PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG has fired Chelsea back into their Premier League clash against Crystal Palace.
But seconds earlier, Thiago Silva could have been sent off for handling the ball to deny a goalscoring opportunity.
Odsonne Edouard had given Palace a highly-deserved lead after an early onslaught on Kepa’s goal at Selhurst Park.
But Kalidou Koulibaly has been dropped to the bench, with Edouard Mendy not in the squad at all with an injury.
Conor Gallagher returns to the club where he was so effective last season and the England Under-21 ace is on the bench.
- Start time: 3pm GMT
- Live stream: Peacock (US)
- Palace XI: Guaita; Clyne, Ward, Guehi, Mitchell; Olise, Doucoure, Eze; Ayew, Edouard, Zaha
- Chelsea XI: Kepa; James, Silva, Fofana, Chilwell; Mount, Jorginho, Kovacic; Havertz, Aubameyang, Sterling
Follow ALL the action with our live blog below…
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45+2. Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea.
The indirect free kick is smashed into the side netting by Mason Mount, as he looked to aim for a tiny gap on the left side of the goal.
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45. Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea.
The game has really changed since the goal.
Tomkins, who replaced Clyne, gives a backpass back to Guaita.
Chelsea have an indirect free kick about 7 yards away from the goal.
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43. Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea.
Patrick Vieira gets himself a yellow card after a lengthy conversation with the referee.
The game gets back underway after that stoppage.
There will be a good few minutes of added time at the end of this half.
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43. Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea.
A really nasty injury for Nathaniel Clyne here in the buildup to that Aubameyang goal.
He is taken off the pitch on a stretcher after landing badly battling for a challenge in the air with Thiago Silva.
Our thoughts go out to Nathaniel Clyne, and we wish him a speedy recovery.
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38. Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea.
Unbelievable finish from Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang!
Thiago Silva headers it down to the Gabonese striker, who takes it on his chest and smashes a volley into the back of the net.
HE’S BACK.
Aubameyang scored his first goal for Chelsea away at Crystal Palace.Credit: Getty -
38. Crystal Palace 1-1 Chelsea.
But he finds a real connection there! Aubameyang levels for Chelsea!
His first goal in a Chelsea shirt!
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37. Crystal Palace 1-0 Chelsea.
Chelsea have their first corner of the game, which is well worked, but there is no real connection from Aubameyang.
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35. Crystal Palace 1-0 Chelsea.
No red card for Silva.
The Brazilian gets very lucky with just a yellow card as he was so far away from the goal.
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34. Crystal Palace 1-0 Chelsea.
Tough one for the referee here as Thiago Silva is potentially getting a red card.
He thinks he has been fouled by Ayew, and handled the ball trying to bring him down.
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32. Crystal Palace 1-0 Chelsea.
Kepa claims the ball, and looks to distribute, but he is bundled over by Odsonne Edouard.
That would normally be a yellow card, but seeing as he is already on a yellow it is not shown.
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30. Crystal Palace 1-0 Chelsea.
Olise finds some space on the right hand side and bamboozles Mason Mount.
He shapes up to deliver a cross on his favoured left foot, but does a ball roll and crosses on his right, but it is cleared by Silva.
Chilwell loses the ball to Ayew, and he wins a corner for Palace.
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27. Crystal Palace 1-0 Chelsea.
Palace definitely look the quicker team when they venture forwards, Eze looks dangerous as he combines with Edouard and Ayew.
Eze shoots from the edge of the box, but it goes wide of the post.
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25. Crystal Palace 1-0 Chelsea.
Raheem Sterling hits the post!
Reece James crosses, but the connection isn’t quite there for the Chelsea forward and his shot at the second attempt comes off the post.
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22. Crystal Palace 1-0 Chelsea.
It’s the games first yellow card, which is awarded to Odsonne Edouard the goal scorer.
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20. Crystal Palace 1-0 Chelsea.
Chelsea burst into life here, as Havertz stands a cross up for Mount, but the Englishman cannot get the header on target.
Palace are just moving the ball quicker than Chelsea at the moment, despite the latter having 83% possession.
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18. Crystal Palace 1-0 Chelsea.
Chelsea are starting to dominate Palace in terms of possession, but they remain a goal down, and there are certainly easier places than Selhurst Park to overturn a deficit.
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16. Crystal Palace 1-0 Chelsea.
Chilwell does well to get his his head to a sweeping Thiago Silva pass, but he can’t get the purchase he was looking for on it.
The width for Chelsea is really being provided by the full backs, with Sterling the only natural winger on the pitch seemingly playing as a striker next to Aubameyang.
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14. Crystal Palace 1-0 Chelsea.
Mason Mount drops deeper to receive the ball, and is fouled to give a free kick to Chelsea.
The Chelsea shape is interesting, with a seemingly box midfield made up of Mount, Havertz, Jorginho and Kovacic.
Chelsea hold onto possession…
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12. Crystal Palace 1-0 Chelsea.
Chelsea look rattled here at Selhurst Park, as Palace put a great ball into the box that goes out for a goal kick.
Jorginho looks for a long ball round the corner to Aubameyang, similar to the one he played for Abraham against Watford when Lampard was in charge.
Guaita is there to stop it.
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10. Crystal Palace 1-0 Chelsea.
Another loose pass, this time it’s Jorginho.
Chelsea have been sloppy so far, as Eze has a strike from 30 yards after some good work by Olise.
Chelsea, you have been warned about those two…
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8. Crystal Palace 1-0 Chelsea.
Not a good start for Chelsea, Ayew plays a great ball into the box, which Edouard angles into the top right corner.
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7. Crystal Palace 1-0 Chelsea.
Goal for Crystal Palace. Odsonne Edouard! Assisted by Ayew!
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6. Crystal Palace 0-0 Chelsea.
Mount gets a first feel for the ball since his good performance for England in midweek.
He finds Chilwell, who finds Kovacic, but the Croatian misplaces his pass and Jorginho gives away a free kick.
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4. Crystal Palace 0-0 Chelsea.
Fofana gives a careless pass away to Wilfried Zaha, but reacts well to get the block in before the ball reaches Edouard.
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2. Crystal Palace 0-0 Chelsea.
Two early moments for the visitors, both falling to Raheem Sterling, who has been brilliant so far since his transfer from Manchester City.
