Credit: Imago/Maxence Lacroix X

Chris Smith

Sun 17 August 2025 17:06, UK

Crystal Palace made a solid start to the new Premier League season with a 0-0 draw away at Chelsea on Sunday.

Acheampong shines, Palmer awful - Chelsea's 3 winners and 3 losers v Crystal Palace	Eze unlucky, 9/10 shines - Crystal Palace player ratings vs Chelsea	Cole Palmer woeful, 8/10 shines - Chelsea player ratings v Crystal Palace

The Eagles were unlucky not to leave with all three points after Eberechi Eze had a thunderous free-kick strike disallowed by VAR early in the first half.

But Palace can still be proud of their defensive effort, standing tall even as a frustrated Chelsea ramped up the pressure in the second half.

That was led by Maxence Lacroix, anchoring the back five from his central position.

The Frenchman was an absolute wall in the face of Chelsea’s expensively assembled attack, making three tackles, three blocks, seven clearances, two interceptions and two recoveries, while winning six of his 10 duels (FotMob).

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It didn’t matter whether Chelsea tried to cross it into the box, slip it into a gap or run straight at the Palace backline; Lacroix was just equal to everything thrown at him.

Lacroix has been frankly superb since arriving at Selhurst Park from Wolfsburg last summer, and this performance will rank highly in what is becoming a fast-growing highlights reel.

Dean Henderson

Dean Henderson came up clutch at the end (Credit: Imago)

Of course, no matter how well your defence performs, you’re going to need your goalkeeper eventually.

Dean Henderson has made a habit of stepping up in big moments for Palace in recent months, saving an Omar Marmoush penalty in last season’s FA Cup triumph and performing heroics in the Community Shield victory against Liverpool last week.

Henderson didn’t exactly have his busiest afternoon on Sunday, required to make just two saves.

However, he was excellent with the ball, creating two chances, making eight passes into the final third and completing both of his dribbles.

The one-cap international’s style and grace will be vital to Palace in Europe this season, and he’s a player they’ll want to keep around for a while yet as they face losing Eze and Marc Guehi.

Eberechi Eze

Is this Eberechi Eze’s last dance as a Crystal Palace player?

If anything, this was a great way to sign off from the Palace supporters, with the 27-year-old terrorsing the Chelsea defenders with six shots, one chance created and two out of three dribbles completed.

But it just would have been so much better had his powerful free-kick stood, paying back the club that has given him so much with a memorable win at Stamford Bridge.

Marc Guehi

In many ways, Guehi’s push on Moises Caicedo to help clear the path for Eze’s free-kick can be viewed as a moment of genius.

However, the centre-back just went a little bit too far, ending up too close to the defensive wall and, thus, breaking Law 13 and seeing the goal chalked off.

If Eze leaves, Guehi might well feel a touch of guilt at denying him his last-ever Palace goal.

Jean-Philippe Mateta

Jean-Philippe Mateta’s stats vs Chelsea (FotMob)

Jean-Philippe Mateta has arguably been the brightest light of the Oliver Glasner era so far, netting 31 goals in 61 appearances under the Austrian.

Sunday, however, was not his day.

The France international did have a couple of flurries, but a shot inside the box in the 19th minute aside, he was reduced to speculative efforts from distance.

That was Mateta’s only touch in the opposition box as Palace focused more on keeping Chelsea out at the other end.

And that’s absolutely fine, with Palace well worthy of their point on the road.
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