Tammy Abraham is the second youngest player to reach double figures in Premier League goals for Chelsea, after Arjen Robben
Chelsea recorded a sixth consecutive Premier League win for the first time since their title-winning season of 2016-17 as they moved up to second in the table.
The Blues' victory over Crystal Palace means they are now five points behind leaders Liverpool.
Frank Lampard's side moved above Manchester City, who play leaders Liverpool on Sunday, and could be leapfrogged by Leicester City, who host Arsenal at 17:30 GMT on Saturday.
Tammy Abraham's 10th league goal of the season and Christian Pulisic's header ensured the win against a resolute Palace side who barely got out of their own half during the first period.
And after dominating a goalless opening half, Chelsea finally made the breakthrough when Mateo Kovacic and Willian combined to release Abraham - with the forward stroking a right-foot effort into the bottom right corner from 10 yards.
James Tomkins missed a glorious opportunity to equalise for the Eagles, heading Luka Milivojevic's right-wing delivery wide from six yards.
But Chelsea more than merited their win, with Pulisic wrapping up the points with a close-range header after Michy Batshuayi's deflected shot fell into his path.
Palace's defeat, their third in four games, leaves them ninth in the table.
- Reaction as Chelsea move up to second plus all Saturday's Premier League matches
Youthful Chelsea overwhelm Palace
While Chelsea may no longer have Eden Hazard, there still appears to have been a notable evolvement in their attacking play since Lampard was installed as manager.
His team may enjoy less possession and play fewer passes (per game) than under former boss Maurizio Sarri but they look considerably more dynamic.
Fikayo Tomori, 21, Mason Mount, 20 and Abraham, 22, have all come into the team, while Christian Pulisic, 21, and 19-year-old Reece James, making his first Premier League start, ensured Lampard's starting side was the club's youngest ever in Premier League terms.
Mount and Kovacic both had shots blocked inside the first minute and Willian's 25-yard free-kick narrowly flew wide of the top corner shortly after.
The most impressive aspect of Chelsea's performance was the patience and perseverance they showed after going into the interval at 0-0.
Lampard, who was named Premier League manager of the month for October has provided his side with a clear identity, and they never wavered from their free-flowing style.
And that was supplemented by the finishing power of Abraham and Pulisic who are both in rich form in front of goal.
Abraham opened his body out wonderfully before guiding the ball past Vicente Guaita, as he moved level with Jamie Vardy at the top of the division's goalscoring charts.
American Pulisic, who was inventive throughout, capped an impressive performance with his fifth goal in his last three games.
More to follow.
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Chelsea
1Arrizabalaga
24James
15Zouma
29Tomori
33EmersonBooked at 31mins
7Kanté
17KovacicBooked at 33mins
10WillianBooked at 17mins
19MountSubstituted forGilmourat 87'minutes
22PulisicSubstituted forHudson-Odoiat 80'minutes
9AbrahamSubstituted forBatshuayiat 73'minutes
Substitutes
4Christensen
13Caballero
18Giroud
20Hudson-Odoi
23Batshuayi
28Azpilicueta
47Gilmour
Crystal Palace
31Guaita
2WardSubstituted forKellyat 44'minutes
5Tomkins
24Cahill
3van Aanholt
10Townsend
8KouyatéSubstituted forMcCarthyat 82'minutesBooked at 90mins
4Milivojevic
18McArthurSubstituted forSchluppat 70'minutes
11ZahaBooked at 21mins
9J Ayew
Substitutes
6Dann
13Hennessey
15Schlupp
17Benteke
22McCarthy
34Kelly
44Riedewald
Referee:
Mike Dean
Attendance:
40,525
Match Stats
Home TeamChelseaAway TeamCrystal Palace
Possession
Home60%
Away40%
Shots
Home23
Away3
Shots on Target
Home5
Away1
Corners
Home7
Away0
Fouls
Home9
Away17
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Chelsea 2, Crystal Palace 0.
Full TimePosted at 90'+5'
Second Half ends, Chelsea 2, Crystal Palace 0.
Posted at 90'+4'
Attempt missed. Willian (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Emerson from a direct free kick.
BookingPosted at 90'+3'
James McCarthy (Crystal Palace) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 90'+3'
Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 90'+3'
Foul by James McCarthy (Crystal Palace).
Posted at 90'+1'
Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Martin Kelly.
Posted at 90'+1'
Attempt blocked. Michy Batshuayi (Chelsea) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by N'Golo Kanté with a cross.
Posted at 89'
Foul by Reece James (Chelsea).
Posted at 89'
Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Posted at 88'
Attempt missed. Callum Hudson-Odoi (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Billy Gilmour.
SubstitutionPosted at 87'
Substitution, Chelsea. Billy Gilmour replaces Mason Mount.
Posted at 87'
Foul by Michy Batshuayi (Chelsea).
Posted at 87'
Luka Milivojevic (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 86'
Attempt saved. James McCarthy (Crystal Palace) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Wilfried Zaha.
Posted at 84'
Willian (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 84'
Foul by Jeffrey Schlupp (Crystal Palace).
SubstitutionPosted at 82'
Substitution, Crystal Palace. James McCarthy replaces Cheikhou Kouyaté.
SubstitutionPosted at 80'
Substitution, Chelsea. Callum Hudson-Odoi replaces Christian Pulisic.
Goal!Posted at 79'
Goal! Chelsea 2, Crystal Palace 0. Christian Pulisic (Chelsea) header from very close range to the centre of the goal.
Posted at 79'
Attempt blocked. Michy Batshuayi (Chelsea) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Christian Pulisic.
Posted at 77'
Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Vicente Guaita.
Posted at 76'
Attempt blocked. Mason Mount (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Willian.
Posted at 75'
Foul by N'Golo Kanté (Chelsea).
Posted at 75'
Cheikhou Kouyaté (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
SubstitutionPosted at 73'
Substitution, Chelsea. Michy Batshuayi replaces Tammy Abraham.
Posted at 70'
Attempt missed. James Tomkins (Crystal Palace) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Luka Milivojevic with a cross following a set piece situation.
SubstitutionPosted at 70'
Substitution, Crystal Palace. Jeffrey Schlupp replaces James McArthur.
Posted at 69'
Foul by Kurt Zouma (Chelsea).
Posted at 69'
Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Posted at 67'
Attempt missed. Christian Pulisic (Chelsea) right footed shot from the left side of the box is too high. Assisted by Mason Mount.
Posted at 66'
Tammy Abraham (Chelsea) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 66'
Foul by Gary Cahill (Crystal Palace).
Posted at 61'
Mateo Kovacic (Chelsea) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Posted at 61'
Foul by Luka Milivojevic (Crystal Palace).
Posted at 60'
Attempt missed. Tammy Abraham (Chelsea) left footed shot from the left side of the box is too high. Assisted by Willian.
Posted at 59'
Corner, Chelsea. Conceded by Vicente Guaita.
Posted at 59'
Attempt saved. Christian Pulisic (Chelsea) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Mateo Kovacic.
Posted at 56'
Foul by N'Golo Kanté (Chelsea).
Posted at 56'
James McArthur (Crystal Palace) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Source: bbc.com