PALM SUNDAY
Chelsea 2 Newcastle 1: Cole Palmer runs the show once again as Blues regain spot in top four
A controversial moment prevented Palmer from adding his second
COLE PALMER ran the show for Chelsea yet again - but this time with a royal nod from the King of Stamford Bridge.
Gianfranco Zola was in the stands to watch another virtuoso display from the young pretender to his throne. And was clearly impressed.
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Even before kickoff, Zola, once voted the best Chelsea player of all time, was gushing about Palmer in a pre-match interview.
By the time the little Italian genius left for home he was purring at the quality of the Premier League’s brightest young talent, who scored a classy goal and provided an even better assist.
Equally, Zola should be a little worried that his place as the all-time greatest at this club is seriously under threat.
Palmer has some way to go to steal the crown but after barely one season is going from strength to strength in terms of his impact and influence at this steadily improving club.
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In addition to the powerful low strike that won the match two minutes into the second half, Palmer’s instinctive vision and reading of the game showcased his considerable talent.
He also had a goal ruled out for offside after just four minutes of the first half.
It was the sort of high-end, sophisticated performance that was Zola’s trademark during seven years carving out a reputation as a genuine legend in these parts.
If Chelsea have any sense, Palmer will stick around for even longer to forge a similar legacy.
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Head coach Enzo Maresca has called for more leadership in his young team. Palmer is not the noisiest but leads this team by example week in, week out.
When his goal was rightly flagged offside Palmer simply shrugged it off and turned his attention to setting up a goal 12 minutes later with a sublime pass.
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From in front of the D of his own area, he found space with a turn then sliced a pass upfield inside Newcastle right back Tino Livarmento with Pedro Neto giving chase.
The Portuguese was first to the ball then rode the lunging tackle of Fabian Schar and squared for Nicolas Jackson to plant the ball in the back of the net.
A clinical finish but impressive vision from Palmer in the first place to set the hares running in the first place.
It’s not often you’ll see Chelsea’s most naturally talented player digging them out of trouble from way back in his own half. He should do it more.
Everything revolved around Palmer but there is also no debate that Chelsea are far from the finished article yet.
Keeper Robert Sanchez put them under needless pressure with some extraordinarily poor distribution of the ball.
And Newcastle needed help because they were threatening very little before grabbing their equaliser on 32 minutes.
Chelsea player ratings vs Newcastle
COLE PALMER was once again the star of the show.
His perfect pass for Neto set up Nicolas Jackson's opening goal and then he scored the second in a 2-1 win over Newcastle.
He was class - but not all the Chelsea players were.
Here's how SunSport's Lloyd Canfield rated the players at Stamford Bridge...
Robert Sanchez – 3/10
Pretty poor in all honesty.
A liability in terms of distribution, and while a decent shot-stopper, he consistently seems to be a big question mark in this Chelsea eleven.
Malo Gusto – 3
It looks as though Chelsea may have to choose between Gusto and Reece James to start on the right with them
Failed to impact the game much attacking-wise, and was bettered by Lewis Hall who crossed for Alexander Isak's equaliser.
Wesley Fofana – 6
Picked up a knock early on and played the rest of the game with a strapped-up knee.
Nonetheless, gave as good as he got against the powerful Alexander Isak for large parts of the game, and made some crucial blocks and tackles throughout.
Levi Colwill – 6
Was fortunate to get away with a clumsy tackle on Bruno Guimaraes early in the first half, but was still fairly solid.
For a man with such an impressive passing range, it felt like he couldn't quite put it to use today.
Seemingly prevented Alexander Isak from levelling with his aura alone…
Reece James – 2
Playing as a left-centre back it's hard to see how Chelsea will get the best out of what could be one of the finest attacking wing backs in the world.
He didn't look comfortable in that position, and let Alexander Isak run away from him for Newcastle's equaliser.
He came up with two crucial blocks in the second half to deny Isak from making it two or three, before giving him a golden chance to do so which was not taken.
Romeo Lavia – 7
Followed up a brilliant performance in the loss to Liverpool with another good showing in the middle of the park here.
Starting to look like a bargain with performances like these if he can stay fit, as he claimed the assist for Cole Palmer's fine finish.
Moises Caicedo – 7
Effective in breaking up play for the Blues, and it was a solid showing from a midfield player who has been so good this season.
Steps into challenges nicely at just the right time, and is becoming a dependable figure in the same mould in which N'golo Kante and Claude Makelele were in their time here.
Noni Madueke – 5
Quiet in the first half, but better in the second as he looked to trouble Lewis Hall more.
Was outshone by Pedro Neto on the opposite flank this time out, before being swapped out for Mykhailo Mudryk.
Pedro Neto – 8
So much pace down the left-hand side which was utilised perfectly to leave Livramento in the dust to set up Nicolas Jackson's opening goal.
Could have had a goal early in the second half as he rattled the post with a header after leaping like a salmon.
Cole Palmer – 9
Started the game well with a cracking finish which VAR ruled out, only to cook the Newcastle defence a matter of moments later with an incisive pass for Neto to set up the opener.
Newcastle simply could not handle the midfield man, who lit up Stamford Bridge early in the second half to claim his sixth goal of the season.
Nonchalance personified, cool Cole showed why he will attend the Ballon d'Or ceremony tomorrow night, and why he can win it in coming years.
Nicolas Jackson – 8
A superb first-time finish opened the scoring for the Blues, and the Senegalese forward did well with the little service he had in the first half - often needing to drop deep to pick up the ball and link up the play.
14 goals in his last 14 Premier League games - leave the Didier Drogba comparisons at home, this is a superstar in his own right.
SUBS:
MYKHAILO MUDRYK (NONI MADUEKE, 67) – 5
Had a big chance to add a third to Chelsea's tally after replacing Madueke, but his left-footed strike was saved by Nick Pope, who didn't have to move.
ENZO FERNANDEZ (ROMEO LAVIA, 72) – 5
Didn't add anything which Lavia wasn't already giving, but ultimately wasn't given much time to really impact the game.
MARC CUCURELLA (MALO GUSTO , 78) – 5
Individually, didn't have a lot of time to show what he's made of, but Chelsea look like a better team with him in the side.
He plays the inverted left-back role well, allowing Chelsea to get the most out of their right-side.
CHRISTOPHER NKUNKU ( NICOLAS JACKSON, 78) – 6
Had a half-chance late on, which wasn't taken as he dilly-dallied on the ball on the edge of the box.
Thought he had won a penalty on the stroke of the 90th minute after going down under pressure from Dan Burn, but it was ruled out by VAR.
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Just one win on the road before kick-off and free-flowing football in short supply. No goals in the two previous Premier League games and those that did arrive were from penalties in successive games.
So when Isak, no goals at all since September 1, was positioned in the six-yard box to bundle home a cross from Lewis Hall it was a rare sight.
So much so that the away fans inside Stamford Bridge weren’t sure whether the repeated replays on the screen were to check for a possible offside or just to make sure they weren’t actually dreaming.
A five man move neatly passing by Chelsea’s stagnant midfield.
Harvey Barnes eventually fed Lewis Hall on the overlap and the former Blues left-back delivered a ball into the danger area for Isak to prod the ball over the line.
It was an ungainly goal compared to Chelsea’s swish delivery earlier.
But it was Newcastle’s first from open play in more than seven hours of football - including a tougher than expected Carabao Cup win over League Two Wimbledon.
And there was a touch of Kings Road panache about Palmer when Chelsea restored their lead just two minutes into the second half.
Picking up a pass forwards from Romeo Lavia just inside Newcastle’s half, the ginger bomber glided through Newcastle’s defence unchallenged before powering a left-foot shot to beat Pope at his near post.
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Newcastle’s keeper had earlier produced a stunning one-handed save to deny Neto. He wasn’t quite so agile in this instance.
But it was upfront where Howe’s team really lacked instinct.
Having levelled for his team, Isak carved out a brilliant opportunity to do it again when he got the better of Wesley Fofana, rounded keeper Sanchez and merely had to punt the ball into the net albeit, from a tight angle.
But the striker took one step too many, got tangled up in his own feet with Moises Caicedo ultimately coming to Chelsea’s rescue with a timely tackle.
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Newcastle assistant Jason Tindall simply held his hands in the air in despair and rightly so.
Palmer even set up the chance from which Chelsea thought they had won a penalty when Dan Burn nudged over Chris Nkunku. But VAR decided the Chelsea forward had gone to ground way too softly.
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