Chelsea secured a vital away win in the Premier League on January 25, 2026. They defeated Crystal Palace 3-1 at Selhurst Park. This victory pushed Chelsea into the top four, moving them above Liverpool in the standings. Young Brazilian Estêvão Willian was a key player. He scored the opening goal and set up another for his team.
Youthful Brilliance Lights Up Selhurst
Estêvão Willian, just 18, had a big game. He capitalized on a defensive error in the 34th minute. Jaydee Canvot’s casual backpass mistake gifted Estêvão the opener. That put Chelsea ahead 1-0 at halftime, a crucial lead before the break.
The young winger wasn’t done yet. Early in the second half, Estêvão provided a precise pass. João Pedro netted Chelsea’s second goal just five minutes after the restart. Pedro then drew a penalty. VAR review confirmed Canvot’s accidental handball blocked Pedro’s shot. Enzo Fernández stepped up for the spot-kick.
Fernández converted confidently, firing low and hard into Dean Henderson’s bottom right. That made it 3-0 to Chelsea. These moments showed Chelsea’s attack working well, even without Cole Palmer.
Palace’s Nightmare Continues
Crystal Palace’s struggles deepened throughout the match. They tried early pressure, with Ismaïla Sarr nearly scoring. But he couldn’t get past Robert Sánchez in Chelsea’s goal. Then their defense gifted Chelsea the lead. Things got worse.
Adam Wharton collected his first yellow card shortly after the penalty. Then, in the 73rd minute, Wharton saw red. A sliding challenge earned him a second booking. Palace had to play the last 17 minutes with ten men. This stretched their winless run to 11 games across all competitions, as ESPN reports.
Chris Richards headed in a consolation goal late on. It came from a ricocheted clearance after Sánchez saved Brennan Johnson’s earlier shot. But it was too little, too late. Palace left the field with 28 points, having slipped to 7-7-9.
Rosenior’s Landmark Win, Top Four Shuffle
This 3-1 win was big for Liam Rosenior. It marked his first Premier League away victory as Chelsea manager. The team had faced a few draws recently, so this was a welcome change. Chelsea’s away form needed a boost, and they got it.
The result shook up the Premier League table. Chelsea jumped from 34 points to 37 points. They are now fourth. This puts them ahead of Liverpool, who sit on 36 points. Manchester United are right behind on 35. ESPN analysis showed the significance for the top four race.
| Team | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenal | 22 | 15 | 5 | 2 | +26 | 50 |
| Manchester City | 23 | 14 | 4 | 5 | +26 | 46 |
| Aston Villa | 23 | 14 | 4 | 5 | +10 | 46 |
| Chelsea | 23 | 10 | 7 | 6 | +14 | 37 |
| Liverpool | 23 | 10 | 6 | 7 | +3 | 36 |
| Manchester United | 22 | 9 | 8 | 5 | +6 | 35 |
The top three remain Arsenal (50 points), Manchester City (46), and Aston Villa (46). The race for Champions League spots is tight. Chelsea’s goal difference, now +14, also helps their position. This win gives them momentum for the coming weeks.
Chelsea’s young players delivered when it counted. They showed depth without Palmer. The victory sets up a strong second half of the season for Rosenior’s side. They’ll need to keep this form for that top-four finish. Palace, meanwhile, faces a tough road ahead to turn things around.
Soureesh Datta 
Ishaan Singh