Cole Palmer delivered another hugely influential display as Chelsea earned a hard-fought 2-1 win over Newcastle in the Premier League.
The England forward was the star of the show once again at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, scoring what proved to be the winning goal straight after half-time having already provided arguably the pass of the season so far in the build-up to Nicolas Jackson’s ruthless opener that was cancelled out by Alexander Isak.
Chelsea bounce back from their narrow defeat at Liverpool to move into the top four before the huge title showdown between Arsenal and the Reds in north London later on Sunday, while goal-shy Newcastle stay down in 12th and are now winless in five in the top-flight, having failed to score more than once yet again.
Chelsea thought they were ahead inside five minutes at the Bridge when Jackson threaded a pass through for Palmer and the latter finished coolly beyond Nick Pope, but the goal was ruled out after a VAR check for offside.
However, the Blues kept the pressure on and got their reward after 18 minutes, Palmer setting them away on a blistering counter-attack with an outrageous pass to release Pedro Neto, who successfully rode the challenge of Fabian Schar before squaring for Jackson to side-foot home in the middle.
Chelsea were well on top at 1-0, but were frustratingly profligate with their finishing and made to pay shortly after the half-hour mark when ex-Chelsea duo Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall were both involved in an incisive Newcastle move that saw Isak tap home only his second goal of the season from close range. The goal stood after another lengthy VAR check for offside.
Chelsea restored their lead just 75 seconds after the restart when Isak was dispossessed too easily on halfway and Palmer sprinted into the box and lashed a low shot in at the near post that Pope should have kept out.
Neto then quickly crashed a header off the post as Newcastle struggled to get their bearings in the second half, though they should have equalised again when Isak shrugged off the returning Wesley Fofana and rounded goalkeeper Robert Sanchez near the byline but could not get a shot away before Moises Caicedo got back to see off the danger.
Chelsea thought they had a penalty in a frenetic end to the game after Dan Burn dragged down substitute Christopher Nkunku inside the box, but the award was overturned after referee Simon Hooper was sent by the VAR to watch the replay on the pitchside monitor.
Chelsea were also indebted to a number of important defensive interventions from Reece James to preserve their lead, including a last-gasp clearance as their fit-again captain completed a rare 90 minutes.
More to follow
