Nicolas Jackson sends Chelsea reminder as Blues complete another deal before Palace draw

Chelsea only managed a 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace but there were plenty of positives for Enzo Maresca to ponder ahead of the international break. Nicolas Jackson’s first-half goal was cancelled out by Eberechi Eze’s stunning equaliser early in the second period. Express Sport looks at four takeaways from the game.

Jackson sends reminder

Chelsea spent the final days of the transfer window chasing a new No 9. There was a pursuit of Victor Osimhen and a late chase for Ivan Toney. But neither signed and Nicolas Jackson will be left wondering why he alone cannot be entrusted to lead the line this season.

Jackson signed a new contract before Chelsea welcomed Palace to Stamford Bridge. And he backed up the lengthy nine-year deal by scoring the opening goal, tapping home Noni Madueke’s squared pass.

The 23-year-old’s inconsistency became an issue under Mauricio Pochettino last season and he must demonstrate better maturity for Maresca. Jackson perhaps does not get the credit he deserves for scoring 14 goals in his debut campaign, although three of those came against nine-man Tottenham and a host of missed chances throughout the year meant he should have had more.

Maresca had publicly called for another striker to be signed in the week before the window closed. Jackson’s goal will remind the Italian that he has a player perfectly capable of scoring enough goals to lift Chelsea into the top four.

Chelsea punished

Maresca’s side had so many opportunities to extend their lead but, as has been the case in previous games, they were forced to rue chances for Cole Palmer and Madueke. Palace had been struggling for a route back into the game, but the Eagles only need one chance with the likes of Eberechi Eze and Jean-Philippe Mateta.

It was Eze who collected a loose ball on the edge of the box and curled wonderfully beyond Robert Sanchez. The goal buoyed a previously uninspiring Palace, and Chelsea endured some nervy moments in the final stages of the game.

The visitors looked much more assured in the second half and will take confidence from their first point of the Premier League season.

Maresca’s brutal cull justified

Chelsea have received criticism for their banishment of at least 12 senior players. However, Chelsea are reaping the benefits of Maresca being able to work with a much smaller group of players on the training ground.

Against Palace and Wolves, there has been evidence of the ideas the former Leicester boss is putting across to his players. There will be some teething problems, as there were against Palace, but matches like this will be won more times than not. The Blues created far better chances than Palace and were unfortunate not to win.

Coherently coaching a team is much easier to do when you are not leading a bloated group of more than 40 players. Pochettino and Graham Potter might regret not working with a smaller squad.

Where does Jadon Sancho fit in?

Just as Maresca seems to have settled on a favoured front four, he has yet another new signing to consider. Madueke has made the right wing his own, while Mykhaylo Mudryk and Pedro Neto stand in front of Jadon Sancho for a place on the left.

Perhaps Maresca sees Sancho as a No 10, where he has less depth but does have one of the Premier League’s best players in Palmer. Sancho finds himself at a crossroads and must kickstart his career soon, but fitting into Chelsea’s team could be half his battle.