Enzo Maresca cannot explain why Chelsea keep surrendering leads in the Premier League but accepts it is a problem they must solve if they are to maintain their quest for a top-four finish.

In one of the most incredible underdog stories in football history, Curacao -- a tiny Caribbean island with a population of just around 156,000 -- stunned the world by qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Chelsea midfielder Cole Palmer is finally ready to play a full match after months of injury struggles, manager Enzo Maresca said on Wednesday, as his side prepares to face high-flying Aston Villa in the Premier League on Saturday.

Erling Haaland fired Manchester City to the top of the Premier League by beating West Ham 3-0, while Chelsea fought back to salvage a 2-2 draw at Newcastle on Saturday.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Wednesday warned former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich "the clock is ticking" over the frozen £2.5 billion ($3.4 billion) generated from the sale of the club, which has been earmarked to help Ukraine's war victims.

The Blues didn't have it all their own way in a hard-fought clash, but reaching a third semi-final in 18 months provided further evidence of Maresca's impact since he arrived from Leicester in 2024.

The hosts were the only non-Premier League side left in the competition but they more than held their own against the Club World Cup winners who were forced to turn to their bench to overcome the League One leaders.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca insisted his side were a better team for having Cole Palmer back after the forward scored on his first Stamford Bridge start in almost four months as the Blues beat Everton 2-0 to move back into the Premier League's top four.

Cole Palmer and Wesley Fofana are available for Chelsea's home Premier League clash with Everton on Saturday, but Liam Delap faces two to four weeks on the sidelines due to a shoulder injury, manager Enzo Maresca told reporters.

Atalanta sealed an important Champions League comeback victory, overturning Chelsea 2-1 at home on Tuesday through goals from Gianluca Scamacca and Charles De Ketelaere.

The draw leaves Chelsea in fourth place in the table with 25 points from their 15 games.

A late equaliser did little to lift the gloom around Anfield as Liverpool sit eighth.

Ten-man Chelsea held Arsenal to a 1-1 draw in a highly charged top-of-the-table London derby on Sunday, Mikel Merino cancelling out Trevoh Chalobah's Chelsea opener to spare the Premier League leaders' blushes.

Cole Palmer is fit to start Chelsea's summit meeting with Premier League leaders Arsenal this weekend after more than two months on the sidelines, manager Enzo Maresca said Friday.

Strasbourg defender Ben Chilwell has set his sights on delivering "the biggest middle finger" to his critics by winning a place in England's World Cup squad.

The 18-year-old Brazilian emphatically won the battle of the teenage prodigies against Lamine Yamal.

Estevao scored a breathtaking solo Champions League goal to win the battle of the teenage prodigies against Lamine Yamal on Tuesday as Chelsea humbled 10-man Barcelona 3-0.

Arsenal midfielder Eberechi Eze showed Tottenham what they missed out on with a brilliant hat-trick in a 4-1 north London derby demolition that bolstered the Premier League leaders' title charge on Sunday.

Virgil van Dijk said Liverpool's players are letting manager Arne Slot down after the Premier League champions' collapse continued with a 3-0 home defeat to Nottingham Forest.

Pedro Neto put the Blues ahead just before the interval at Turf Moor and Enzo Fernandez netted in the closing stages.