Graham Potter admitted Chelsea were "fortunate" not to have Thiago Silva sent off in their late 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace.

Silva was caught in possession and deliberately handled the ball to prevent Jordan Ayew from breaking clean through on goal in Saturday's Premier League contest.

Palace, who were 1-0 up at that point through an early Odsonne Edouard goal, were furious that referee Chris Kavanagh only showed the 38-year-old defender a yellow card.

Patrick Vieira was himself cautioned by the official for refusing to let the matter pass, and opposite number Potter accepted Chelsea could have been a man light.

"It was a 50-50 one we've come out on the right side of I think," he said at his post-match news conference. "I think it's one that we've been fortunate with.

"The fact it's quite a way from the goal has maybe helped us a bit and there are covering defenders. But I can understand Patrick's frustration."

Vieira did not want to be drawn into discussing the performance of referee Kavanagh, but made clear his unhappiness at the decision.

"It's difficult for me to understand and accept it, so sometimes it's better for me to be really quiet and not talk about it," he told reporters.

"I don't want to talk about it because I believe the referee got it wrong. If I really say what I think, I will be in trouble. 

"It's better for me not to talk about it. I don't understand the decision and don't want to talk about it. There is a referee, there is VAR, and they are making decisions – we move on."

Palace's frustrations only heightened when Silva nodded down a Reece James pass for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to lash in Chelsea's equaliser before half-time.

In another cruel blow for the hosts, substitute Conor Gallagher – voted Palace's Player of the Year during last season's loan spell – scored a 90th-minute winner, ensuring Potter picked up a victory in his first league game in charge of Chelsea.

Having also recovered from behind to beat West Ham last month, Chelsea have won back-to-back league games after conceding first for the first time since December 2016.

"We're delighted with the result," Potter told BBC Sport. "It's a tough place to come. I thought we started quite well but conceded from the first action into the box.

"Credit to the boys, they recovered well and did not let their heads go down. It was nice to get an equaliser and get back in the game.

"We had to survive moments as they are a good side with dangerous players. To be a goal down and come away with three points is fantastic so credit to the players.

"There's character, that's for sure. They could've felt sorry for themselves after conceding the goal but the players stood up all the way through. There was a collective spirit among the players. We are delighted with the three points."

Aubameyang fired a blank in his first two Chelsea appearances, both coming in the Champions League, but found the net with a clinical half-volley on the swivel.

He has now scored on his first Premier League game for both Arsenal (against Everton in February 2018) and Chelsea, with this his fifth goal against Palace in the competition.

"It was an important goal," Potter said. "He has been working hard to get himself up to Premier League fitness and I have been really impressed with him. 

"But any forward will tell you it is important for them to score and it was an important goal for us."

Neither Anthony Gordon nor Wilfried Zaha will be on the move ahead of the transfer deadline, according to their respective managers.

Gordon and Zaha have each been linked with transfers to Chelsea, who are continuing to spend big before the window closes on Thursday.

However, both players played and netted in the Premier League on Tuesday – Gordon opening the scoring in Everton's 1-1 draw at Leeds United, as Zaha did likewise as Crystal Palace were held by Brentford.

And after their respective matches, Everton manager Frank Lampard and Palace boss Patrick Vieira spoke with certainty on the futures of their key men.

"Anthony is too important a player," Lampard said. "He has showed his worth in the last two games; it is too late [in the window].

"He is going to be special. In the bigger picture, he has an affiliation with the fans. It is a process – can we build around that?

"The interest in him is because he is a top player, and why we are so keen to keep him, you saw the reasons why in the last two games. He is our player."

Vieira added: "I didn't even put that [the possibility of Zaha leaving] in my head. I didn't even ask myself that question.

"I'm working with him every day and there is no doubt, there is nothing crossing my mind that something like that will happen."

Patrick Vieira had no intention to speak about players at other clubs when asked about Crystal Palace's rumoured move for Conor Gallagher.

The midfielder spent last season on loan at Palace in an impressive first campaign in charge for Viera.

His form for Palace saw the 22-year-old earn his first England call-up and the club's Player of the Year award.

Gallagher has since returned to Chelsea, but has found it hard to impose himself in the same manner so far this term.

An early red card after successive bookings at the weekend against Leicester City, on his second start of the season, has further highlighted his struggles and now reports have emerged of a £27million bid from Palace to bring him back on a permanent basis.

Vieira, however, refused to comment on whether any such move had been launched.

"The way that you are talking, it is like the £27million is on the table," Vieira quipped when asked if a move for Gallagher was on the cards.

"It is difficult to talk about players who are [at] other football clubs. You mention Conor, [but] Conor is a Chelsea player, and until Chelsea say otherwise, there is no point for us to think about what may not be possible to do."

Vieira acknowledged Palace are hopeful of concluding more business before the transfer window shuts on Thursday, adding: "We have people around the world working on trying to improve the squad.

"Like I said, we are short of numbers. We need players, and we will try to bring those players. If not, I am quite really happy with the players that we have, and we will try to win football matches."

It was a mixed night for Liverpool's South Americans as Darwin Nunez was sent off on his home debut, but Luis Diaz scored a wonder goal to earn a point for the 10-man hosts in a 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace.

A frustrating night for Jurgen Klopp's team appeared to be heading for defeat after Wilfried Zaha's first-half opener and Nunez's dismissal just before the hour.

Diaz's superb individual effort got his team level, though, before last season's Premier League runners-up set about trying to find a winner but to no avail.

It represents another early season blow to Liverpool's hopes of running champions Manchester City close again in the title race, already four points behind their rivals, but as with their opening draw against Fulham, it may feel like a point gained for Klopp in the circumstances.

Liverpool started brightly as they tried to find an early opener, with Nunez mishitting a volley at the far post, while Mohamed Salah also went close to scoring from Trent Alexander-Arnold's pull back, but the Egyptian’s side-footed attempt whizzed just wide of the near post.

After absorbing so much at the other end, it was Palace who took the lead in the 33rd minute when Eberechi Eze got away from Fabinho before playing Zaha in on goal, with the Ivory Coast international placing his shot past Alisson into the bottom-right corner.

Liverpool thought they were level just before the break as Harvey Elliott's chip found Nunez down the left side of the penalty area, but his deflected shot came back off the post.

Things went from bad to worse for Nunez as the Uruguayan reacted to being shoved by Joachim Andersen by pushing his head into the Dane, with referee Paul Tierney immediately producing a red card for the Liverpool striker.

However, the Anfield atmosphere soon improved as Diaz dribbled inside several Palace defenders before unleashing a rocket of a shot past Vicente Guaita's despairing dive to his left.

The hosts tried to find a winner despite having fewer players, though Palace could also have won it when Zaha missed a great chance at the far post, but both were forced to settle for a point.

Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira wants Premier League players to carry on taking a knee before matches.

It was confirmed on Wednesday that players would no longer make the anti-racism gesture prior to each match in the new season, instead reserving the act for specified occasions. 

The initiative was adopted as a way of supporting the Black Lives Matter movement, which became prominent following George Floyd's death in police custody in May 2020 in the United States.

Some were critical of the gesture, arguing it was politically motivated; England players were even jeered for kneeling ahead of Euro 2020 matches last year.

Certain individual players ended their participation last year, with Palace's Wilfried Zaha suggesting it "doesn't matter whether we kneel or stand" as abuse continued to be aimed at certain players.

Even as the league as a whole now limits use of the gesture, Vieira hopes players understand it is a crucial anti-racism message.

Ahead of Palace's Premier League opener against Arsenal, before which the players of each team will take a knee, Vieira told a news conference: "It's good to keep taking the knee. I think there will be a few occasions that this initiative will be doing it.

"I think it's good because we can't stop it straight away, because there is a statement to make, and I believe it is important to keep taking the knee.

"We all are about [ending] discrimination, so this is the fight that will take long, and that's why I believe we still have to take the knee."

Erik ten Hag can lead Manchester United to a Premier League title challenge next season, according to Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira.

Ten Hag has enjoyed a fine start to his first pre-season at Old Trafford, with United racking up comfortable victories over Liverpool and Melbourne Victory during their tour of Asia and Australia, netting four goals in each game.

United missed out on Champions League qualification at the end of a dismal 2021-22 season, posting their lowest Premier League points tally (58), but hopes are high that Ten Hag can revitalise the side.

The club have been making moves in the transfer market in a bid to turn things around, adding Feyenoord left-back Tyrell Malacia, former Tottenham and Brentford midfielder Christian Eriksen, and agreeing a deal for versatile Ajax defender Lisandro Martinez.

Speaking as his team prepared for a friendly against United at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Vieira said there were already signs the Dutchman had improved the Red Devils. 

"I think when you look at the first game they played against Liverpool and the game that they had against Melbourne, it looked like the new manager has started to implement the way that he wants the team to play," the former Arsenal captain said.

"But you just need to look at the individual talent that you have in that team and to believe that, you know, United, they used to play to win the Premier League.

"I think this year they will be there, trying to get the spot for the Champions League or win the title."

Meanwhile, Palace's hopes of building on their 12th-placed finish last season appear to have been dealt a huge blow, with last term's loan star Conor Gallagher set to fight for his place at Chelsea.

Only Wilfried Zaha (14) scored more Premier League goals than Gallagher's eight for Palace last season, and only Michael Olise (five) bettered the midfielder's tally of three assists for the Eagles. 

But with Gallagher declaring last week he was desperate to earn playing time at Stamford Bridge in the upcoming campaign, Vieira concedes Palace will have to do without his talents.

"At the moment I don't think there is any chance because he is a Chelsea player," he said of a potential return for Gallagher. 

"He did fantastically well for us, but he is in pre-season with Chelsea and honestly we wish him all the best. I don't think there is a way to get him back."

Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira insists Wilfried Zaha is content at Selhurst Park as he labelled the winger's transfer links to Roma as "just a report".

Zaha was a standout performer for Palace once again in the 2021-22 campaign, managing 15 goal involvements – four more than any team-mate.

The Ivory Coast international scored 14 times in the English top flight last term, his best return in his Premier League career.

But Zaha is heading into the final year of his contract at Palace, with reports suggesting Jose Mourinho's Roma are interested in signing the 29-year-old.

Zaha did not travel on Palace's pre-season tour of Australia and Singapore, but Vieira is certain the forward does not want to move away.

"It's just a report I think," Vieira said ahead of Friday's friendly against Liverpool in Singapore. "We are in a period where there is a lot of speculation regarding players.

"What is really important for me and the football club is that Wilfried Zaha came back on time and he is working well to have a good season.

"What goes on in the papers, it is difficult for us to control. What I know is that he is happy in our football club and he is looking forward to the new season at our football club."

Zaha has been mooted as a transfer target for clubs such as Tottenham, Arsenal, Everton and Borussia Dortmund in recent seasons, but Palace have managed to keep hold of their talisman.

Vieira will hope to have Zaha available when Palace open their Premier League campaign at home to Arsenal on August 5.

Everton have been charged by the Football Association (FA) for pitch invasions during their Premier League victory over Crystal Palace in May.

Frank Lampard's side recovered from two goals down to win 3-2 at Goodison Park and secure their top-flight status.

Home supporters encroached the pitch after Dominic Calvert-Lewin had completed the comeback and again when their survival was confirmed following the full-time whistle.

Palace boss Patrick Vieira was involved in an altercation with an Everton supporter during the second pitch invasion, but the FA and Merseyside Police took no further action.

The FA announced on Monday that Everton have been charged with two breaches of rule E20, which relates to fan behaviour and safety.

The statement added: "It is alleged that in the 84th minute and then following completion of the fixture, Everton FC failed to ensure that its spectators, and all persons purporting to be its supporters or followers, conducted themselves in an orderly fashion and refrained from using threatening and/or violent behaviour while encroaching onto the pitch area."

Everton have until July 18 to provide a response.

Wantaway Liverpool forward Sadio Mane deserves to be in contention to win the Ballon d'Or, says Patrick Vieira. 

Mane, who has been widely linked with a move to German champions Bayern Munich after Liverpool announced the signing of Benfica attacker Darwin Nunez, scored 23 goals as the Reds won the EFL Cup and FA Cup last season.

He was also decisive as Senegal claimed their first Africa Cup of Nations title in February before leading his national team to World Cup qualification the following month. 

Those exploits have led to suggestions he could compete with Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema to be named the world's best player later this year, and Arsenal legend and Crystal Palace manager Vieira thinks his wide-ranging abilities put him in contention.

"Sadio Mane is part of the new generation of attackers who knows how to do everything," Vieira told the Diambars Institute, a football academy in Senegal.

"He scores goals, he knows how to defend, he knows how to run in depth. He is a hard worker in the field. 

"He is one of the modern attackers. For me, he should be considered for the Ballon d'Or.

"He is one of those great players who can win it. I saw him every weekend in the Premier League and for me, he is one of the great European strikers."

Having won six trophies in a six-year spell at Anfield, Mane is expected to move to Bayern in the current transfer window, perhaps as a replacement for Barcelona-linked striker Robert Lewandowski.

Asked about such rumours, Vieira said Mane will make the best decision for his career. 

"I think he has his head on his shoulders to make the best decision," the Frenchman added.

"Should he stay or go? It's up to him to make that decision. But he is a player that I admire in relation to his talent as a footballer, but also in relation to his talent as a man."

Merseyside Police have confirmed they will take no action after Patrick Vieira was involved in an altercation with an Everton fan at Goodison Park.

The incident took place in the aftermath of Everton's 3-2 comeback win over Vieira's Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Thursday, which ensured Frank Lampard's side would avoid relegation.

Widely circulated footage appeared to show Vieira kicking out at a supporter after being goaded as Everton fans flooded onto the playing surface at full-time.

While Vieira refused to comment on the incident in his post-match news conference, Merseyside Police announced an investigation, though have now confirmed they will be taking no action, suggesting that neither the former Arsenal and France midfielder nor the fan in question chose to make a formal complaint.

A statement released on the Merseyside Police website on Monday said: "Merseyside Police has concluded enquiries into an altercation on the pitch at Goodison Park following the Everton v Crystal Palace match on Thursday (19 May).

"We worked with Everton FC to gather all available CCTV footage and spoke to witnesses.

"Officers have spoken to both men involved and the opportunity to make a formal complaint or support a prosecution was declined."

There has been a worrying increase of violent incidents during pitch invasions in the last week.

A Nottingham Forest fan was jailed for attacking Sheffield United's Billy Sharp, while on Sunday Aston Villa goalkeeper Robin Olsen was attacked as Manchester City fans flooded onto the Etihad Stadium pitch after their team sealed the Premier League title.

Manchester United will be playing Europa League football next season despite Wilfried Zaha scoring in a 1-0 win for Crystal Palace over the Red Devils in the Premier League.

Incoming United boss Erik ten Hag was in attendance at Selhurst Park as Zaha punished a languid first-half showing by Ralf Rangnick's side to put Palace in front.

United, without the injured Cristiano Ronaldo, could not find a breakthrough in the second half as they fell to a sixth straight away league defeat.

However, West Ham were defeated by Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday, which kept United in sixth despite the Red Devils finishing the term with a club record-low Premier League points tally.

Edinson Cavani, playing in his final game for United, almost wrongfooted Vicente Guaita with a volley after 14 minutes, but the Spaniard readjusted to parry away.

David de Gea showed quick reflexes to thwart low drives from Zaha and Jeffrey Schlupp, but the United goalkeeper had no response shortly after when the Ivory Coast international drilled into the bottom-left corner.

Bruno Fernandes tamely curled a free-kick into Guaita's hands after the interval, while Conor Gallagher dragged a presentable opportunity wide at the other end.

Anthony Elanga sliced wide from Juan Mata's cutback as United searched for a late equaliser, although a belated offside flag against the Spaniard spared the Sweden international's blushes.

United continued pressing forward but Palace held firm for a fifth consecutive top-flight home clean sheet for just the second time in history.

The Football Association (FA) has condemned pitch-invading fans after a number of high-profile incidents of violence near the end of the English league season.

Earlier on Friday, Merseyside Police announced they had launched an investigation into an altercation between Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira and a fan, after Everton supporters flooded onto the Goodison Park pitch to celebrate the Toffees securing Premier League safety with a 3-2 comeback victory.

Widely circulated footage appeared to show Vieira kicking out at the fan after being goaded, while this week also saw a Nottingham Forest supporter jailed and given a stadium ban after attacking Sheffield United player Billy Sharp following a Championship play-off semi-final at the City Ground.

Elsewhere, Swindon Town players were allegedly physically and verbally abused during a pitch invasion at Port Vale, while a Northampton Town fan appeared to shove a Mansfield Town player during League Two's other play-off semi-final tie.

English football's governing body has now moved to condemn the scenes and confirmed it is investigating each of the pitch invasions to have taken place over recent days.

"We are very concerned about the rise in anti-social behaviour from fans as we reach the end of the season," a statement from the FA began.

"Football stadiums should always be a safe and enjoyable space for everyone, and these incidents are completely unacceptable and have no place in our game.

"It is illegal to enter the pitch area in any stadium and these actions are putting players, fans and people who run the game at great risk. This simply cannot continue, and we can confirm that we are investigating all of the incidences. 

"Clubs play a vital role in addressing this issue and they need to prevent pitch invasions from occurring, as well as taking their own action against those that break the rules and the law.

"The FA will be seeking to do all that it can to work with clubs as well as addressing the issues from a disciplinary perspective. We are also reviewing our regulations to help stamp this behaviour out and to ensure the safety of everyone inside a stadium."

An altercation involving Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira on the Goodison Park pitch is being investigated by Merseyside police.

The incident took place in the aftermath of Everton's 3-2 comeback win over Palace in the Premier League on Thursday.

Widely circulated social media footage appeared to show Vieira kicking out at a supporter after being goaded, as Everton fans flooded onto the playing surface after Frank Lampard's team secured their top-flight status.

While Vieira refused to comment on the incident at his post-match news conference, the police have now announced an investigation, while reports suggest the Football Association has launched its own probe.

"Merseyside Police is investigating an altercation on the pitch at Goodison Park following the Everton v Crystal Palace match," read a statement released on Friday. 

"We are working with Everton FC to gather all available CCTV footage and are speaking to witnesses. No formal complaint has been received and enquiries into the incident are ongoing."

Meanwhile, a separate statement released by the force confirmed three men had been arrested for entering – or attempting to enter – Goodison Park with pyrotechnics on Thursday, while another was arrested for a breach of the police but later de-arrested.

The unsavoury scenes follow similar incidents being witnessed at several Football League play-off matches recently – a fan was jailed for assaulting Sheffield United striker Billy Sharp after the team's defeat at Nottingham Forest earlier this week, while pitch invasions have also occurred at Huddersfield Town, Northampton Town, and Port Vale in recent days.

Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira was involved in an altercation with an Everton fan following his team's 3-2 defeat at Goodison Park on Thursday.

Palace threw away a 2-0 half-time lead in the second half, and the dramatic victory for the Toffees ensured their Premier League status for another season.

The delirious home fans descended onto the pitch after the final whistle to celebrate, but one fan approached Vieira and appeared to taunt him.

The former Arsenal midfielder initially ignored the man, before turning to confront him, seeming to kick out before being ushered away by other Everton supporters.

Vieira refused to speak about the incident in his post-match media conference, though his opposite number Frank Lampard said he "felt" for the Frenchman being put in that situation.

"I feel for Patrick," the Everton boss said at his own media conference. "I didn't get him at the end. I would have said, 'come in with us' – although he might not have wanted that.

"Of course he ran 80 yards across the pitch and it's not easy."

This was not the first unsavoury incident to take place in English football in the last week involving pitch invasions, with a Nottingham Forest fan being arrested and later jailed for assaulting Sheffield United striker Billy Sharp following Forest's penalty shoot-out win in the Championship playoff semi-finals on Tuesday.

There were further concerns raised about fans endangering players during pitch invasions after both League Two playoff games involving Mansfield Town and Northampton Town on Wednesday, and Swindon Town and Port Vale on Thursday.

On the fans coming onto the pitch, Lampard added: "It was pure elation of fans who have come on the pitch after avoiding relegation.

"If it is done in the right way let them stay on the pitch, let them have their moment. As long as they behave, no problem."

Kevin De Bruyne and Son Heung-min have joined Liverpool duo Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold in being nominated for the Premier League's Player of the Season award.

De Bruyne, who won the award in 2019-20 despite Manchester City missing out on the title to Liverpool that season, is enjoying his best goalscoring campaign for the club.

He netted four goals in a 5-1 thrashing of Wolves on Wednesday, taking him to 19 in all competitions.

Salah is the only other past winner to be up for the award, having scored 22 goals and provided 13 assists (both league-high tallies) in another outstanding campaign as Liverpool battle City for the title.

Fellow Reds star Alexander-Arnold is also on the shortlist after racking up 12 assists in 31 appearances, as is Tottenham forward Son, who scored his 21st league goal of the campaign in Spurs' 3-0 win over Arsenal on Thursday.

Despite hitting 18 and 15 league goals respectively this season, Manchester United and Spurs strikers Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Kane are among the highest-profile players to miss out being nominated.

The other players on the eight-man shortlist are City defender Joao Cancelo, Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka, Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse, and West Ham's Jarrod Bowen.

Bowen is one of just three Premier League players to record double figures for goals and assists this season (both 10, along with Salah and Chelsea's Mason Mount).

Meanwhile, both Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp are in contention to be named Manager of the Season at the end of another enthralling title race between their teams.

Guardiola has already won the award on three occasions (in 2017-18, 2018-19, and 2020-21), the same amount as Jose Mourinho and Arsene Wenger. Only Alex Ferguson, with 11, has won it more often.

Klopp won the award when he led Liverpool to their first Premier League title in 2019-20, while the other three nominees all manage sides currently in the bottom half of the table.

Brentford's Thomas Frank is among them after leading the Bees to safety in their first top-flight season since 1946-47, as is Patrick Viera after an impressive first campaign with Crystal Palace.

Newcastle United's Eddie Howe is the final boss on the five-man shortlist, after the Magpies became the first side to go winless through their first 14 games in a Premier League campaign and avoid relegation (three had done so and gone down - Swindon Town in 1993-94, QPR in 2012-13, and Sheffield United in 2020-21).

Public votes will contribute towards deciding the winner of each award, with Premier League club captains also getting a vote on the players' award and a "panel of football experts" helping to choose the winning manager.