How Chelsea rated in their shock 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace

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Antonio Conte opted to experiment with a 3-5-2 formation at Stamford Bridge for the visit of Crystal Palace and all seemed to be going swimmingly when Cesc Fabregas took the lead inside five minutes through a well-worked move.

The next six minutes were a shock though as Wilfried Zaha made it look easy as he beat Thibaut Courtois on the turn, and he then set up Christian Benteke two minutes later to make Courtois look foolish as he dived early to allow his international team-mate to dink the ball over him.

Here are how’s the Blues rated at Stamford Bridge…

Thibaut Courtois – 6

Made one great save to stop the defeat from becoming even more humiliating and there was little that he could do about either goal, though fingers may be pointed at his decision to dive early for the second.

Read on over the next few pages to see how his team-mates rated…

Cesar Azpilicueta – 5 

Sloppy defensively and will be held to account for the two goals conceded. Tried to get the ball moving forward but to no real effect.

David Luiz – 6

As above, only the Brazilian’s passing and runs forward from deep did cause some problems for Palace as they looked to protect their lead.

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Gary Cahill – 4

Most at fault of the back three for both goals and his lack of quality on the ball was highlighted from then on as he failed to have any influence.

Pedro – 6

At fault when Palace looked to expose him defensively with their two goals but he looked dangerous on the attack. Struggled to gain much momentum second half as the system changed around so frequently.

Cesc Fabregas – 5

Superb in the build up to the goal early on with a wonderful pass to Eden Hazard and a neat finish, but from that moment on he failed to make much of an impact when his creativity was exactly what was needed.

N’Golo Kante – 5

With Palace playing so deep for almost all of the game, Kante’s bursts forward weren’t effective and he couldn’t do much more than sit and try to play others in. His least influential display of the season.

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Nemanja Matic – 3

The highlight of his performance was his substitution. Incapable of retaining possession and failing to win it back after losing it with sloppy passes and touches.

Marcos Alonso – 5

Struggled when facing the pace of Andrea Townsend and Jason Puncheon and was sacrificed in a change of system second half. Did get forward well but was afforded plenty of time and space to do so.

Eden Hazard – 7

Faded as the game went on, partly because he was once again targeted by opposition defenders, but he was instrumental in the first goal with a smart turn and impressed in the first half.

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Diego Costa – 5

One of Costa’s most frustrating afternoons in blue, he worked hard and certainly put himself about, winning headers and doing the dirty work, but his finishing wasn’t up to scratch and he failed to take his chances.

Subs

Willian (for Matic, 59) – 7

Looked a real danger down the right flank and delivered a number of threatening balls into the box which on another day would have been enough.

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Michy Batshuayi (for Alonso, 74) – 6

His longest cameo in a long time, his work was cut out as he was swamped by the numbers that Palace had back in the closing stages, though he did hold the ball up well.

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