Hakim Ziyech scored a fine late winner as Chelsea returned to Premier League action with victory at Crystal Palace.
The Blues returned from Abu Dhabi after winning Club World Cup but struggled to ride the wave of their success with an underwhelming display in South London.
Thomas Tuchel's men thought they had a winner 15 minutes from time when Hakim Ziyech pounced after Romelu Lukaku's shot was blocked.
But VAR ruled Lukaku offside in the build-up as the game remained goalless.
However, they scored the decisive goal when Ziyech showed superb technique to volley home late on.
Here are Mirror Football 's five talking points from Selhurst Park.
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Lost Lukaku
Romelu Lukaku's first-half impact at Selhurst Park was best illustrated by his touch map.
The Belgian striker had two touches before the pause and one of those was his pass to kick off the match.
The Blues took control of possession but could not get their £97m man into the game.
Lukaku shouldn't shoulder all the blame in a disjointed attack that lacked purpose or penetration.
But he didn't get much more lively after the break, despite setting up the disallowed goal, and the rumbles of concern about his return will doubtless continue.
Tuchel's triple change
Chelsea were drifting before Thomas Tuchel's triple change, and immediately sparked into life after he took action.
Mateo Kovacic's delightful pass cut apart Palace for the disallowed goal.
And fellow substitute Marcos Alonso's deep cross set up Ziyech for the dramatic late winner.
An inspired set of changes from the German boss ultimately changed the game.
League not the priority
Chelsea's priorities this term have been re-directed due to their own malaise in the league.
The Blues have now won the lot under Roman Abramovich's ownership after Club World Cup success in Abu Dhabi.
But they have long relinquished to challenge Manchester City for the title come spring and are hardly in danger of slipping out of the top four either.
A lack of motivation in the league perhaps somewhat explained a distinct lack of intensity despite victory at Selhurst Park, with a League Cup final against Liverpool and Champions League knockout tie against Lille on the horizon.
Ziyech brilliance
Bright Ziyech was the most likely to find net from either side and it was fitting the Moroccan was the match-winner.
He was unfortunate to have his first goal chalked off for offside but made no mistake to fire home the winner after a long raking ball from Alonso in the left channel.
Ziyech's future has been in doubt, but he was Chelsea's brightest attacking spark and deserved to be the game's decider at Selhurst Park.
Gallagher spark missing
No decision has yet been made on the future of Conor Gallagher, the next star on the Cobham conveyer belt of talent who has become loved at Crystal Palace.
Of course, Gallagher was unavailable against his parent club, but his absence was a loss for Vieira's side at Selhurst Park.
Gallagher could have made a difference for either side in South London and is ready for promotion to first-team ranks at Stamford Bridge next season.
