Crystal Palace Defeated, Chelsea Officially Returns to Premier League Top 4

By winning 3-1 on the road decisively, Chelsea made the most of the chance to surpass Liverpool, officially claiming the 4th position in the Premier League table.

Chelsea entered the match against Crystal Palace with the sole aim of securing 3 points to climb the rankings. Early in the first half, The Blues converted their dominance into a goal at the 34th minute. After a skillful solo run, young star Estevao fired a powerful shot straight at goal, leaving goalkeeper Dean Henderson no chance to save.

In the second half, Chelsea maintained their pressure. At the 50th minute, Joao Pedro doubled the lead with a brilliant solo effort and a precise low finish. Things got tougher for Crystal Palace when Adam Wharton received a second yellow card in the 72nd minute following a rough foul, forcing him off the pitch.

Taking advantage of the extra man, Enzo Fernandez extended the lead to 3-0 from the penalty spot in the 64th minute after VAR confirmed a handball by the home team. Despite their efforts, Crystal Palace managed only a consolation goal in the 88th minute through a header by Chris Richards, concluding the match at 3-1.

This victory is extremely significant for coach Liam Rosenior’s squad. According to the current 2025/26 season standings after 23 matches, Chelsea has officially risen to 4th place with 37 points. This result directly pushes Liverpool (36 points) down to 5th, following their recent defeat.

Currently, Chelsea has a record of 10 wins, 7 draws, and 6 losses. Although they remain some distance behind the leaders Arsenal (50 points), Man City (46 points), and Aston Villa (46 points), breaking into the Champions League qualification spots is a very positive sign for the London club during this intense phase of the season.

With their form stabilizing, Chelsea promises to be a strong contender in the fight to maintain a Top 4 position in the upcoming matches.

Team News Crystal Palace vs Chelsea

• Crystal Palace:Doucoure, Kamada, Kporha, Munoz are unavailable.
• Chelsea:Adarabioyo, Colwill, Lavia, Mudryk are absent.

Expected Lineups for Crystal Palace vs Chelsea

• Crystal Palace:Benitez; Canvot, Richards, Guehi; Sosa, Devenny, Rodney, Benamar; Casey, Drakes-Thomas; Uche.
• Chelsea:Sanchez; Acheampong, Fofana, Badiashile, Hato; Caicedo, Santos; George, Pedro, Gittens; Delap.

Form & Head-to-Head Record

• Crystal Palace Form:In their last 5 games, Crystal Palace drew 2 and lost 3, scoring 3 goals and conceding 7.
• Chelsea Form:In their last 5 matches, Chelsea won 3 and lost 2, scoring 11 goals and conceding 6.
• Head-to-Head History:In the last 5 encounters, Crystal Palace has 0 wins, Chelsea has 2 wins, and 3 matches ended in draws.