Cole Palmer starred with a goal and an assist as Chelsea Rhythm Newcastle United 3-2 in a duel between two teams fighting for European qualification.
The Chelsea midfielder’s shot in the first half was cleared Nicholas Jackson and, although Alexander Isaac equalized just before half-time, Palmer restored the home side’s lead with a powerful second-half strike for his 11th Premier League goal of the season before the changes Mykhailo Mudryk and Jacob Murphy traded goals.
Palmer has now scored and assisted in five top-flight games this season, more than any other player.
While still in 11th place, Chelsea have now taken eight points from a four-match unbeaten run and are just one point behind Newcastle, while they are just four points behind seventh-placed West Ham United.
How did the match go?
Mauricio Pochettino made two changes to the side that 2-2 draw against Brentfordwith Raheem Sterling and Marc Cucurella replacing Ben Chilwell and Levi Colwill.
Newcastle also made two changes, Tino Libramento and Miguel Almiron replacing the wounded Kieran Trippier and Harvey Barnes.
Chelsea got off to a dream start, scoring inside six minutes for their first goal of the season and their fastest at home in the Premier League since. December 2018 v Fulham.
Malo GustoHis low cross forced a wrong clearance from Sven Botman and the ball fell kindly to Pilgrimwho unleashed a low strike from the edge of the box which was brilliantly struck by Nicholas Jackson for his ninth goal of the season.
Chelsea looked comfortable and Newcastle were dealt another blow in the 36th minute as Anthony Gordon limping. But Pochettino’s side failed to capitalize and allowed their visitors to equalize with their first shot on target in the 43rd minute.
Chelsea lost the ball in midfield and Bruno Guimaraes were found Isaacwho curled a clinical side-footed finish into the bottom right-hand corner from the edge of the box for his 12th Premier League goal of the season and his first in the competition from outside the penalty area.
Three minutes later Chelsea had the ball in the net through Jackson, but the striker’s goal was ruled out for offside. Sterling also had a chance to restore Chelsea’s lead but his strike was comfortably saved Martin Dubravkawhile at the other end Joe Willock came in behind but failed to finish.
Chelsea’s right-back duo of Gusto and Palmer continued to trouble Newcastle in the second half and looked the most likely route for the Blues to run out winners.
Sure enough, in the 57th minute Palmer received Enzo Fernandez’s pass in the pocket outside the box and unleashed a superb strike into the bottom right corner. It was Fernandes’ first assist in the Premier League this season.
Minutes later, a Jackson turn put Sterling on goal, but as the striker rounded Dubravka and shot, Dan Byrne he was there to clear the ball off the line.
Byrne had a chance to equalize as he headed home from Almiron’s free-kick, but Chelsea made it 3-1 in the 75th minute.
Jackson drove from the middle of the lane and found Conor Gallagherbefore substitute Mudryk took the ball from his teammate and showed a moment of nutmeg brilliance Fabian Schar before rounding up Dubravka.
Mudryk has now contributed a goal in his last three Premier League home games, scoring two and assisting 1.
Newcastle substitute Murphy gave Chelsea a scare when he made it 3-2 in the 90th minute. firing a thunderous strike in the upper right corner.
But the Magpies could not find an equalizer and suffered their second loss in three matches.
The club reports
Chelsea Report | Newcastle Fair
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Basic elements
Chelsea have won 10 of their last 11 Premier League home games against Newcastle (D1), scoring 25 goals and conceding just six.
Since the start of November, only Brentford (8) have conceded more away games in the Premier League than Newcastle (7), while the Magpies have conceded more away goals during that period (24 in 9 games).
Cole Palmer has scored in each of his last five Premier League home games for Chelsea, becoming the sixth player to do so for the Blues in the competition and the first since Olivier Giroud in December 2020.
Chelsea have won eight and lost none of their last 10 Premier League games when they started the day in the second half (D2), scoring at least two goals in all 10 games (27 in total).