Chelsea 3-0 Crystal Palace: Player ratings as Blues cruise to convincing opening day victory

Chelsea started the new campaign in superb fashion, hammering Crystal Palace 3-0 in Patrick Vieira's first game in charge of the Eagles at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues enjoyed the better of the opening half-hour, and their domination was rewarded on 27 minutes, when Marcos Alonso curled a beautiful free-kick into the top corner of the Palace net from the edge of the box.

The lead was doubled on 40 minutes, with Mount whipping a cross into the six-yard box which Guaita couldn't hold, allowing Christian Pulisic to bundle the ball home from close range.

Chelsea never looked in danger of letting their lead slip, and Palace struggled to lay a glove on the superior hosts. And the game was killed as a contest just before the hour-mark, after defender Trevoh Chalobah fizzed an effort from outside the box which snaked into the bottom corner.

The Blues saw out the final half hour in pure comfort to record their first three points of the season, condemning Vieira to a losing start as Palace coach.

Let's check out the player ratings from Saturday's one-sided battle.

Chelsea player ratings

1. Goalkeeper & Defenders

Edouard Mendy (GK) - 6/10 - As quiet a game as they come for Mendy, who hardly had a shot to save. May as well have subbed him off and brought on Petr Cech for a bit of fun.

Trevoh Chalobah (CB) - 8/10 - Nice to see another academy product in the starting lineup. Visibly moved to have found the net with a hit from distance. Deserved.

Andreas Christensen (CB) - 7/10 - Produced some nice passes from the heart of the defence to spray the ball wide. Influential.

Antonio Rudiger (CB) - 7/10 - A commanding presence in the defence, and stopped Ayew from making any progress. No nonsense.

2. Wing-Backs & Midfielders

Cesar Azpilicueta (RWB) - 7/10 - Kept an experienced eye on Zaha and his trickery on that flank. Helped the lesser-spotted Chalobah to bed into the backline.

Jorginho (CM) - 8/10 - Hard to miss in the middle of the park with his Eminem throwback haircut. Evaded tackles with neat footwork and retained possession. Played some beautiful passes around the pitch. An orchestrator.

Mateo Kovacic (CM) - 7/10 - Drilled a shot wide from the edge of the area. Getting his eye in. Solid throughout.

Marcos Alonso (LWB) - 8/10 - Not first choice for this spot (among supporters, anyway) but justified his place in the side. Curled an inch-perfect free-kick into the top corner. No stopping that. Forced Guaita into a smart save later on.

3. Forwards

Mason Mount (RW) - 8/10 - Came close with a dead ball from the corner of the box. Won the free-kick which Alonso expertly dispatched. At the heart of all things good.

Timo Werner (ST) - 6/10 - Flicked a shot towards goal, but hit the side netting. Full of running and used his pace to stretch the backline. Werner's days of leading the line are numbered, though...

Christian Pulisic (LW) - 7/10 - Flicked a header towards goal but could only force a save. Got the goal soon after, showing smart instincts. Livelier than his showings at the end of last season, that's for sure.

4. Substitutes

Reece James (RWB) - 6/10

Kai Havertz (RW) - 7/10

Emerson Palmieri (LWB) - N/A

Crystal Palace player ratings

5. Goalkeeper & Defenders

Vicente Guaita (GK) - 5/10 - Could only watch and admire as Alonso whipped his set piece into the far corner. Fumbled the cross for the second goal, and Pulisic punished.

Joel Ward (RB) - 6/10 - Got stuck in and was arguably the best of the defence. Not much to go on, mind...

Marc Guehi (CB) - 6/10 - Wanted to impress against his former club, but didn't stand much of a chance against the rampant Blues. Still learning the ropes with the Eagles.

Cheikhou Kouyate (CB) - 5/10 - Gave away too many free-kicks in dangerous areas in and around his own penalty area. Not an awe-inspiring showing.

Tyrick Mitchell (LB) - 5/10 - Committed the foul which led to the opening goal. Had a tough afternoon getting close to the dynamic and unpredictable Mount.

6. Midfielders

Jairo Riedewald (CM) - 6/10 - Fairly anonymous against some superior opponents. Tried to press and cut the passing lanes, but to no avail.

James McArthur (CM) - 5/10 - Lost the midfield battle to Jorginho and Kovacic, and couldn't match their intensity and intelligence on the ball. A tough afternoon.

Jeffrey Schlupp (CM) - 6/10 - Recovered the ball well on occasions, nipping possession away and playing the safe pass. Rarely able to move the ball forwards, though.

7. Forwards

Jordan Ayew (RW) - 5/10 - Dropped deeper into a right-midfield role to try and combat Alonso and Pulisic, but never looked comfortable. Nullified.

Jean-Philippe Mateta (ST) - 5/10 - Isolated from the off and did little to change that over the course of the game. Needs to make more of an impact.

Wilfried Zaha (LW) - 6/10 - New season, but same old story for Zaha. Little chance to express himself and few teammates around him to offer a hand.

8. Substitutes

Christian Benteke (ST) - 6/10

Joachim Andersen (CB) - 6/10

Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (CM) - N/A