Why Cole Palmer absence is convincing Peter Crouch that Chelsea could win Premier League after Nottingham Forest thrashing

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Chelsea made short work of Nottingham Forest in Saturday's lunchtime kick-off, live on TNT Sports. The Blues cruised to a 3-0 win thanks to an inspired second-half showing, a victory that resulted in the sacking of Forest manager Ange Postecoglou. Afterwards, Peter Crouch explained why he is starting to think that the Londoners could be "in with a shot" of the Premier League title this year.

Highlights: Chelsea win big as Postecoglou sacked

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Chelsea’s performances in the absence of injured star man Cole Palmer are starting to convince Peter Crouch that they could be Premier League title contenders.

The Blues swept Nottingham Forest aside with a ruthless second-half performance on Saturday as Josh Acheampong, Pedro Neto and Reece James struck in a 3-0 victory that cost opposing manager Ange Postecoglou his job.

It marked a third consecutive win in all competitions for Chelsea, backing up their sensational last-gasp victory over champions Liverpool before the international break.

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Ex-England striker Crouch explained why he was impressed by the form of a side missing suspended manager Enzo Maresca and a host of players including Palmer, Liam Delap, Levi Colwill, Enzo Fernandez, Dario Essugo and Benoit Badiashile.

"Without doubt, they have built something at Chelsea, they have got some fantastic young players," Crouch said on TNT Sports.

"They have ripped the whole midfield out of the team really, defensively they had injuries again today and Cole Palmer is such an influence for them."

Inside the sacking of Postecoglou: Tunnel and dressing room insight revealed

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On their prospects of claiming the title, Crouch said: "If they can continue to win games as easily as that away from home in the Premier League, with the number of injuries they have had, they are certainly in with a shot."

Next up for Chelsea is the visit of Dutch giants Ajax to Stamford Bridge in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

The Blues suffered a 3-1 defeat away to Bayern Munich in their opener in the league phase, but bounced back by beating Jose Mourinho’s Benfica 1-0 in round two.

Ajax, who are unbeaten in the Eredivisie this season and sit third, head to London looking to get up and running after back-to-back defeats to Internazionale and Marseille.

But Glenn Hoddle believes the Forest victory has boosted the Premier League side nicely for the next challenge of their European campaign.

"It certainly does [set Chelsea up for Ajax]," Hoddle said.

"They have had a few players out, key players, but they have managed to overcome an away game.

"They haven’t been too good away from home this season but there were glimpses, particularly in the second half, they just grew in the game.

"Once the goal went in, it was a different Chelsea and looking at that team, it felt to me it needed a goal for them to get their noses ahead to actually feel comfortable in this game.

"They were never comfortable in the first half, but I think the substitutes really played a big part in calming down that second half.

"When they did get 1-0 up, they knew the crowd would turn a little bit, the apprehension turned in here and they went on and they got stronger and stronger."

Is Dyche the man to replace Postecoglou at Nottingham Forest?

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Maresca 'feels really sorry' for Postecoglou

The big headline to emerge from Chelsea’s win was the almost instant dismissal of Forest manager Postecoglou.

The former Tottenham Hotspur boss was sacked after just eight games and 39 days in charge, the second-shortest stint in Premier League history after Sam Allardyce’s 30-day spell at Leeds United.

Asked about the fate of Postecoglou, Chelsea manager Maresca was sympathetic.

"I feel really sorry [for him]," Maresca told TNT Sports.

Maresca feels 'really sorry' for Postecoglou after sacking

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"It’s always a shame but we have said it many times that unfortunately it is a business where you need to win games, otherwise for all of us it is the same consequence.

"I think they were very good in the first half, they tried to play their game, we struggled a little bit first half, second half I think we were much better and at the end we scored three goals.

"We could have probably scored a few more, and we deserved to win the game."

Stream the Premier League, Men’s and Women’s FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League and more on TNT Sports and discovery+

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