Chelsea 2-0 Sheffield United: Player ratings as Blues move into Premier League top half
FROM STAMFORD BRIDGE — Chelsea are back in the top half of the Premier League standings after beating Sheffield United 2-0 on Saturday.
The Blues overcame a sticky start to put the Blades to the sword and secure successive home wins in the Premier League for the first time since October 2022.
Chris Wilder's Sheffield United were resilient in the first half but caved once Chelsea started to put their foot on the accelerator and head back up north with little to show for their efforts.
An appalling first half came and went without any real action — Conor Gallagher had a dipping shot easily saved by Wes Foderingham, while Cameron Archer saw a curling strike deflected narrowly wide off the heel of the Blues skipper.
At the start of the second half, Cole Palmer worked his way in from the right and sat Max Lowe on his backside with a neat piece of trickery, before his shot was blocked by Auston Trusty.
With 54 minutes on the clock, Chelsea took the lead. Raheem Sterling picked up the ball just inside the Sheffield United box and made a dart to the byline, cutting back for Palmer to slam in from six yards.
Soon after, Chelsea had a second in bizarre circumstances. Sterling wanted a penalty when he was yanked back by Anel Ahmedhodzic, and while play continued, everyone bar Palmer stood still, allowing him to hook the ball back for Nicolas Jackson to tap home.
Sheffield United had the ball in the net through William Osula but the goal was pulled back as James McAtee had run possession out of play before cutting it back for the young forward.
Chelsea should have added a third when Palmer broke away and found Armando Broja with a clever low cross, but the Albania international somehow fired over from mere yards out.
GK: Djordje Petrovic —
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