Substitute Noni Madueke was the difference between Chelsea and Crystal Palace after he scored an 89th-minute penalty to send Chelsea back to the top half of the Premier League table.
The Chelsea squad has been under pressure following a fourth straight Premier League defeat at Wolves on Christmas Eve.
Mykhailo Mudryk put Chelsea in front in the 13th minute, but Crystal Palace rallied as Michael Olise leveled the game just on the stroke of half-time.
In the second half, Nicolas Jackson’s strike from Thiago Silva’s deflected cross was ruled out by VAR.
Crystal Palace have done without a Premier League win in eight games this season.
Palace sit in 15th place – three points above the relegation zone – and boss Roy Hodgson said when asked about the penalty decision: “I’m tempted to say, what’s the point? We have to accept there are two referees in the game.
“It happens and people will look at it themselves. But we are taking away the decision of those on the field and giving it to someone sitting in front of a TV screen.
“It’s not my obvious idea of what a penalty looks like. I’m conditioned to see how penalties are given and not given for many years. I’ve no real interest in discussing referees and VAR.”
Chelsea: Petrovic (6), Gusto (8), Disasi (6), Badiashile (6), Colwill (6), Caicedo (6), Gallagher (7), Mudryk (7), Nkunku (7), Maatsen (7), Jackson (6).
Subs: Thiago Silva (7), Madueke (7), Broja (6), Gilchrist (n/a), Lavia (6).
Crystal Palace: Henderson (6), Clyne (6), Andersen (6), Guehi (7), Mitchell (7), Lerma (6), Richards (7), Olise (8), Eze (7), Ayew (7), Mateta (7).
Subs: Matheus Franca (n/a), Schlupp (6).
Player of the match: Malo Gusto.
