Chelsea lined up for their Premier League opener with a front line built on more than £250m worth of recent signings, but still could not find the net in a stalemate with Crystal Palace.
Leading the attack was Joao Pedro, who arrived from Brighton in the summer for £55m. On either wing, Jamie Gittens — a £52m recruit from Borussia Dortmund — and £45m arrival Pedro Neto both made their first league appearances. Behind them, Cole Palmer, signed for £40m, started as the creative link in the number 10 role. Despite the wealth of attacking options, Palace controlled the opening passages and threatened first.
Palace denied by VAR
The visitors thought they had struck early when Eberechi Eze powered in a free-kick just after the 13-minute mark. However, celebrations were cut short when VAR spotted captain Marc Guehi standing less than a metre from Chelsea’s defensive wall, leading to the goal being disallowed.
That reprieve did little to ease Chelsea’s nerves, as the home crowd grew restless with their team unable to turn possession into meaningful chances.
Missed chances and early pressure
In the second half, Chelsea coach turned to his bench, introducing two more new recruits: £29m Brazilian winger Estevao Willian from Palmeiras and £30m striker Liam Delap, previously of Ipswich. Both substitutes wasted big opportunities to put their team in front, while Andrey Santos also spurned a promising chance late on.
The match ended goalless at Stamford Bridge, a frustrating start for a squad recently crowned Club World Cup winners. While expectations of a title push remain, the immediate priority inside the club is a return to the Champions League through a top-four finish. Overcoming issues with creativity and finishing will be essential if Chelsea are to compete with Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City over the long campaign.
