Chelsea came into this fixture hungry to establish themselves as a side with Champions League credentials, after brushing past relegation-threatened Watford, 3-0 in their last outing.
Crystal Palace, still sore from suffering three defeats in a row, effectively ending the Eagles’ European dream, welcomed the Blues to Selhurst Park.
Palace were aiming to get back to winning ways, after a historic day that saw the South Londoners announce their new Category One academy training complex, which has just been approved by the Premier League.
Roy Hodgson's side had all but secured Premier League safety this season, by picking up points against their positional rivals. However, against the top half of the table, the Eagles have struggled, having only recorded two wins against the top 10 this entire campaign.
Chelsea had won the previous four meetings between these two sides and Frank Lampard's men were clear favourites coming into this fixture.
Story of the match
Flying start for Chelsea
Chelsea got off to a flying start, opening the scoring in the fifth minute, somewhat fortuitously, after a ball down the line from Recce James set Willian off to chase the loose ball with ex-Chelsea captain, Gary Cahill in pursuit of the Brazilian. Unfortunately for Palace, Cahill pulled up in the race and fell to the floor in agony, after feeling what is suspected to be a hamstring injury.
Willian then had the freedom of the Palace defence to run into the area to find Olivier Giroud, who slotted home his fifth goal of the season to give the Blues the early lead.
Christian Pulisic doubled Chelsea's lead on the 30-minute mark after a silky one-two between Giroud and Willian found the American international.
Pulisic saw himself forced out-wide of Palace's penalty area by right-back Joel Ward, but Ward's efforts were in vain as the 21-year-old struck a vicious shot with his left foot into the top corner, leaving Vincente Guiata no chance, and continued his impressive goal-scoring run since football returned.
Lifeline from Zaha
Palace, who were on course to record their fourth straight defeat, were handed a lifeline after a moment of magic from Wilfried Zaha made it 1-2, when the flamboyant forward took aim from around 30 yards with a devilish shot that swerved and dipped, leaving Chelsea goalkeeper, Kepa Arrizabalaga, no chance.
The superb strike from the Ivory Coast international was not only his first in 2020 but, out of his previous 35 Premier League goals, that was the first one that Zaha had scored from further than 20 yards out.
Thrilling second period
The second half saw Palace start as the better of the two sides. Chelsea's bolstered bench provided dividends when, on the 71st-minute, substitutes Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Tammy Abraham linked up after a driving, powerful run from Loftus-Cheek through the heart of the Palace defence lead to the former Eagle playing in Abraham, who slotted away his 14th goal of the campaign.
Palace found their way back into the game only one minute later as a consequence of Chelsea switching off following Abraham's goal.
Patrick Van Aanholt drove down the Chelsea left side to squeeze through the Blues' defence to find Christian Benteke, who scored his first goal at Selhurst Park since the 5-0 win over Leicester in 2018.
Palace were so close to taking a point from the game in injury time when Scott Dann's header looked destined for the net, only to find it agonisingly hit the post and bounce away from Chelsea's goal-mouth.
Takeaways
Pulisic continues to impress
Christian Pulisic's start to life at Chelsea was plagued by injuries, having missed a large chunk of his debut Premier League season due to a tear in his abductor's muscle.
However, since top-flight football returned, and Pulisic was given time to work on his fitness to get him up to match speed, the former Borussia Dortmund wide-man has been a revelation.
He had big shoes to fill taking over from Eden Hazard and, at first, questions were raised over the estimated £58million Chelsea had to fork out to obtain his services.
Pulisic has been Chelsea's talisman since the restart, has thrived on being the Blues' outlet and was a danger all evening to Palace's backline.
Hodgson on the opening goal
Speaking to the media after the defeat, Roy Hodgson said on the opening goal, "It certainly was a very unfortunate incident that happened so early in the game and in the end, it cost us a point because that was the goal they won by. They won by one goal, and that was it."
Cahill to miss the rest of the season
Roy Hodgson had this to say on the unfortunate injury to Gary Cahill, "It is a hamstring injury. I would be surprised if there is not a tear in the muscle, and I would be surprised if he gets back to play in the four matches we have left."