toptop
Cole
Palmer produced "one of the best passes in Premier League history" to help
Chelsea overcome Newcastle United 2-1 at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea thought they had made an early breakthrough when Nicolas Jackson sent
Palmer through on goal, but despite the England forward coolly slotting past
Nick Pope, his strike was ruled out by the Video Assistant Referee [VAR] for the
tightest of offside calls against the striker, who had strayed just beyond
Fabian Schar.
Player ratings:
Chelsea: Sanchez (6), James (7), Fofana (7), Colwill (7), Gusto
(7), Lavia (7), Caicedo (7), Madueke (7), Palmer (9), Neto (8), Jackson (8)
Subs: Cucurella (6), Fernandez (6), Mudryk (7), Nkunku (7)
Newcastle: Pope (5), Schar (7), Joelinton (7), Tonali (6),
Barnes (7), Isak (7), Hall (7), Livramento (6), Almiron (5), Burn (6), Guimaraes
(7)
Subs: Osula (6), Murphy(6), Kelly (6), Willock (6), Longstaff
(6)
Man of the match: Cole Palmer
That home disappointment did not last long, though, as the Blues soon made a
deserved breakthrough after what Jamie Carragher called "one of the best passes
I've ever seen in the Premier League" as Palmer's outrageous ball released Pedro
Neto in space down the left.
The Portugal forward, starting in place of the benched Jadon Sancho down
Chelsea's left, did well to first evade Schar's tackle on the byline, before
squaring for the unmarked Jackson to score his 10th goal in his last 14 league
matches for the Blues.
The visitors, who thought they should have had a penalty when skipper Bruno
Guimaraes was seemingly felled by Levi Colwill, did draw level just past the
half-hour mark after a well-worked team goal, although only after another tight
offside call.
However, Alexander Isak managed not to stray before side-footing home Lewis
Hall's inviting ball in from the left as the Magpies netted for the first time
in three league games and went in all square at the break.
But Newcastle, minus the injured Anthony Gordon, were not level for long as the
hosts went back ahead just 75 seconds into the second period after losing the
ball on halfway, allowing Romeo Lavia to feed Palmer, who then somehow beat Nick
Pope at his near post for his 17th Premier League goal at Stamford Bridge in
2024, the most by any player in a calendar year at the stadium.
There was late drama for both teams as first Isak saw his close-range header
cleared of the line by Reece James, before somehow failing to score after
rounding Robert Sanchez, only to be dispossessed by Wesley Fofana before he
could put the ball in the empty net.
And then Chelsea had a injury-time penalty overturned by the VAR, who deemed Dan
Burn's pull on Christopher Nkunku insufficient for a spot-kick.
As a result, Enzo Maresca sees his youthful side - the Italian has fielded the
youngest XI in Premier League history this season - move up to fourth in the
table ahead of Sunday afternoon's later games, while Newcastle are 12th after
going a fifth league match without a win for the first time since March 2023.
Click Here for Official Teamsheet
Teams
Chelsea Sanchez; James (c), Fofana, Colwill, Gusto (Cucurella
78); Caicedo, Lavia (Fernandez 72); Madueke (Mudryk 67), Palmer, Neto; Jackson
(Nkunku 78)
Subs Not Used Jorgensen, Tosin, Veiga, Felix, Sancho
Booked Fofana, Lavia, Madueke, Sanchez, Neto, Nkunku
Goals Jackson 18, Palmer 47
Newcastle United Pope, Hall (Kelly 89), Burn, Schar,
Livramento, Joelinton (Osula 89), Guimaraes (c), Tonali (Longstaff 68), Barnes
(Willock 68), Isak, Almiron (Murphy 68)
Subs Not Used Ruddy, Vlachodimos, Krafth, Miley
Booked Schar, Tonali, Longstaff
Goals Isak 32
Attendance 39,526
Referee Simon Hooper
VAR Jarred Gillett