After an impressive 1-1 draw on Monday night against Everton, Roy Hodgson stuck with the core group who battled valiantly for him last time out.

Despite goalscorer from Monday's game, Michy Batshuayi, being left out of the side – due to his loan requirements – Hodgson was able to call upon James McCarthy, whilst also handing Jesurun Rak-Sakyi a place on the bench for the first time.

As for Thomas Tuchel, the German manager made two changes following the 2-0 win over Porto, as Callum Hudson-Odoi and Christian Pulisic replaced Reece James and Timo Werner.

The match

The Blues were hungry for Premier League revenge - following their 5-2 demolition at the hands of West Bromwich Albion last time out - and Tuchel’s side started the strongest, with Hudson-Odoi and Mason Mount causing problems from the first minute.

Blinked and you would have missed it; Chelsea’s scintillating football ravaged Roy Hodgson’s side.  

For their first, Kai Havertz robbed Eberechi Eze on the edge of the box, quickly moving the ball to Mason Mount.

The ball found its way to Hudson-Odoi, who bypassed the bewildered Palace defence to pick out Havertz inside the box. 

Havertz twist one way and turned the other, curling a sublime shot past Vicente Guaita, handing the Blues the early lead.

But the onslaught was not finished there.

Christian Pulisic doubled their lead on the 10th minute.  

The American started the move himself, finding Ben Chilwell out on the left. The English left-back then slid the ball through to Havertz, who found the onrushing Pulisic.  

With a first time shot, Pulisic fired the ball past Guaita with a venomous effort, shocking Palace into submission. 

Chelsea’s foot was on the pedal and refused to relinquish, with Kurt Zouma added a third on the 30th minute mark. The towering defender rose highest to plant home a Mount cross; Palace were falling to pieces.

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In the second half, Tuchel’s side did not need to break into a sweat.  

While Wilfried Zaha, Eze and Jordan Ayew attempted to break the stubborn defence, Palace lacked a creative spark to unlock a real clear-cut chance. 

Chelsea continued to pose a menacing threat.

Ben Chilwell had two opportunities to open his account for the afternoon, but both of his long-ranged efforts sailed agonisingly over the bar.  

Hodgson attempted to roll the dice and get back into the game with Jeffrey Schlupp and James McCarthy coming on.

Schlupp made an instant impact.

He drove down the left hand side and sent a looping cross into the box. Christian Benteke peeled off Chilwell and planted a header past the helpless Edouard Mendy, giving Hodgson's side a lifeline.

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Despite Benteke's goal, Chelsea were in no mood to relinquish control and Pulisic grabbed his second of the match on the 78th minute. 

Reece James picked up the ball on the right hand side, and his cross found its way to Pulisic who bundled home Chelsea's fourth of the evening. 

It was a clinical performance that moved Tuchel's side back into the top four.

Takeaways

Tuchel’s train picks up pace  

It’s relentless, it’s rampant, it’s ruthless, this is Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea. 

The result at Selhurst Park on Saturday evening showed that the West Brom result was just a blemish on an outstanding start to life at Stamford Bridge. 

The press began with the forwards, with Havertz, Pulisic and Mount suffocating the Eagles anytime they had the ball; Palace failed to register one shot on goal in the first half. 

In the middle, Jorginho and Mateo Kovačić harried and hustled, with a premium passing range to unlock the defence. And the commanding backline were effortless in their display; it was simple.  

Mount - A leader 

While there were doubts over his Chelsea tenure when Frank Lampard was replaced by Thomas Tuchel, Mason Mount has taken his game to the next level under the German boss, quickly becoming the go-to saviour to rescue the game for the Blues. 

He picked up the ball, and Palace’s defence immediately retreated; they had a warrior attacking them.

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Left foot, or right, it did not matter, Mount had the Eagles’ number for the entire match.

He was the hero in midweek, he was the hero today, step forward Mason Mount, the new Chelsea icon.

The life of mid-table

While Hodgson's side picked up the pace in the second half, Palace could not match Chelsea in any department. 

Jeffrey Schlupp changed the attacking intent, and Christian Benteke continues to look revitalised, however, there is little Palace could do against Tuchel's side that attacked with such verve.

The Eagles now have a long break, due to the Southampton game being move, and Hodgson is hopeful he could get names such as Nathaniel Clyne, James Tomkins, James McArthur and Mamadou Sakho back before Leicester City away.

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