Chelsea host Crystal Palace in their opening game of the 2025-26 Premier League season at Stamford Bridge today.
The Blues are unbeaten in their last 15 top-flight matches against Palace with the likes of Cole Palmer hoping to get on the scoresheet and a number of Chelsea’s new signings hoping to make a big impression.
But it will be no easy task against Oliver Glasner’s side, who landed the FA Cup trophy last season and clinched the Community Shield last week.
The Eagles have a number of top players including Eberechi Eze, Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaila Sarr who are all capable of causing Chelsea problems.
Metro’s LIVE matchday blog will bring you all the build-up, confirmed team news and starting XIs, goal updates and minute-by-minute coverage…
Your ultimate guide to the football season
Metro's new weekly football newsletter: In The Mixer. Exclusive analysis, FPL tips and transfer talk sent straight to your inbox every Friday – sign up, it's an open goal.
Sort:
August 17, 2025 12:45 pm
What did Glasner say ahead of the match?
Liam Grace
Crystal Palace v Liverpool - 2025 FA Community Shield
(Picture: Getty)
Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner, speaking ahead of today’s clash, said: ‘Our opener was Liverpool. We want to compete with the best. We want to see if we are competitive or not. Then you get the answer. In the Community Shield, we got the answer: yes, we are.
‘Now, one week later, we are facing the club world champions. They played a fantastic tournament, especially the final. I watched it live. It was a really fantastic performance of them.
‘They added a few players. They were a great team. They are a great team. They have a fantastic manager with Enzo Maresca. A clear style of playing. This is what we want. It’s exactly these games. I think it’s one of the best season openers we could have.’
August 17, 2025 12:30 pm
What did Maresca say ahead of the match?
Liam Grace
Chelsea Training Session And Press Conference
(Picture: Getty)
Enzo Maresca, who led Chelsea to glory in the Club World Cup this summer, has shared his thoughts on today’s match.
‘We didn’t have time to do pre-season tests or this kind of thing,’ the Chelsea head coach said. ‘I have never seen this. Probably it’s much better for the players!
‘But we are working well. We are okay, we are good. The mood of the players is very good, especially with the way we finished last season.
‘It will be very important to start in the same way as last season, or continue in the same way we finished last season.
‘We had a good run in the end of the season in the Premier League, but no doubt during the season it’s normal to have some moments where you do well for many games in a row, and some games where you struggle.’
August 17, 2025 12:03 pm
Eze set to start for Palace today
Liam Grace
Crystal Palace v Liverpool - 2025 FA Community Shield
(Picture: Getty)
Some early team news for you… Eberechi Eze is set to start for Crystal Palace – despite strong links over a move to Tottenham.
Click here for the full story.
August 17, 2025 11:54 am
Is Chelsea vs Crystal Palace on TV?
Liam Grace
Chelsea FC v Paris Saint-Germain: Final - FIFA Club World Cup 2025
(Picture: Getty)
Yes, Chelsea vs Crystal Palace is indeed on TV today in the UK.
You can watch the match live on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event.
Live streaming is also available through the Sky Go app and NOW TV for subscribers.
August 17, 2025 11:51 am
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace start time
Liam Grace
Crystal Palace Training Session
(Picture: Getty)
Chelsea vs Crystal Palace kicks off at 2pm UK time.
It’s one of three Premier League games today with Nottingham Forest taking on Brentford (2pm) and Man Utd hosting Arsenal (4.30pm).
We’ll be blogging Arsenal vs Man Utd a little later – but for now – the focus is firmly on the match in west London.
August 17, 2025 11:35 am
Liam Grace
FBL-ENG-PR-CHELSEA-CRYSTAL PALACE
(Picture: Getty)
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Chelsea’s clash with Crystal Palace today!
We’re buzzing the Premier League season is back up and running and looking forward to seeing how this one plays out between two really good sides who both landed trophies last term.
We’ll bring you the official team news as soon as it lands – which should be around 12.45pm.
Don’t go anywhere!
MORE: How to watch Man Utd vs Arsenal: TV channel, live stream and time
MORE: How to watch Chelsea vs Crystal Palace: TV channel, live stream and time
MORE: Crystal Palace make Eberechi Eze decision for Chelsea clash amid Tottenham interest