Crystal Palace deserve more, claims Pardew

“And once they got that goal, it was very hard”.

Diego Costa earned Chelsea a 1-0 victory at Crystal Palace on Saturday, December 17 (Sunday Manila time) as the Premier League leaders claimed a club record-equalling 11th consecutive league victory.

Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic has played down suggestions that they are Premier League title favourites despite Saturday’s 1-0 victory at Crystal Palace securing an 11th consecutive league win.

The Belgium global struggled to assert his authority on the game up against Gary Cahill, David Luiz and Cesar Azpilicueta as the Blues secured their ninth clean sheet in 11 games. But when the home side lost concentration two minutes before half-time, Costa was on hand to cap a routine move and put the visitors ahead. With 13 goals and five assists in 17 league appearances this term, Costa has proved as important as Hazard to Chelsea’s fortunes, while the energy and drive of Kante in midfield is equally key to the success of Conte’s 3-4-3 system. There’s a meeting of Arsenal and Manchester City – third versus fourth – at the same time fifth-place Tottenham hosts Burnley.

Trailing 2-0 and down to 10 men after Jamie Vardy’s red card, Leicester’s trip to Stoke had all the makings of another miserable afternoon for the fading champions.

Moments later, Bojan Krkic gave the Potters the lead from the penalty spot after Danny Simpson handled the Spaniard’s cross.

Leonardo Ulloa began the recovery in the 74th and Daniel Amartey headed in his first Leicester goal in the 88th to give Leicester only its second point on the road. They are now seven points clear and showing no signs of slowing down.

Pardew told BBC Sport: “You don’t really expect a centre-half [Azpilicueta] to have that quality – it was a Cesc Fabregas-type ball for the goal and it was a crucial one before half time”.

Hull hit the woodwork three and dropped to the bottom of the table as the Hammers managed to hold on for all three points at the London Stadium. “But this team isn’t getting what it deserves, and that will be corrected”.

“Just stay in between the sticks because with the size of him, his leap and his power any decent ball into the box he’s got a good chance of scoring”.

“In this league there are no easy games”.

Chelsea may not have been at their best at Crystal Palace, but the rest of the league should be anxious by their display, writes Rob Conlon.

Chelsea surged nine points clear at the summit, ahead of Liverpool and Arsenal playing in this round, exactly a year after Jose Mourinho was sacked with the west London club hovering above the relegation zone.