Crystal Palace v Chelsea extended highlights – Essien's back!

Chelsea returned to action after securing the famous League and FA Cup double last season, and theystarted with a low-key friendly against London neighbours Crystal Palace.

There were many World Cup stars missing as they are given extended breaks to recover from their exertions, so Daniel Sturridge and Franco Di Santo led the attack in the absence of Anelka and Drogba.

But the good news for Chelsea was that Michael Essien and John Obi Mikel returned from injury in good form, and Essien scored a classy winner.

Carlo Ancelotti used quite a few Academy boys as well and was reasonably impressed by their performances.

Here is the team that played as Yossi Benayoun (groin), Yury Zhirkov (knee) and Michael Mancienne (thigh) were all missing through injury.

Chelsea (4-1-2-1-2): Cech (c) (Turnbull 31 ((Hilario 60))); Bruma (Chalobah 76), Alex (Cork 60), Van Aanholt, Bertrand; Mikel; Essien (Clifford 60), Matic (Kaby 76); McEachran (Lalkovic 60); Di Santo (Sinclair 60), Sturridge (Tore 76).

I’m a little annoyed that I found highlights in three different languages, but none of them was English! But at least you can see the play…..