Chelsea ran out rampant winners on the opening day of the season at a packed Stamford Bridge against Crystal Palace.

Goals from Marcos Alonso, Christian Pulisic and Premier League debutant Trevoh Chalobah capped off a dominant display from the Blues. 

Chelsea’s superb performance will only increase talk of them potentially being favourites for the title, whilst Palace fans will be extremely worried by their team’s start.

  • Trademark Alonso Free-kick sets Chelsea on their way

Chelsea started the game as they meant to go on with real intensity and complete control. 

Having struggled last season to put away teams despite dominating them however, manager Thomas Tuchel would’ve been desperate for an early goal to settle any opening day nerves, especially having seen a couple of good opportunities squandered in the opening 20 minutes. 

Up step Marcos Alonso. 

The Spaniard is known to be a brilliant taker of a dead-ball so when Mason Mount was tripped on the edge of the area by Tyrick Mitchell in the perfect position for a left-footer, there was no doubt who was going to take it.

Alonso whipped the ball into the near post and Palace goalkeeper Vincente Guaita was left rooted to the spot.

It didn’t take long for the Blues to double their lead. Mason Mount, looking as energetic as ever despite coming off the back of a 69 game season for club and country in 2020/21, received the ball on the right and immediately looked to beat the Palace defence.

He whipped a fierce cross into the penalty area which Guaita could only parry straight into the path of Christian Pulisic, who calmly tucked the ball home for 2-0.

A worrying first-half performance from Palace and they had a mountain to climb. 

Having made his Chelsea debut, and won his first trophy, on Wednesday night in the UEFA Super Cup, 22-year-old Trevoh Chalobah probably didn’t think his week could get any better.

That was until his manager handed him his Premier League debut in front of a packed Stamford Bridge crowd. 

The young centre-back, who spent last season on-loan at French side Lorient, looked calm and assured in a Chelsea back three alongside Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen.

Admittedly, the Chelsea defence wasn’t tested too much by Palace, but Chalobah’s composure on the ball and brilliant passes out from the back made him look like he had been a fixture of the side for years. 

He also scored a wonderful goal on his debut, a moment he’ll never forget.

The ball landed at his feet in the 58th minute and all of a sudden the pitch opened up for him, no Palace defender even attempting to go towards him.

He took a couple of touches to compose himself before launching a rocket from distance into the bottom right corner of Guaita’s goal.

3-0. Game over, and Chalobah dropped to the turf and was mobbed by his teammates. The young lad clearly overawed with emotion.

  • Worrying signs for Palace

Whilst all the talk will be of an encouraging Chelsea display, it is clear the Eagles have a real job on their hands this season.

New boss Patrick Viera will not have been happy with what he saw. Defensive errors, a shoddy goalkeeping display and very little attacking threat from Palace.

The game completely bypassed their whole midfield as Jorginho and Kovacic dominated proceedings.

Already many people’s favourites to go down this season, Patrick Viera knows he has a lot to do if he wants to make them a comfortable Premier League side, as his predecessor Roy Hodgson did for many years.

They will be looking to strengthen their squad before the transfer window shuts.

The man of the match award has to go to the young man. A commanding display at the back, and a goal to go with it.

The biggest compliment you can pay him is that he looked as though he had been a mainstay of the Chelsea defence for years.

Chalobah has certainly done a lot to suggest to his manager that he should be in his plans for this season.