Chelsea vs Crystal Palace: 3 Talking Points as VAR Drama, Missed Chances Dominate Premier League Opener

World champions Chelsea were denied the chance to begin the 2025/26 campaign with victory after Crystal Palace frustrated them into a dispiriting 0-0 draw in their opening Premier League game at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues, who were confident after an ambitious summer transfer drive, were denied the chance to begin the season with a victory after their inability to create cutting edge in the later areas of the field came very costly.

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Palace, however, the tale was all about Eberechi Eze, who was strongly fancied to move to Tottenham ahead of deadline but instead enjoyed centre stage with Oliver Glasner's line-up.

Former QPR man thought that he had put paid to the transfer talk in style when he curled a wonderful free-kick into the goal, only to see it ruled out by VAR because captain Marc Guehi was found to be in too close proximity to the Chelsea wall.

It caused frustration on the visitors' bench, though, and Palace responded to it well and enjoyed their best spell of the game thereafter. Chelsea, despite their spells of control, were unable to come up with anything of value themselves. All of 80 minutes had gone, they had scored just one shot on target.

New signings Liam Delap and Estevão Willian were introduced late in an attempt to stir things up in the attack, and there were glimmers of hope.

Delap, particularly, was inches from getting on the scoresheet in the 90th minute but directed the shot straight at Dean Henderson. Santos did the closest opportunity of any in stoppage time and shanked horribly over the bar.

Enzo Maresca looked like a man frustrated on the touchline, and while Chelsea controlled the pace, their inability to convert opportunities created a question that has troubled them since last season.

Palace, though, left the Bridge with a precious point, showing for a second time that they are capable of testing the best of the division.

The key talking point was undoubtedly Eberechi Eze’s disallowed free-kick. His curling strike had Stamford Bridge silenced, only for VAR to intervene after referee Darren England checked the monitor.

Guehi’s positioning, less than a metre from the wall, was deemed an infringement.

While the choice was legally correct under the legislation, the manner in which it was enforced left many individuals upset. Palace were robbed of the psychological boost of taking the initiative early, and Chelsea had a lifeline handed to them. The event not only switched the character of the first half but also gave Palace more momentum, as they had a long stretch of dominance afterward.

Eze himself remained a threat, making Robert Sánchez make a fierce save during the second period. However, the flashpoint exemplified how thin margins can set the course of events in contemporary football, particularly with the added role of VAR.

Much of the pre-season speculation at Stamford Bridge had to do with Chelsea's extensive spending on strikers. But after all the signings of Delap and Estevão, the cutting edge was missing. No shot on goal in 80 minutes, the shortage of killer instinct was stark.

Maresca's system encouraged patient building, but Palace's defence, led by Guehi and Andersen, was solid. Delap's late miss summed up the frustration, while Santos' stoppage-time ballooned effort was a heart-wrenching reminder of last season's profligacy.

Chelsea's midfield were calling the shots, but no clinical finisher saw dominance not being converted into goals. Maresca's concern is that the summer recruits can arrive quickly enough to avoid a repeat of last season's disillusionment.

Palace, while uncertain about what was to happen to Eze, was very resilient. Glasner's side rode the pressure from Chelsea and became more confident after the VAR debacle. Henderson was hardly troubled and made the crucial saves when necessary.

Eze's influence, even beyond the contentious goal, was telling. His dynamism and creativity unsettled Chelsea's midfield, while Guehi oversaw the defensive organisation with aplomb. The Eagles will believe they were unlucky to fail to grab a mythical victory, but a Stamford Bridge draw is a great platform.

Palace will be hoping that Eze stays put amidst transfer speculations, as his display proved himself. With Glasner's form and Eze's flair, the Eagles look set to be thorn-in-the-side opposition for any club this season.