Premier League 2024-25, Crystal Palace hold Chelsea 1-1: Key stats
Chelsea and Crystal Palace played out a 1-1 draw in matchweek 3 of the Premier League 2024-25 season at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. Nicolas Jackson handed Chelsea the lead in the first half with Cole Palmer running the show. However, Palace fought back in the 2nd half with an individual brilliance from Eberechi Eze. Both sides failed to find a winner thereafter.
Chelsea dominate the first half
Chelsea looked solid in the first half. Enzo Maresca's side was well organized and ran the show against Palace. Palace failed to get going and were pegged back. The Blues had several chances and were rewarded in the 25th minute when Noni Madueke and Palmer combined for Nicolas Jackson to score. Palmer made the difference for Chelsea and was class apart.
1st half stats from the match
Chelsea had three shots on target compared to their opponent's one. In terms of expected goals, Chelsea clocked a tally worth 1.77 whereas Palace had 0.07. Chelsea had 10 touches in the opposition box. Palace managed six.
Palmer shines in his 50th appearance for the Blues
Palmer clocked 25 goals and made 15 assists in 45 appearances during his first season at Chelsea. He was involved in 33 goals Premier League goals. He scored 22 goals and made 11 assists from 33 appearances. And now, with his four assists and a goal, he is involved in 45 goals for the Blues. He has made 50 appearances for Chelsea.
Feats attained by the sensational Palmer
As mentioned, Palmer has four assists this season. Only Ruel Fox (1994-95), Henrikh Mkhitaryan (2017-18), Harry Kane (2020-21), and Paul Pogba (2021-22) have provided more in a team's first three matches of a Premier League campaign (5 each). Palmer has assisted 15 goals in the Premier League for Chelsea; the most of any player across Europe's big five leagues since his debut (September 2023).
How did the 2nd half pan out?
Palmer ran the show for Chelsea at the start of the 2nd half. However, it was Palace who went level. A free-kick by Eze was half-cleared by Chelsea. Eze recieved the ball which was recycled to him and he bent in a curling shot into the far corner from 20 yards. Chelsea had some moments late on but Palace held on.
Eze scores his 27th Premier League goal
Making his 127th appearance for Palace, Eze now owns 28 goals in all competitions. 27 of his 28 Palace goals have come in the Premier League from 115 games. He also owns 15 league assists. As per Opta, Eze has scored five goals from outside the box in the Premier League in 2024. It's the joint-most of any player, along with Phil Foden.
Palace's dismal run versus Chelsea ends
Before this draw, Palace had endured a run of 13 straight defeats against Chelsea in all competitions, since Antonio Conte's side went down 2-1 at Selhurst Park in 2017.
