Goals from Conor Gallagher and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang saw Chelsea come back from behind to earn three points against Crystal Palace in Graham Potter’s second match in charge
In Graham Potter’s opening Chelsea match, followers of the Blues were treated to a surprise when Raheem Sterling was positioned as a wing-back and given its success nobody would have ruled out it happening against Crystal Palace.
Chelsea’s new head coach opted for two changes from the Champions League clash with Ben Chilwell replacing the ill Marc Cucurella and Wesley Fofana coming into the side instead of Cesar Azpilicueta. Chilwell was not handed the same duties on the left of a back three like his Spanish teammate, as Chelsea played a back four at Selhurst Park, something Thomas Tuchel was reluctant to try.
Work to do for Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Trevoh Chalobah
The Cobham products were able to spend more time working with Potter with no international duties to partake in but were unable to persuade the former Brighton boss that they were the best options from the start. Chalobah had another 90 minutes from the bench, while Loftus-Cheek was given half an hour to make his impression when he replaced a grimacing Jorginho.
Welcome Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Chelsea started the summer with Tuchel perhaps reluctant to add a striker to his ranks with the German coach looking to build a free-flowing front three of Mason Mount, Kai Havertz and Raheem Sterling, with Armando Broja able to deputise when required.
As the Blues struggled in front of goal in the opening weeks of the season, Tuchel relented and set out in sight of a reunion with a former charge in the shape of Aubameyang. The quality of their relationship was clear from the outset, even before the transfer was complete, but one game in Zagreb was all the pair would get following the former Arsenal star’s arrival.