Jose Mourinho’s men have been leading the pack for weeks but with both Man City and Liverpool hot on their heels a trip to Selhurst Park fortunately looked sure to keep them top.
Chelsea kept pressing but it was a John Terry own goal after a 52 minute stalemate that proved the difference.
Yet again Chelsea dropped points to an inferior side allowing Liverpool to take advantage and leapfrog them to that coveted first place.
Mourinho believes their title hopes are over and with losses like these he might just be right.