Chelsea brushed aside Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge to make it a day to forget for Patrick Vieira as Marcos Alonso, Christian Pulisic and Trevoh Chalobah sealed the goals.
Fresh from their second Champions League triumph, Chelsea has been billed as one of Manchester City’s main rivals for the Premier League crown.
Indeed, they looked every inch title contender as their season started in a convincing fashion. They swept Crystal Palace aside with minimal fuss courtesy of goals from Marcos Alonso, Christian Pulisic and full debutant Trevoh Chalobah.
This was, of course, a tough first gig for new Palace manager Patrick Vieira. He could have done without facing the European champions on his first outing as a Premier League boss.
But it is what it is, Vieira won’t need to be told that. His team are a work in progress.
Pulisic’s tame header from Alonso’s cross was easily saved by Vicente Guaita before the Palace keeper punched Mason Mount’s curling free kick away in the 15th minute.
Hands on his waist, Vieira would have been quietly satisfied with the opening moments of his Palace tenure. Little would he know he was moments away from magic when the carpet will finally be whipped from his under. Definitely, he knows this.
So, when Alonso executed a beautifully arcing free kick to perfection in the 25th minute, the Palace manager wouldn’t have been surprised.
Guaita could only stand there as the Chelsea left-back’s effort sailed past him to give Chelsea the lead.
Alonso, fist clenched, mumbled ‘Vamos’ to himself as he jogged back to the center circle. Tuchel had similar sentiments.
His team certainly weren’t at their best but they were ahead. All of sudden, Palace’s robust resistance appeared way flakier. A second was inevitable in the 40th minute.
Pulisic grabbed the glory bundling home after Guaita mishandled inside his six-yard box. However, the real damage was caused by Cesar Azpilicueta and Mount, who exchanged passes before the latter’s low cross prompted Guaita’s error.
Timo Werner, on the other hand picked up where he left off last season, squandering a good opportunity served up by Alonso on the stroke of half-time to really rub Palace’s faces in it.
By the looks of things, Tuchel could well add the Premier League title to his increasingly impressive resume by the end of the season.
The second half was nothing more than a procession. Guaita produced an excellent save to deny Alonso, who timed his run to perfection to connect onto Jorginho’s pass with the sweetest of volley’s.
Palace, at least, showed some attacking intent – but when Wilfred Zaha breached Chelsea’s back line, Antonio Rudiger was on hand to slam the door back in the Palace forward’s face with an excellent last-ditch tackle in the 53rd minute. But the Palace attack provided just momentary respite for Vieira as the Blues continued with their onslaught.
Palace probably thought they had the situation under control when Chalobah picked up the ball around 35 yards out. Well, they didn’t. A couple of strides forward and Chelsea were three ahead as Chalobah crashed home a vicious low strike that arrowed past Guaita.