'Hazard must improve'

Jose Mourinho has suggested that Eden Hazard must improve his performance level after Chelsea slipped to a shock 2-1 loss to Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

Goals from Bakary Sako and Joel Ward gave the Eagles all three points on Mourinho's 100th home game in charge of the club – with Alan Pardew's men inflicting only the second defeat at Stamford Bridge of the Portuguese's Blues reign.

Mourinho has hinted that Hazard – who won the PFA Player of the Year award last season – and a number of senior players must start performing after the Blues' stuttering start to their title defence, having taken just four points from four games thus far. 

"If you are the best player in the league, I think it should be a good responsibility to have a similar season than in the previous season," he said.

"I don't want to analyse individual performances. In general terms, it is difficult to have a consistent performance when some of the players are not performing at a good level."