Cole Palmer scored a goal and assisted the other as Chelsea snapped a two-game losing skid with a 2-0 victory over last-place Sheffield United at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
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The three points push the Blues (22 points) back into the top half of the Premier League table, back in 10th once again, after 17 games played. Perhaps even more importantly, star summer signing Christopher Nkunku was named to the bench for the first time this season after suffering a knee injury during preseason.
Neither side found any joy to speak of during a dire first half, as Chelsea and Sheffield United combined for 0.28 xG on eight shots (one on target) between them. Very little of what Chelsea did in the second half could be considered aesthetically pleasing football, but sheer will (and a bit of chaos) they found a way through not long after the restart.
Raheem Sterling picked the ball up atop the penalty area and beat two defenders to the end line before cutting a hard, low cross in front of goal. Cole Palmer arrived from deep and touched it home from six yards out with three defenders surrounding him. After failing to score a goal from open play in his first 12 appearances for Chelsea (four penalty kicks converted), Palmer now has goals from open play in back-to-back games.
Seven minutes later, another cross led to the easiest goal that Nicolas Jackson will ever score. Palmer played the ball to Sterling inside the penalty area but he couldn’t corral it in traffic. Conor Gallagher got a touch amid the scrum as well, but eventually it fell back to Palmer, who squared across the face of goal to Jackson, who was standing all by himself at the far post to tap it in and put the game to bed.
What’s next?
Chelsea will be back in action next Sunday (8 am ET), when they visit Wolves in the first-ever Premier League game on Christmas Eve. Sheffield United will try to move off the bottom of the table on Friday (3 pm ET), when they head to Villa Park to take on Aston Villa.
Player ratings - Chelsea vs Sheffield United
Chelsea vs Sheffield United, final score: 2-0
Goalscorers: Cole Palmer (54'), Nicolas Jackson (61')
54th minute - GOAL - Cole Palmer breaks the deadlock
61st minute - GOAL - Nicolas Jackson taps in from the goal line for 2-0
How to watch Chelsea vs Sheffield United live, stream link and start time
Kick off: 10am ET (Saturday, Dec. 16)
TV Channel: Peacock Premium
Online: Premier League on Peacock
Chelsea starting lineup
Petrovic — Disasi, Silva, Badiashile, Colwill — Caicedo, Gallagher — Sterling, Palmer, Mudryk, Jackson
Sheffield United starting lineup
Foderingham — Bogle, Ahmedhodzic, Trusty, Lowe — Vinicius Souza, McAtee, Hamer, Brooks, Archer — McBurnie
Chelsea injuries, team news
OUT: Ben Chilwell (hamstring), Wesley Fofana (torn ACL), Carney Chukwuemeka (knee), Trevoh Chalobah (thigh), Lesley Ukochukwu (undisclosed), Reece James (thigh) | QUESTIONABLE: Christopher Nkunku (knee), Romeo Lavia (ankle), Malo Gusto (undisclosed), Noni Madueke (undisclosed), Robert Sanchez (knee), Marc Cucurella (ankle)
Sheffield United injuries, team news
OUT: John Egan (ankle), Chris Basham (ankle), Tom Davies (thigh), Daniel Jebbison (illness), Rhys Norrington-Davies (thigh), Rhian Brewster (thigh), Oliver Norwood (suspension), Jack Robinson (suspension) | QUESTIONABLE: George Baldock (thigh)
