In a frantic start, the Ivory Coast winger cancelled out Cesc Fabregas’s opener and teed up Christian Benteke for the winner as Chelsea lost at home for the first time since September 16.
Second-place Tottenham Hotspur took advantage by winning 2-0 at Burnley to trim Chelsea’s lead to seven points.
Liverpool closed to within 10 points of the leaders, albeit having played a game more, after sinking Everton 3-1 in the Merseyside derby.
But Manchester United lost ground in the race for top-four places following a frustrating 0-0 draw at home to West Bromwich Albion.
Zaha’s headline-grabbing display against Chelsea followed a week of headlines about his decision to switch international allegiances from England to Ivory Coast last year.
His side fell behind in the fifth minute when Eden Hazard crossed from the left for Fabregas to score at the near post.
But Zaha levelled matters in the ninth minute, drilling home through a posse of defenders, and two minutes later his pass freed Benteke to dink a cocky finish over Thibaut Courtois.
Despite losing defenders James Tomkins and Scott Dann — Tomkins’s replacement — to injury, Sam Allardyce’s patched-up Palace side gallantly held on to stay four points clear of the bottom three.
Tottenham kept their title hopes flickering after Eric Dier scored from close range and Son Heung-Min converted a cross from Dele Alli in the second half at Burnley.
However, victory came at the cost of injuries to midfielders Victor Wanyama and Harry Winks, who was taken to hospital with a potentially serious ankle injury.
Philippe Coutinho scored a dazzling goal and made another for Divock Origi as Liverpool overcame Everton at Anfield.
Sadio Mane put Liverpool in front in the eighth minute, drilling in following a one-two with Roberto Firmino, but was later forced off by a knee injury.
– Leicester resurgence continues –
Matthew Pennington equalised, but Coutinho strolled past him to restore Liverpool’s lead with a fine, curling effort and then teed up Origi, Mane’s replacement, to slam home Liverpool’s third.
Everton midfielder Ross Barkley was fortunate to avoid a red card for a crude foul on Dejan Lovren, but his manager Ronald Koeman felt Liverpool’s protests were excessive.
“I don’t like coaches from the bench the whole time shouting to referees and linesmen, making a big show about tackles,” he said. “They were crazy. It’s a man’s sport.”
Victory lifted Liverpool to third place, two points above fourth-place Manchester City — who visit Arsenal on Sunday — having played two games more.
Manchester United now lie four points off the Champions League slots in fifth place after the latest in a number of frustrating afternoon Old Trafford, this time against West Brom.
Anthony Martial and Marouane Fellaini squandered good chances for Jose Mourinho’s men either side of half-time.
But former United midfielder Darren Fletcher almost snatched victory for West Brom with a shot that David de Gea pushed against the bar.
Leicester City’s resurgence continued with a 2-0 home win over Stoke City that gave Craig Shakespeare a fifth successive victory since succeeding Claudio Ranieri as manager.
The champions prevailed through a glorious 25-yard strike from Wilfred Ndidi and a sharp Jamie Vardy volley, leaving them six points clear of the relegation zone.
Bottom club Sunderland remain seven points from safety after Miguel Britos’s header earned Watford a 1-0 win at Vicarage Road.
Andy Robertson and Andrea Ranocchia wiped out Andy Carroll’s opener as third-bottom Hull City came from behind to win 2-1 at home to West Ham United.
It left Marco Silva’s side below fourth-bottom Swansea City on goal difference alone.
South-coast rivals Southampton and Bournemouth meet at St Mary’s in the late game.
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