Chelsea's reign as Club World Cup champions got off
to a frustrating start in the Premier League, as they were held to a 0-0
draw by a determined Crystal Palace side at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Just a month after their stunning triumph over Paris
Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup final, the Blues looked short of match
sharpness. A condensed preseason due to their exertions in the United States
was evident, with stars like Joao Pedro and Cole Palmer unable to replicate
their Club World Cup heroics. Palace, benefiting from a longer preparation
period and last week's Community Shield win over Liverpool, looked the more
cohesive unit.
Controversy at the Bridge:
The game's biggest talking point came in the 13th minute. England midfielder
Eberechi Eze – heavily linked with a move to Tottenham and potentially playing
his last game for Palace – smashed a brilliant direct free-kick past Robert
Sanchez. However, joy turned to despair for Palace as VAR intervened. A review
spotted Palace captain Marc Guehi standing illegally close (less than one
meter) to Chelsea's defensive wall while attempting to block Moises Caicedo,
leading to the goal being correctly disallowed. It was a moment that summed up
Palace's near-misses and Chelsea's relief.
Wood Fires Forest to Flying Start:
While Chelsea toiled, Nottingham Forest made a statement of intent with
a commanding 3-1 victory over Brentford. Striker Chris Wood, last
season's top scorer with 20 goals, picked up right where he left off. He needed
just five minutes to pounce on a poor clearance from a corner and fire Forest
ahead. New signing Dan Ndoye marked his debut with a well-timed header in the
42nd minute, and Wood sealed the points before halftime with a cool finish
after rounding the goalkeeper. Igor Thiago's late penalty for Brentford was
mere consolation. The win was particularly impressive for Forest, while Brentford
looked to be feeling the absence of star forward Bryan Mbeumo (sold to
Manchester United) and the ongoing speculation around Yoane Wissa.
Looking Ahead:
The opening weekend continues with its marquee matchup later: ManchesterUnited hosting Arsenal. This follows convincing wins for fellow title
contenders Liverpool and Manchester City, setting the stage for an intriguing
battle at the top.
- Chelsea:
Ring-rusty after short preseason; need time to integrate Club World Cup
success into league form.
- Crystal
Palace: Resilient performance; Eze's potential exit looms large after
near-goal.
- Nottingham
Forest: Flying start; Wood looks lethal again. Strong early statement.
- Brentford:
Adjusting to life without Mbeumo; Wissa situation adds uncertainty.
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