, Humphreys.
Despite their struggles, Vieira keeps faith with the majority of his starting side, as Tyrick Mitchell returns from a ban.
Crystal Palace starting XI (4-3-3): Guaita (GK) — Clyne, Guehi, Andersen, Mitchell — Olise, Doucoure, Schlupp — Eze, Zaha, Ayew
Subs: Johnstone, Ward, Milivojevic, Tomkins, Mateta, Hughes, Edouard, Richards, Ikechukwu.
MORE: Latest Christian Pulisic injury update
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace live stream, TV channel
Here's how to watch all of the action from this match in some of the major territories:
| TV channel | Streaming | |
|---|---|---|
| USA | USA Network, Telemundo | NBC website/app, fuboTV, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo |
| Canada | — | fuboTV |
| UK | — | — |
| Australia | — | Optus Sport |
| New Zealand | Sky Sport Premier League | Sky Go NZ, Sky Sport NOW |
| India | Star Sports Select 1, Star Sports Select HD1 | Jio TV, Hotstar VIP |
| Hong Kong | 620 Now Premier League TV, 621 Now Premier League 1 | Now E |
| Malaysia | Astro Super Sport | Astro GO, Sooka |
| Singapore | 221 Hub Premier 1 | StarHub TV+ |
UK: Matches are carried across Sky Sports and BT Sport streaming and TV platforms, with selected matches on Amazon Prime. However, this match will not be broadcast live in the UK with Sky opting for Newcastle vs. Fulham as their televised pick.
USA: USA Network and Telemundo (Spanish) will be showing the game on TV and providing live streaming options via the NBC app and Telemundo Deportes En Vivo.
Canada: Every Premier League game this season is live streaming exclusively via fuboTV in Canada.
Australia: Fans in Australia can stream every match live and on demand on Optus Sport.
India: Star Sports network has the rights to show Premier League matches in India. As well as an English broadcast on Star Sports Select, select matches will be available via regional feeds on Star Sports 3 (in Bengali, English, Kannada, Malayalam), Star Sports 1 (Bangla) and Star Sports 1 (Tamil).
