A change in tactics
In Graham Potter's opening Chelsea match, followers of the Blues were treated to a surprise when Raheem Sterling was positioned as a wing-back and given its success nobody would have ruled out it happening against Crystal Palace.
Chelsea's new head coach opted for two changes from the Champions League clash with Ben Chilwell replacing the ill Marc Cucurella and Wesley Fofana coming into the side instead of Cesar Azpilicueta. Chilwell was not handed the same duties on the left of a back three like his Spanish teammate, as Chelsea played a back four at Selhurst Park, something Thomas Tuchel was reluctant to try.
Potter explained his decision: "We have to have a balanced team here because Crystal Palace have got an attacking team as well. We have to defend well as a team, but at the same time, we want to be positive and try and win the match. It's a tough challenge here."
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With a wide array of players to choose from and such little time to assess his options, it will continue to be interesting to see Potter's selections moving forward. Sterling had a quieter afternoon against the Eagles and Patrick Vieira's side were able to generate chances against the pairing of Fofana and Thiago Silva. With little time to try things on the training pitch, during games may be where most work is completed.
There is a willingness to try a back four however, and intricacies to Potter's tactics once again. Chelsea's shape was set up to dominate the right side in an attempt to expose Wilfried Zaha's attacking tendency, and the Blues did not have someone high on the left of the pitch, as they pressed the opposite side. The Blue also adjusted to a more regular 4231 when Potter's subs came into play during the second half.
More change is on the way though. Potter noted following the game: "You need to be careful with change because things have to be consistent. How we play is consistent but at the same time, we have 12 matches in six-and-a-bit weeks, so it will be difficult to keep consistency."
Work to do for Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Trevoh Chalobah
The Cobham products were able to spend more time working with Potter with no international duties to partake in but were unable to persuade the former Brighton boss that they were the best options from the start. Chalobah had another 90 minutes from the bench, while Loftus-Cheek was given half an hour to make his impression when he replaced a grimacing Jorginho.
Loftus-Cheek five Premier League starts in a row before Potter's arrival and put in some promising performances. In the win over Palace he was steady, but may have needed to do more to convince his new head coach that he should be ahead of Jorginho or Mateo Kovacic, though he remains the next logical choice should the Italian be injured.
Both appear to have more work to do to impose themselves on Potter, however.
Welcome Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Chelsea started the summer with Tuchel perhaps reluctant to add a striker to his ranks with the German coach looking to build a free-flowing front three of Mason Mount, Kai Havertz and Raheem Sterling, with Armando Broja able to deputise when required.
As the Blues struggled in front of goal in the opening weeks of the season, Tuchel relented and set out in sight of a reunion with a former charge in the shape of Aubameyang. The quality of their relationship was clear from the outset, even before the transfer was complete, but one game in Zagreb was all the pair would get following the former Arsenal star's arrival.
Aubameyang's Champions League appearances have looked laboured as he attempted to build his fitness following his broken jaw ahead of the move. His trip to Selhurst Park saw an improvement as he looked to link up with teammates and showed patience and composure in his first-half strike to open his Chelsea account. It's something Chelsea have lacked so it is promising that the 33-year-old has stepped up a gear.
Clean sheets
While earning a win should take the headlines of Potter's Premier League opener, it's impossible to ignore that Chelsea once again did not keep a clean sheet. Their only shutout this season has been on the opening day, which all things considered, may have been more likely due to Everton's struggles up front.
Once again, the Blues conceded from an error with Fofana the culprit and not showing the awareness to recover well enough. Both he and Reece James perhaps could have put in stronger tackles too and Chelsea's relentlessness in defence still needs to be improved.
Conor Gallagher
The former Palace loanee made it very clear he could have an impact in an advanced position for Chelsea.
Gallagher's opening minutes of the season were a struggle. The 22-year-old was left in a spin by Leeds before being sent off against Leicester and while he was utilised in a deeper role than he probably prefers, it had been far from a perfect start.
With Chelsea chasing a win, Gallagher made sure that he was testing the Palace box and showed a quality of finishing that Mason Mount had lacked during the game. With the system Potter utilised on Saturday afternoon, Gallagher may have made himself a contender for the starting XI with his excellent strike.
The significance of the strike was not lost on the player. He said: "It's massive, just to get that confidence back up a bit. I want to kick on from here."
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