In the United Kingdom, Chelsea faced Crystal Palace in a Premier League clash on January 25, 2026. The absence of Cole Palmer, a 23-year-old attacking midfielder, was a significant blow for Chelsea, as he has been struggling with a recurring thigh injury. Chelsea's head coach, Liam Rosenior, confirmed that Palmer was not quite 100% and decided against risking him for the match. This season, Palmer has been limited to just 13 appearances, primarily in the Premier League, and was also rested for the Champions League victory against Pafos the previous week. Despite persistent injury issues, there have been speculations regarding Palmer's transfer to Manchester United, attributed to feelings of homesickness and his previous ties to the Manchester City academy. Rosenior reassured fans and the media that Palmer remains an essential part of their long-term plans and expressed optimism about his potential return for the upcoming Champions League match against Napoli next week. Chelsea went on to secure a 3-1 victory against Crystal Palace, marking their first away win under Rosenior and extending Crystal Palace's winless streak to 11 games across all competitions. Estevao, an 18-year-old Brazilian, performed admirably in Palmer's absence, scoring the opening goal and providing an assist as Chelsea capitalized on their opponent's struggles. Nonetheless, the ongoing injury concerns surrounding Palmer cast a shadow over Chelsea's campaign, raising questions about their ability to maintain momentum in the Premier League and other competitions.