Recap

Chelsea Secure Convincing 3-1 Victory Over 10-Man Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park

Chelsea claimed a vital 3-1 win against Crystal Palace on Sunday, January 25, 2026, at Selhurst Park, propelling Liam Rosenior’s side into fourth place in the Premier League table while extending Palace’s winless run to 11 matches across all competitions.

The match, played in front of a passionate home crowd, saw Chelsea capitalize on early errors and Palace’s disciplinary issues to dominate proceedings. Goals from Estêvão (34′), João Pedro (50′), and Enzo Fernández (64′ pen) sealed the points for the Blues, with Chris Richards’ late header (88′) offering scant consolation for Oliver Glasner’s struggling Eagles. Adam Wharton’s red card in the 72nd minute proved pivotal, leaving Palace with 10 men and marking a historic low for the south London club.

Early Exchanges Set the Tone with Chances at Both Ends

The game kicked off at 2:00 PM with both teams showing intent. Crystal Palace, desperate to end their dismal form, nearly struck first in the 7th or 8th minute when Benoît Badiashile lost possession under pressure from Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaïla Sarr. Mateta raced clear one-on-one but was denied by a brilliant outstretched save from Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sánchez, who used his right leg to thwart the danger.

Chelsea responded quickly, with Enzo Fernández firing wastefully over from 12 yards and Moisés Caicedo slicing wide from the edge of the area. Palace’s Ismaila Sarr clipped one past the post at the other end, while Brennan Johnson, Palace’s January signing, was denied by a well-timed sliding intervention from Andrey Santos after an excellent cross from Daniel Muñoz.

Sarr had another opportunity when an accidental flick into the 18-yard box fell to him, but he couldn’t toe the ball past Sánchez. These early moments highlighted Palace’s threat on the break but also Chelsea’s resilience, setting up a lively opening quarter.

Estêvão’s Moment of Brilliance Breaks the Deadlock

The breakthrough came in the 34th minute, courtesy of 18-year-old Brazilian sensation Estêvão. Jaydee Canvot’s wayward or too-casual backpass towards Palace’s half was pounced upon by the Chelsea winger, who raced clear of Tyrick Mitchell before finishing emphatically past Dean Henderson for his first Premier League goal since October, ending an 11-match barren spell.

This opportunistic strike on the breakaway gave Chelsea the lead and shifted momentum firmly in their favor. Estêvão’s fine individual effort, despite having plenty to do, made it look simple and set Liam Rosenior’s side on their way. Palace’s error underscored their January woes, characterized by dreadful form, injuries, managerial speculation, and internal friction.

Chelsea ended the first half strongly, dominating possession and creating further chances, while Palace struggled to regain composure before the interval.

Second-Half Surge: Pedro Doubles Lead, Fernández Seals It from the Spot

Five minutes after the restart, Chelsea doubled their advantage. Estêvão, continuing his starring role, exchanged passes with João Pedro, who drilled a confident effort past Henderson to make it 2-0. The Brazilian’s assist highlighted Chelsea’s efficiency and clinical edge early in the second half.

The Blues’ dominance grew, and in the 64th minute, they were awarded a penalty following a VAR review. Estêvão’s goalbound shot struck Canvot’s hand in what was deemed accidental handball, and Enzo Fernández stepped up to fire emphatically into the bottom right corner, putting Chelsea 3-0 ahead.

Palace’s hopes of a comeback were dashed shortly after when midfielder Adam Wharton received a second yellow card in the 72nd or 73rd minute for a wild or sliding challenge on Moisés Caicedo. This dismissal left the Eagles with 10 men and made history: the first time in Premier League history Palace conceded a penalty, three goals, and a red card in the same match.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Palace showed fight. Brennan Johnson fired just wide two minutes after Wharton’s sending off. In the 88th minute, chaotic scenes at a corner led to Chris Richards heading in a ricocheted clearance from Sánchez’s earlier save on Jefferson Lerma’s header, pulling one back for a 3-1 scoreline. However, it was merely a consolation as Chelsea strolled to victory.

Key Stats and Historical Context

Chelsea’s win marked their first Premier League away victory since beating Burnley 2-0 in November 2025, ending a five-match winless run on the road (D3 L2). It extended their unbeaten league run against Palace to 17 games and represented back-to-back victories in Liam Rosenior’s first two league games in charge.

For Crystal Palace, the defeat stretched their winless run to 11 matches across all competitions (D4 L7), the longest current streak in the Premier League and their worst since a 13-match run between January and March 2023. They remained 15th or potentially 16th in the table with 28 points from 7-7-9 record, while Chelsea climbed to fourth, ahead of Manchester United’s clash with leaders Arsenal.

• Chelsea’s Brazilians shone: Estêvão scored and assisted, João Pedro netted the second.
• Palace’s winless streak: 11 games, underscoring a dismal January.
• Chelsea’s away form boost: First road win in months under Rosenior.
• Historic for Palace: First PL match with pen, 3 goals conceded, and red card.

Post-Match Implications and Managerial Spotlights

The result offered huge encouragement for Chelsea under Liam Rosenior, who has overseen three wins in succession and a promising start, firing the Blues into the top four and Champions League places temporarily. Missing Cole Palmer, they avoided a fourth consecutive Premier League draw against Palace and capitalized on their efficiency.

For Oliver Glasner, pressure mounts as Palace’s slide continues. Jean-Philippe Mateta will rue his early golden chance, and the red card to Wharton compounded woes. Speculation about the manager persists amid injuries and friction, with Palace yet to win in 11.

Chelsea’s dominance was clear: they punished errors, converted chances, and maintained composure. Sánchez’s saves were pivotal, while Estêvão emerged as the star. Palace’s late goal spoiled a clean sheet but couldn’t alter the outcome.

Player Performances and Tactical Insights

Estêvão was the standout, scoring his second PL goal, creating another, and terrorizing Palace’s defense. João Pedro’s finish was clinical, and Fernández’s penalty coolness decisive. Sánchez’s early denial of Mateta proved game-changing.

For Palace, Richards’ header showed resilience, but Wharton’s red card was costly. Mateta and Sarr threatened early, but defensive lapses from Canvot and Badiashile-like errors hurt them. Henderson made saves but couldn’t stem the tide.

Tactically, Chelsea thrived on the counter, with Rosenior’s side highly efficient. Palace pushed forward but lacked end product until too late, their 10-man status sealing fate.

This London derby encapsulated both teams’ seasons: Chelsea’s resurgence versus Palace’s struggles. The three points lift the Blues ahead of a congested schedule, while Palace face a battle to climb the table.