(Credit: Imago)

Edward Bazeley

Sun 17 August 2025 16:55, UK

Chelsea began their Premier League campaign with a largely disappointing 0-0 draw with London rivals Crystal Palace on Sunday.

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Eberechi Eze appeared to put the Eagles in front in the first half, but VAR ruled in Chelsea’s favour to disallow his effort from a freekick.

Enzo Maresca turned to his substitutes’ bench to break the deadlock in the second half, but the likes of Estevao and Liam Delap could not win the match for the Blues.

Football Insider takes a look at which Chelsea players performed well at Stamford Bridge, and who had an afternoon they’d rather forget on 17 August.

Maresca’s side drew with Palace (Credit: Imago)

While the West Londoners were poor in attack against Crystal Palace, Maresca’s men defended well to keep Oliver Glasner’s side at bay.

Despite the physical threat posed by Jean-Philippe Mateta, Josh Acheampong shone for Chelsea, ensuring they maintained a clean sheet in their opening Premier League game.

The teenager has proven to Maresca that he could be the man to replace Levi Colwill amid the England international’s injury struggles.

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Sanchez kept a clean sheet for Chelsea (Credit: Imago)

Throughout his Chelsea career, Robert Sanchez has come under criticism for making errors between the sticks.

However, beginning the new Premier League season with a clean sheet marked an ideal start to the season for Sanchez.

Delap made his first Premier League appearance for Chelsea (Credit: Hasan Karim – Breaking Media)

Liam Delap made a cameo appearance for Maresca’s side and failed to make the most of a late opportunity to score.

Despite firing his effort safely into Dean Henderson’s arms, though, Delap should be in line to start Chelsea’s next game against West Ham on Friday, 22 August, as fellow debutant and striker Joao Pedro was poor against Palace.

Palmer was poor against Crystal Palace (Credit: Imago)

England international Cole Palmer is often the difference maker for Chelsea, particularly in close games.

Palmer will have to perform better moving forward, if Chelsea are to trouble teams like Manchester City and Liverpool in the upcoming title race.

Pedro was far from impressive on Sunday (Credit: Imago)

Joao Pedro proved his clinical instincts for Chelsea in the Club World Cup, but the striker was poor against Crystal Palace.

The former Brighton man mustered just two shots against the Eagles, and was deservedly removed from the action in favour of Delap.

Gittens had a quiet Premier League debut (Credit Hasan Karim, Breaking Media)

Maresca handed summer signing Jamie Gittens a major opportunity to impress the Stamford Bridge faithful by handing him his first Premier League start for the Blues.

However, the former Borussia Dortmund man could only show glimpses of his class, and was outshone by Estevao, who replaced him.

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