Chelsea vs Crystal Palace player ratings: Blues thrash Eagles on opening day

Under the shining sun, inside a packed Stamford Bridge, amid loud roars, Chelsea players entered the pitch for their league opener. The European champions were greeted by returning crowds at the Bridge after months of empty seats and made-up noises. The cheers alone must’ve played heavily on the minds of Crystal Palace players, who, under the tutelage of Patrick Vieira, looked to embrace a new, post-Roy Hodgson era.

Chelsea clearly did not get the memo, and instead, stifled Palace’s attempts to play through the lines by timely interceptions and high pressures. At the other end, the Blues struggled initially to break the Eagles’ stern defense which featured former academy player Marc Guehi. However, Thomas Tuchel’s men did eventually get the breakthrough which arrived courtesy of Marcos Alonso’s magnificent left foot. The Spaniard curled a stunning freekick into the top right corner in the 27th minute.

Christian Pulisic doubled the Blues’ lead in the 40th minute, as he fired in a loose ball off the crossbar following a good cross from Mason Mount. The moment of the match came in the 58th minute when Trevoh Chalobah – making his first league start for his boyhood club – collected the ball inside the Palace half before slamming a fierce shot from distance past the goalkeeper.

We rate the Chelsea players on the back of a comfortable win in their league opener.

Edouard Mendy (Goalkeeper): 7/10

Mendy barely had anything to do for the majority of the game, but when called upon – as he was briefly during a Palace corner – he was alert. The Senegalese’s distribution from the back was flawless as usual, and so was his command of the area.

Trevoh Chalobah (Centerback): 9.5/10

For Chalobah, a Chelsea academy graduate and someone who has been with the Blues since he was eight, his goal was a moment to remember. The 22-year-old – no longer a surprise pick given his display against Villarreal – barely made any mistakes throughout the game. He was solid defensively and looked to progress play while in possession through long diagonals out to Azpilicueta on the right or by carrying the ball up field himself. His goal, of course, was the cherry on top. His muted celebration, almost in disbelief of what he had done, was a poignant moment during an otherwise thrilling evening.

Andreas Christensen (Centerback): 8/10

Christensen looked home in the middle of the back three and was barely troubled by the Crystal Palace attackers. The Dane looked comfortable on the ball, as he helped his team build from the back with short, crisp passes into the feet of his midfielder or long diagonals out wide.

Antonio Rudiger (Centerback): 8/10

Rudiger complimented his UEFA Champions League Defender of the Year nomination with a commanding display in defense. The German started slowly and almost looked lethargic at times – understandable, given that he played the entire 120 against Villarreal on Wednesday. However, he took hold of the game midway through the first half and barely put a foot wrong after that.