Chelsea’s recent games have not been good enough for a team that hopes to win the league title after a disappointing 1-1 tie against Crystal Palace, which showcases their lack of composure.
After some previous straight winnings from the Blues, analysts considered them contenders for the Premier League title, but they continue to face mounting pressure from other teams and their inability to win games to hold on to a top-four position leaves that assertion shaky.
Chelsea stole the possession in the early time of the first half as they scored the first goal through a brilliant strike from Cole Palmer by converting an assist from Jadon Sancho in the 14th minute, making it his 13th goal of the season.
The inability of the team’s forward Nicolas Jackson to convert many opportunities into a goal prevents Chelsea from extending the lead and putting Palace in contention. Palace did better in the second half by adding momentum that revealed Chelsea’s vulnerabilities.
Maxence Lacroix and Eberechi Eze created good opportunities that could have equalized the game until Jean-Philippe Mateta scored the equalizing goal in the 82nd minute after converting a good pass from Ismaïla Sarr.
The team’s management faced criticism as the head coach, Maresca, did not make any substitution until the equalization by Crystal Palace. While Josh Acheampong, an academy graduate, did well in his first match in the league, which cemented the Blues’ defense amidst long-term injuries.
The draw for Chelsea makes it their fourth straight match without a win, while their position in fourth place may soon be overtaken and raises questions about their ability to compete for major titles.
