Chelsea show their mettle in frantic Crystal Palace finale as Willian proves his worth

Another three goals, another three points and a big win for Chelsea as they moved into third place.

The Blues were hanging on for dear life at the end of an extraordinary contest but they did hold on and this felt like a significant result in the race for the Champions League.

If Chelsea do finish in the top four, they will look back on two huge moments deep into stoppage time at Selhurst Park. First, Kepa Arrizabalaga made a brilliant one-handed save to tip a Scott Dann header onto the post.

Then, seconds later, Kurt Zouma made a crucial last-ditch block when Christian Benteke was ready to shot from inside the box. It was a heart-stopping finish for Frank Lampard but the win means Chelsea have opened up a five-point gap to Manchester United in fifth.

There were aspects of the performance that Lampard will not have been happy with, but Chelsea hung on to win a five-goal thriller and move a step closer to the Champions League.

Jorginho question remains

Frank Lampard said last week that Jorginho is still in his plans but it is hard to escape the feeling that the Italian faces an uncertain future after he was again overlooked at Crystal Palace.

With N’Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic injured, the stage was set for Jorginho to return to the team for the first time since the restart. Lampard instead turned to teenager Billy Gilmour, leaving Jorginho in the stands for most of the evening and raising big questions over whether there is a place for him in the Lampard revolution.

When the 28-year-old was brought on for the final 10 minutes, Chelsea were under pressure and he helped them get a hold of the game and played a key role in helping them secure three points. He might just have played his way into Lampard’s team to face Sheffield United on Saturday.

But with former Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri being linked with a move to take Jorginho to Juventus, it remains to be seen if Chelsea would be willing to sell the 28-year-old to raise cash for more summer spending.

Willian sparkles again

It is easy to see why Frank Lampard wants to extend Willian’s stay at Chelsea next season. The Brazilian has signed a short-term deal to stay at Chelsea until the end of the season but talks over his long-term future have hit a stalemate.

It sums up how highly Lampard regards Willian that he has started in all six of Chelsea's matches since the restart and the 31-year-old impressed again against Crystal Palace. He now has four goals, all from set-pieces, and two assists in those matches.

Willian has been seeking a three-year agreement but Chelsea have a policy of only offering one-year contracts to players over the age of 30.

But he has shown he could still have an important role to play at Chelsea and, on the evidence of his performances since the restart, is worth an extra 12 months