WHO ARE YOU TRYING TO KID?

Chelsea sweep aside Palace and still have £98m Lukaku to come, yet Tuchel says: We’re No 4 in this league

AND to think Romelu Lukaku is waiting in the wings. Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel will not be getting carried away but it must be difficult not to.

Fresh from their second Champions League triumph, Chelsea have been billed as one of Manchester City’s main rivals for the Premier League crown.

‘ I see us as the No 4 and the challenge for the No 4 club is to close the gap to No 3, No 2 and No 1. We are in the role of hunters,’ said Tuchel, as he tried to play down his team’s title chances.

You are not kidding anyone, Thomas. Your team look every inch contenders for the crown.

Were they at their best? Probably not. But they swept Crystal Palace aside with minimal fuss courtesy of goals from Marcos Al on so, Christian Pulisic and debutant Trevoh Chalobah.

They say the ability to win when not playing well wins titles. Well, if that is the case, then Chelsea look to be well equipped.

This was not necessarily the sort of performance that will send shivers up Pep Guardiola or Jurgen Klopp. It was one, though, that suggests Chelsea will be there or thereabouts in May.

This was, of course, a tough first gig for new Pa lace manager Patrick Vieira. He could have done without facing the European champions on his first outing.

His team are a work in progress. Vieira should be afforded the time to stamp his mark on a squad that is undergoing a facelift following the departure of former head coach Roy Hodgson and a host of senior players over the summer. Palace will, however, have to learn quickly or a miserable season may lie ahead.

Pu li sic’ st a me header from Alonso’s cross was easily saved by Vicente Guaita before the Palace keeper punched Mason Mount’s curling free-kick away in the 15th minute.

Hands on his waist, Vieira would have been quietly satisfied with the opening moments of his tenure. Yet you are only a moment of magic away from having the

carpet whipped from under you in the Premier League and he knows it.

So when Alonso executed a beautifully arcing free-kick in the 25th minute, the Palace manager would not have been surprised. Guaita could only stand there as the Chelsea left-back’s effort sailed past him to give Chelsea the lead.

All of sudden, Palace’s robust resistance appeared way more flaky. A second goal was inevitable and it arrived in the 40th minute. Pulisic grabbed the glory, bundling home after Guaita mishandled in the six-yard box.

But the real damage was caused by Cesar Azpilicueta and Mount, who exchanged passes before the latter’s low cross prompted Guaita’s error.

Timo Werner, who will fear being the fall guy in Lukaku’s return to the Bridge, picked up where he left off last season, squandering a good opportunity served up by Alonso on the stroke of half-time to really rub Palace’s faces in it.

But it was game over by that point, Alonso and Pulisic had seen to that.

‘We know what we are,’ roared the home supporters, who were intent on gloating about May’s Champions League triumph in Porto at every opportunity, as the teams headed in at half-time.

By the looks of things, Tuchel could well add the Premier League title to his increasingly impressive resume by the end of the season.

The second half was nothing more than a procession. Guaita produced an excellent save to deny Alonso, who timed his run to perfection to connect on to Jorginho’s pass with the sweetest of volley’s.

Palace, at least, showed some attacking intent but when Wilfred Zaha breached Chelsea’s back line, Antonio Rudiger was on hand to slam the door back in the Palace forward’s face with an excellent l ast - di t ch t ackle in t he 53rd minute.

But the Palace attack provided just momentary respite for Vieira as the Blues continued with their onslaught.

Palace probably thought they had the situation under control when Chalobah picked up the ball about 35 yards out. Well, they did not. A couple of strides forward and Chelsea were t hree ahead as Chalobah, on his first Premier League game, crashed home a vicious low strike that arrowed past Guaita.

The Chelsea debutant dropped to his knees. Palace had adopted a similar position by this point.

What a way to mark the biggest day in this 22-year-old’s career so far. Even if Chalobah goes on to make another 500 Premier League appearances, he will not hit many sweeter than this.