Chelsea player ratings vs Crystal Palace: Marc Cucurella exposed as Nicolas Jackson loses clinical touch | OneFootball

Four matches without a win for Chelsea after latest setback

Chelsea dropped more points as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Crystal Palace.

Cole Palmer had given them the lead and there were chances to extend that before half-time, but Josh Acheampong and Nicolas Jackson missed the best of them.

Jean-Philippe Mateta stepped up to punish the Blues for that wastefulness late in the second-half, when he finished from close-range after Eberechi Eze had rolled the ball into his path.

Robert Sanchez 6

Made a couple of big saves in the second-half, including from Richards header.

Malo Gusto 6

Curbed some of his usual adventure in order to provide cover for young Acheampong. Eze got in behind him to set up equaliser, though.

Josh Acheampong 6

Handed a surprise first Premier League start at centre-back. Composed and intelligent.

Levi Colwill 6

Took responsibility for the physical battle with Mateta. Big block on the forward late on. Booked.

Marc Cucurella 4

Exposed repeatedly by the dynamic Munoz.

Moises Caicedo 5

Is starting to look a little jaded. Chelsea need Romeo Lavia back to share the workload.

Enzo Fernandez 6

Combined nicely with both Sancho and Palmer. Close to a clincher when sliding wide late on. Booked.

Pedro Neto 5

Blew a golden chance to make it 2-0 when overhitting the simplest of cut-backs for Palmer. Always bright, but numbers don’t stack up yet. Might have had a penalty.

Pedro Neto was bright without having a decisive impact

Chelsea FC via Getty Images

Cole Palmer 7

Scored the opener with a smart finish and should have been set up for a second by Neto. Pass to get Jackson in behind was glorious.

Jadon Sancho 7

Sensational dummy on halfway created opening for the first goal but he still had plenty to do to find Palmer.

Nicolas Jackson 5

Clinical touch appears to have deserted the forward, who missed several good chances here and now has only one in six league games. All-round contribution remains key, though.

Substitutes

Marc Guiu (Jackson 81’) N/A

True to his word, Maresca turned to the Spaniard before Nkunku for his first league minutes since August.

Noni Madueke (Sancho 86’) N/A