Saturday, April 10, 2021 at 8:19 PM• Jeroen van Poppel • Last update: 20:23

Chelsea has recovered very well on Saturday evening from the painful defeat against West Bromwich Albion seven days ago. Thomas Tuchel’s men fired off the starting blocks against Crystal Palace and were already 0-3 ahead after half an hour. Led by stars Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic, it eventually became 1-4. Hakim Ziyech played a marginal role with a short raid. Chelsea climbs to the all-important fourth place, although West Ham United could take over again that Sunday.

Chelsea got off to a flying start at Selhurst Park and led 0-2 within ten minutes. Kai Havertz was given all the time and space to turn on the right side of the penalty area and then calmly look for the far corner: 0-1. Two minutes later, the same Havertz put Christian Pulisic to work with a low pass. The American took the lead with the right and fired the ball hard into the intersection with the left: 0-2.

Havertz then showed a tour de force, by tapping the ball beautifully over Patrick van Aanholt in his assumption. The volley that followed from the German’s foot was turned by Vicente Guaita, avoiding a fantastic goal. After half an hour, Chelsea scored again, when Kurt Zouma towered above everyone and scored from a Mason Mount free kick: 0-3. Callum Hudson-Odoi then saw a dangerous bet turned by Guaita, while Van Aanholt on the goal line prevented Zouma from scoring with the head again.

Crystal Palace had nothing to say in the first half, but managed to do something in return after an hour of play. Christian Benteke headed home from a cross by Jeffrey Schlupp, who came over on the left: 1-3. However, Chelsea was not confused by the setback and increased the margin back to three in the 78th minute. A low cross from Reece James was caused by a sliding from defender Gary Cahill, so that Pulisic could enter at the far post: 1-4.

Ziyech came on the field in the 83rd minute and moments later offered Havertz a free shooting opportunity with a through ball. Havertz’s shot, however, missed direction to surprise Guaita. Moments later, Ziyech fumbled at the far post after a pass from Ben Chilwell.