Catch all the latest Chelsea headlines, including updates on Mykhailo Mudryk, Romeo Lavia and Mauricio Pochettino ahead of the trip to Luton Town.
Noni Madueke (right) made sure that Mauricio Pochettino's Chelsea won their final home game of 2023.
It was a massive win for Mauricio Pochettino and Chelsea as a late penalty from Noni Madueke meant all three points stayed at Stamford Bridge following their 2-1 win over Crystal Palace last night.
Mykhailo Mudryk's opener meant the Ukrainian found his third of the season after fantastic link-up play between Malo Gusto and Christopher Nkunku allowed him to slot the ball in past Dean Henderson. Messy defensive mistakes once again cost the Blues though as Michael Olise found himself free at the back post just before halftime to level the scores at 1-1.
However, following the introduction of Romeo Lavia, it was substitute Noni Madueke who found himself taken down by Eberechi Eze inside the penalty box late on. It took a VAR review but the spot-kick was eventually awarded and calmly tucked away by the England youth international to send Stamford Bridge into raptures.
Now though, all eyes will be on their final match of the year as they take on Luton Town at Kenilworth Road on Saturday. With that said, make sure you keep the blog on lock as we bring you all the fallout from last night's bout as well as the latest Chelsea news throughout the day as it drops!
09:23Tom Coley
Why Pochettino slapped Madueke
It looked like a game crying out for Noni Madueke. But when the first lot of substitutes came in the second half, there was no sign of the 21-year-old winger.
Instead, it was Thiago Silva and Romeo Lavia coming on – two rather defensive substitutes but Mauricio Pochettino wanted to alter the Chelsea shape. After Michael Olise levelled the match right before the half-time break, Crystal Palace started to frustrate the Blues and Stamford Bridge was becoming increasingly frustrated.
It erupted after 13 minutes when Mykhailo Mudryk opened the scoring after some fine work from Malo Gusto. The French right-back, who was sensational throughout the 90 minutes, found Mudryk with a pinpoint cross and the Ukrainian made no mistake from close range.
Read the full story, here.
Noni Madueke (right) made sure that Mauricio Pochettino's Chelsea won their final home game of 2023.
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08:50Tom Coley
Fixtures compared
For Pochettino the three points will ease the pressure on his job slightly once more but hardly answered all the questions being thrown at him. Against Palace he went with the youngest side named by the club ever in a Premier League game and was just about rewarded. The 51-year-old will know that bigger and better things are needed to silence the critics though.
Here, football.london takes a look at the chances Pochettino will have to pick up more points in the coming weeks. Up next, a trip to Kenilworth Road.
Chelsea edged past Crystal Palace and now hope for better things to follow
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08:25Oliver Jones
Chelsea and Mauricio Pochettino summer transfer decision backfires
Since Todd Boehly's arrival over 18 months ago, Chelsea have almost always gotten what they wanted in the transfer market. In fact, almost every player they've been heavily linked with they've managed to secure, even with the likes of Liverpool competing with them for the signatures of players such as Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia.
Even amid the fierce competition, Chelsea still managed to get the pair in the summer. They managed to get Enzo Fernandez and they managed to get Christopher Nkunku, both with European heavyweights also sniffing around following impressive campaigns.
But arguably the one player that has eluded the Blues across the three window in the Boehly era has been Michael Olise. The former Cobham academy star actually left Stamford Bridge back in 2016 as a youngster before joining Manchester City's development squad before moving on to Reading where he made a name for himself in the Championship.
Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise showed Chelsea what they missed out on in the summer transfer market.
Romeo Lavia Chelsea debut cameo gives Mauricio Pochettino midfield boost
A moment six months in the waiting has finally happened as £58m summer signing Romeo Lavia finally made his way onto the Stamford Bridge pitch in Chelsea's 2-1 win over Crystal Palace.
After a lengthy transfer saga with Liverpool for his signature, the youngster finally made his move and signed with the Blues from Southampton but an ankle injury combined with poor fitness after a limited preseason with the Saints delayed his first appearance until this week.
Having been named on the bench against Wolves in the Christmas Eve defeat earlier this week, the 19-year-old was made to wait an extra few days to make his debut for the Blues but it eventually came to a rapture of applause from the SW6 faithful as his name was called out over the tannoy.
Chelsea midfielder Romeo Lavia finally made his debut against Crystal Palace.
Latest Chelsea injury news ahead of Luton clash with Mudryk, Fernandez updates
It was a huge three points for Chelsea against Crystal Palace but they might have picked up another injury issue to worry about ahead of their trip to Luton Town.
It was an early goal from Mykhailo Mudryk that set the tone for the Blues as they started strong against Roy Hodgson's Eagles but a Michael Olise goal on the stroke of halftime saw them pull one back. However, a poor challenge from Eberechi Eze on Noni Madueke in the penalty area late on saw the England youth international calmly slot the ball past Dean Henderson to secure all three points.
Following the result against the Eagles, the Blues will now turn their attention to their clash against the Hatters at Kenilworth Road on Saturday afternoon. It'll be the second meeting between the two clubs this season after the 3-0 win at Stamford Bridge saw the Blues open their account for the campaign.
With that being said, football.london have taken a look at the latest news from the treatment room...
Mykhailo Mudryk was subbed off after suffering an injury in a heavy challenge against Crystal Palace.