Chelsea scored twice in seven second-half minutes through Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson to claim a laboured 2-0 win over the Premier League's bottom club Sheffield United on Saturday.

Palmer unlocked a determined visiting defence when he poked the ball home from six metres after a one-two with Raheem Sterling in the 54th minute.

Palmer then turned provider in the 61st when United keeper Wes Foderingham could only parry the ball to the midfielder after a goalmouth melee and he fed Jackson who was unmarked at the far post to turn the ball home.

Chelsea's third home league win of the season sent Mauricio Pochettino's side up to 10th place above London neighbours Fulham and Brentford. United, under newly-returned coach Chris Wilder, remained rooted to the foot of the table.

Chelsea vs Sheffield United updates

• Chelsea player ratings

• Pochettino reveals subtle change that led to Chelsea victory

• Palmer continues bringing much-needed calmness to chaotic Chelsea

Thank you!

18:41 , Jonathan Gorrie

Thanks for joining Standard Sport's LIVE coverage of Chelsea's win over Sheffield United.

Find our report, reaction, ratings and analysis below!

Palmer continues bringing much-needed calmness to chaotic Chelsea

18:40 , Jonathan Gorrie

Cole Palmer spared Chelsea's blushes with a goal and an assist to break down bottom of the table Sheffield United.

The Blues were toothless in a poor first half but Palmer's left boot broke the deadlock in the 54th minute, turning in a low cutback from Raheem Sterling.

The summer signing then squared a ball to Nicolas Jackson to tap home a confidence-boosting second just seven minutes later.

Chelsea ultimately eased to back-to-back league home wins for the first time since October 2022 but only after their £40million addition from Manchester City managed to step up.

Read Nizaar Kinsella's full analysis here!

Pochettino reveals subtle change that led to Chelsea victory

18:34 , Jonathan Gorrie

Mauricio Pochettino has revealed his key tactical change as he hails Chelsea's belief-building 2-0 win over Sheffield United.

Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson scored crucial goals after important half-time changes by the Blues manager.

Chelsea had barely created any chances against the bottom of the table side but have risen into 10th place, with victory earned through second half improvements.

Pochettino revealed his subtle changes at the interval that helped his side turn the tide following back to back away defeats.

Read the full story here!

Chelsea player ratings: Palmer shines again; Mudryk struggles again

17:09 , Jonathan Gorrie

Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson settled Chelsea's nerves in the second half to earn a crucial 2-0 win over Sheffield United.

Chelsea were flat in the first half, creating almost nothing against the bottom of the table Blades but stepped up their performance after the break.

Palmer tapped home Sterling's low cutback to break down Chris Wilder's stubborn defence.

The £40million signing from Manchester City then turned provider to set-up Jackson's strike in the 61st minute to seal victory.

Nizaar Kinsella was at Stamford Bridge witnessing the pressure-relieving action. 

FT: Chelsea 2-0 Sheffield United

16:55 , Jonathan Gorrie

Palmer and Jackson seal much-needed win for the Blues.

Chelsea vs Sheffield United: CHANCE FOR CHELSEA

16:42 , Jonathan Gorrie

83 mins: Broja somehow misses a tap in after a cutback from Palmer.

Chelsea vs Sheffield United: Sigh of relief

16:33 , Jonathan Gorrie

74 mins: Barring an almighty turnaround, this will be a solid - if unspectacular - afternoon for the Blues.

Chelsea vs Sheffield United: Nizaar Kinsella at Stamford Bridge

16:21 , Jonathan Gorrie

Nicolas Jackson has a goal! It hasn't been his best day but he still has a goal to show for it, his seventh of the season was a scrappy one.

Chelsea vs Sheffield United: GOAL! Nicolas Jackson '60

16:19 , Jonathan Gorrie

60 mins: Jackson has a tap in from Palmer's pass after Sheffield United get into a real mess at the back.

Chelsea vs Sheffield United: Nizaar Kinsella at Stamford Bridge

16:15 , Jonathan Gorrie

Interesting, that goal survives a VAR check despite Nicolas Jackson looking offside in the build up. A moment of quality and stroke of luck to allow Chelsea to break the deadlock.

Chelsea vs Sheffield United: Goal given!

16:14 , Jonathan Gorrie

It stands!!

Chelsea vs Sheffield United: VAR check....

16:14 , Jonathan Gorrie

VAR are now seeing if Sterling was offside....

Chelsea vs Sheffield United: GOAL! Cole Palmer '53

16:13 , Jonathan Gorrie

53 mins: GOAL!

And they have it! Palmer meets Sterling's cut-back in emphatic fashion!

Chelsea vs Sheffield United: Moment of magic needed

16:12 , Jonathan Gorrie

52 mins: Chelsea just aren't creating anything. They need a moment of magic.

Chelsea vs Sheffield United: Nizaar Kinsella at Stamford Bridge

16:04 , Jonathan Gorrie

Enzo Fernandez was warming up in his kit at half-time but doesn't come on for the second half. Still, it won't be long until we see him, with Nkunku also an option from the bench.

Chelsea vs Sheffield United: Back underway!

16:04 , Jonathan Gorrie

45 mins: Away we go!

HT: Chelsea 0-0 Sheffield United

15:50 , Jonathan Gorrie

Groans as Blues come off at the break.

Chelsea vs Sheffield United: An apologetic Nizaar Kinsella at Stamford Bridge

15:42 , Jonathan Gorrie

Sorry for the lack of updates, this is a tragically poor match. This is heading towards a 0-0 if nothing improves.

Chelsea vs Sheffield United: Nizaar Kinsella at Stamford Bridge

15:35 , Jonathan Gorrie

Nicolas Jackson has been caught offside three times in this half. Mauricio Pochettino is not happy. His striker has been a non-entity

Chelsea vs Sheffield United: Nizaar Kinsella at Stamford Bridge

15:31 , Jonathan Gorrie

Gallagher is single-handedly trying to get Chelsea going here. He looks visibly frustrated as Chelsea's defenders fail to pass through the lines. This group of players looks gripped by fear, him aside.

Chelsea vs Sheffield United: CHANCE FOR CHELSEA!

15:27 , Jonathan Gorrie

26 mins: Mudryk gets to the byline to square on to Palmer but its blocked off before he can tap in.

Chelsea vs Sheffield United: CHANCE FOR THE BLADES

15:24 , Jonathan Gorrie

23 mins: Archer inches away with a piledriver.

Chelsea vs Sheffield United: Nizaar Kinsella at Stamford Bridge

15:23 , Jonathan Gorrie

Chelsea are playing like a slow motion Manchester City. They've only created anything through Gallagher's pressing in the opening 21 minutes.

Chelsea vs Sheffield United: Mudryk skies one

15:23 , Jonathan Gorrie

22 mins: Great play from Mudryk to nutmeg his marker. He lefts him off the hook, however, and drives inside before wildly shooting over from range.

Chelsea vs Sheffield United: Nizaar Kinsella at Stamford Bridge

15:20 , Jonathan Gorrie

Conor Gallagher's excellent front-footed pressing created a half-chance for Chelsea and an edge of the box shot. That has been the best Chelsea have produced so far. It has been a very flat start.

Chelsea vs Sheffield United: CHANCE FOR CHELSEA!

15:15 , Jonathan Gorrie

14 mins: Gallagher steals the ball away just outside the Sheffield United box before trying his luck but Foderingham saves with ease.

Chelsea vs Sheffield United: Archer looks dangerous

15:13 , Jonathan Gorrie

12 mins: Caicedo is caught out in midfield but gets back to block a shot from Archer, who looks dangerous drifting in from the right.

Chelsea vs Sheffield United: Nizaar Kinsella at Stamford Bridge

15:10 , Jonathan Gorrie

Not the most exciting start to this match. Chelsea have had some opportunities to create in and around the box but each attack has fizzled out. Pochettino has already had a word with Mykhailo Mudryk about his movement

Chelsea vs Sheffield United: Nizaar Kinsella at Stamford Bridge

15:06 , Jonathan Gorrie

Chelsea have been totally dominant in terms of possession. Sheffield United present a classic low block challenge, which has been a struggle for Chelsea in the past.

Chelsea vs Sheffield United: Nizaar Kinsella at Stamford Bridge

15:05 , Jonathan Gorrie

Chelsea are effectively just leaving the back four in very deep positions and letting the front six play with freedom. It seems to be a solution to the lack of full-backs in the team.

Chelsea vs Sheffield United: Blues dominating the ball

15:05 , Jonathan Gorrie

04 mins: The Blades doing well at the moment, however, to stop the hosts creating anything meaningful.

Chelsea vs Sheffield United: Kick-off!

15:01 , Jonathan Gorrie

01 mins: Away we go!

Kick-off up next

14:58 , Marc Mayo

A full away end for the Blades, back in the Premier League after a year away, with a decent atmosphere brewing.

Andy Madley is our referee today.

Here come the players!

14:57 , Marc Mayo

Stamford Bridge is packed on a chilly, grey day in west London.

Out come the teams as kick-off looms...

Mauricio Pochettino likens Chelsea hot seat to electric chair

14:54 , Marc Mayo

Mauricio Pochettino says Chelsea's hot seat is like an electric chair - and that you'd have to be "crazy" to sit in it.

Catch up with the manager's comments ahead of kick-off.

Read the full story!

Ten-minute warning!

14:50 , Marc Mayo

Adrian Littlejohn and Brian Deane struck the goals on Sheffield United's most recent win at Stamford Bridge... back in October 1992!

Can Christopher Nkunku make an impact off the bench?

14:45 , Marc Mayo

The former RB Leipzig striker is technically on a three-game scoring run in club action!

Goals against Eintracht Frankfurt - in the German Cup final - Schalke and Bayern Munich mean he is technically in a good run of form.

Just goes to show, you can make statistics say whatever you want them to...

A bold move to drop Enzo Fernandez

14:42 , Marc Mayo

This is the first time Mauricio Pochettino has chosen to leave Enzo Fernandez out of a Premier League starting XI since he joined Chelsea.

On the only other occasion, when a knock kept him out against Brentford, they lost 2-0...

A look at the Premier League table

14:39 , Marc Mayo

A win can lift Chelsea above west London neighbours Brentford and Fulham into 10th place, with the Cottagers in action at Newcastle.

Sheffield United cannot escape the relegation zone but can leapfrog Burnley and Luton to scramble off the bottom. The Hatters play Bournemouth at 3pm.

Chelsea vs Sheffield United | Countdown to kick-off

14:30

Just half an hour to go as the warm-ups get underway in west London!

Nizaar Kinsella at Stamford Bridge

14:26

Interesting line up from Mauricio Pochettino against a team Chelsea should surely beat.

An all centre-half back four is played due to injuries but an out of form Enzo Fernandez is dropped to the bench to play a more attacking frontline.

Cole Palmer plays in the attacking midfield role flanked by Raheem Sterling and Mykhailo Mudryk, with Nicolas Jackson up front. Excitingly, Christopher Nkunku is on the bench.

Djordje Petrovic also makes his first start for Chelsea with Robert Sanchez out after a knee injury.

Malo Gusto will have to wait

14:23 , Marc Mayo

With Reece James injured, Malo Gusto will need to start taking his chances to impress or be consigned to the Chelsea scrap heap.

He's only fit for the bench today, and before the game Nizaar wrote about the Frenchman's situation.

Read the full story!

Chelsea vs Sheffield United | Video preview

14:18 , Marc Mayo

Tune in with Nizaar Kinsella as he talks you through the team news.

Oli McBurnie leads the line for the Blades

14:12 , Marc Mayo

The Scottish striker will look to disrupt the Chelsea defence having returned from a ban.

Two changes for Sheffield United, both as a result of suspensions. McBurnie's ends as Jack Robinson sits this one out, allowing Max Lowe into the team.

Four changes for Chelsea

14:10 , Marc Mayo

Levi Colwill and Thiago Silva come back into the defence with Malo Gusto only on the bench.

That means Axel Disasi will line up at right-back in Reece James' absence.

And Enzo Fernandez is dropped! Cole Palmer will take the No10 spot with Mykhailo Mudryk in from the start, as is Nicolas Jackson.

Christopher Nkunku is on the bench ahead of his likely debut today.

The Blades team is out

14:04 , Marc Mayo

Sheffield United XI: Foderingham; Bogle, Ahmedhodzic, Trusty, Lowe; McAtee, Souza, Brooks, Hamer, Archer; McBurnie

Subs: Davies, Osborn, Baldock, Traore, Osula, Thomas, Larouci, Slimane, Norwood

The Chelsea team is out!

14:01 , Marc Mayo

Chelsea XI: Petrovic; Disasi, Silva, Badiashile, Colwill; Caicedo, Gallagher; Mudryk, Palmer, Sterling; Jackson

Subs: Bettinelli, Bergstrom, Gilchrist, Gusto, Maatsen, Enzo, Matos, Broja, Nkunku

Team news... up next!

13:56

Just over an hour until kick-off, so you know what that means.

When will Romeo Lavia return for Chelsea?

13:53 , Marc Mayo

Mauricio Pochettino hopes Romeo Lavia will be in contention to make his Chelsea debut on the Christmas Eve trip to Wolves.

The Blues face Sheffield United today hoping to bounce back from consecutive defeats, and will have Christopher Nkunku in theIr squad for the first time.

Lavia and Nkunku have endured a similar start to life at Stamford Bridge, both joining in the summer before long spells on the sidelines. However, that wait is now coming to an end.

"Romeo Lavia will be fit in maybe one week or 10 days," Pochettino told reporters on Friday.

Read the full story!

Mauricio Pochettino sets out next steps for Reece James

13:47 , Marc Mayo

Mauricio Pochettino has revealed Chelsea will decide whether Reece James has surgery on Monday.

The 24-year-old defender sought external specialist advice after injury his hamstring in the 2-0 defeat away at Everton last weekend.

The Blues captain has tried to avoid surgery in recent seasons but the recurring nature of the issues could force his hand.

"First, we need to decide how we will proceed with his recover," the Chelsea boss said.

Read the full story!

Reece James writes in the Chelsea programme

13:43 , Marc Mayo

"I suffered an injury at Everton and I'm devastated to be out again, but I am just taking it a step at a time now. I want to thank the supporters who have sent me messages of support."

Christopher Nkunku is in the building

13:38 , Marc Mayo

Our man at the Bridge, Nizaar Kinsella, has just spotted Christopher Nkunku out on the pitch as the squad take in their surroundings.

Academy players Alfie Gilchrist and Leo Castledine are also out there.

A big day in the Premier League

13:35

Chelsea vs Sheffield United is among four 3pm kick-offs before Burnley host Everton this evening.

Chelsea vs Sheffield United | Countdown to kick-off

13:30

We are now 90 minutes away from the 90 minutes getting underway in west London...

Team news expected at the top of the hour!

'Crazy' Mauricio Pochettino ready to defy critics

13:25

Mauricio Pochettino says critics may call him "crazy" but he is certain Chelsea will be successful under his management given time and patience.

He said: "We knew it was going to be difficult and it is more difficult because of the unexpected circumstances that you always plan to have but not a lot.

"How we are suffering after five or six months. That is a challenge, and it is a very good thing for us, even if I am so upset and feel bad because, for sure, we want to be in a different position."

Read the full story

Chelsea vs Sheffield United match odds

13:20

Chelsea: 2/11

Draw: 13/2

Sheffield United: 12/1

Odds via Betfair (subject to change).

Throwback: Chelsea get better of Blades in 2021 FA Cup quarters

13:15

Back in the cursed Covid days!

Head-to-head record

13:08 , Marc Mayo

The Blues have won six of their last eight meetings with the Blades, dating back 30 years.

Chelsea wins: 41

Draws: 16

Sheffield United wins: 28

Today's destination

13:03 , Marc Mayo

It's a sell-out at Stamford Bridge today.

Chelsea vs Sheffield United prediction

12:55

Chelsea were again miserable last time out and are showing few signs of improvement. Their next opponents, though, are equally as poor and do not have the talent on paper to lift them off the bottom of the table.

Pochettino is juggling injuries but there really is no excuse not to beat a Blades side also struggling with fitness woes.

Chelsea to win, 2-0.

How we think the Blades will line up

12:47

Predicted Sheffield United XI: Foderingham; Bogle, Ahmedhodzic, Trusty, Thomas; McAtee, Souza, Norwood, Hamer, Archer; McBurnie

Early Sheffield United team news

12:42

Sheffield United are also counting their wounded but both Oliver McBurnie and Oli Norwood are back after suspension.

Jack Robinson is banned.

George Baldock will be assessed ahead of the game.

What we expect from the Chelsea line-up

12:36

Predicted Chelsea XI: Petrovic; Gusto, Disasi, Silva, Colwill; Caicedo, Fernandez; Palmer, Gallagher, Sterling; Broja

Early Chelsea team news

12:31 , Marc Mayo

Reece James is back on the treatment table after suffering a hamstring injury which could see him sidelined for at least three months.

Christopher Nkunku, however, is in line to finally make his debut - possibly via the bench.

Pochettino currently has 12 first-team players ruled out of the game, but Noni Madueke and Malo Gusto while Romeo Lavia will also be assessed.

Goalkeeper Robert Sanchez is out after also coming off against Everton, along with Marc Cucurella.

How to watch free highlights

12:25 , Marc Mayo

TV channel and live stream: In the UK, the game will not be televised live due to the Saturday 3pm blackout imposed on top-level football.

Free highlights: Sky Sports' YouTube channel posts Premier League highlights shortly after full-time whereas BBC One will broadcast Match of the Day for an extended replay at 10.25pm.

Chelsea vs Sheffield United LIVE!

12:17 , Marc Mayo

Hello and welcome to Standard Sport's coverage of Chelsea vs Sheffield United!

Kick-off comes at 3pm GMT from Stamford Bridge, where we will have Nizaar Kinsella on hand for expert analysis and player ratings.

The Blues are out to end a downturn of form under Mauricio Pochettino whereas Chris Wilder's Blades sit rock bottom of the table.

Join us for all the build-up, match action and reaction!