If you could have converted Chelsea fans’ heartbeats into electricity at the weekend’s clash with Palace, you’d have been able to power the capital. 

With a collective sigh of relief from supporters, the Blues clung on for a 1-0 win at the Bridge, and now face a daunting trek to Anfield to face a Liverpool team also wrestling with mixed recent results. 

Expecting to make his debut for the Blues is attacker Mykhailo Mudryk, who – draped in the Ukrainian flag – was introduced on the pitch in the half-time break in the tense London derby having being signed from Shakhtar Donetsk. 

“Sixty mill; you’re having a laugh,” chanted jealous Eagles fans, but it is Arsenal’s nose that is out of joint as the Gunners thought they’d secured the 22-year-old’s signature. 

Mudryk, who looks like a boy band singer, is the Blues’ fifth January signing, with fellow newbie Joao Felix failing to last an hour before being red-carded for a reckless tackle at Craven Cottage in Chelsea’s recent 2-1 defeat by Fulham. 

These are turbulent times for Graham Potter, with a lot of new faces to quickly integrate. The win against Palace followed much nervy fingernail nibbling by the home fans, especially after ref Peter Bankes announced seven minutes of stoppage time. 

But Kai Havertz’ headed goal in the 64^th minute was enough to secure three points and stop Chelsea sliding into the bottom half of the table. 

Relieved supporters chanted “We are staying up”, which drew a smile from Potter.