Report and free match highlights as Chelsea beat Newcastle 2-1 at Stamford Bridge; goals from Nicolas Jackson and Cole Palmer move the Blues up to fourth in the table ahead of Sunday's later games; Newcastle had levelled through Alexander Isak, but are now in 12th place
Sunday 27 October 2024 20:20, UK
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.
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 fifth in the table, while Newcastle are 12th after going a fifth league match without a win for the first time since March 2023.
Analysis by Sky Sports' David Richardson:
"Cole Palmer stole the headlines again but Nicolas Jackson continued to cement himself as the prolific No 9 Chelsea need.
"Jackson became the fifth quickest player to score 20 Premier League goals for the club on his 44th appearance behind only Diego Costa (26 apps), Cole Palmer (27 apps), Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (33 apps) and Mark Stein (37 apps).
"At the start of the day, the 23-year-old has been involved in 13 goals in his previous 13 league appearances (9 goals, 4 assists).
"'What I love about him is he isn't scared to miss,' said Jamie Carragher. Ironically, but crucially, his only touch in the box and his only shot of the match found the net.
Analysis by Sky Sports' Richard Morgan:
"Despite going a fifth league match without a win for the first time since March 2023, Newcastle manager Eddie Howe insisted his side are still "going in the right direction' after their 2-1 defeat at Chelsea.
"This latest setback, albeit at a ground the Magpies rarely avoid defeat, leaves Howe's team languishing down in 12th place in the Premier League, a position the manager later admitted was 'not where we want to be.'
"However, the visitors, minus the injured Anthony Gordon, ended the game with a superior xG to Chelsea's, 1.85 to 1.68, reflecting their profligacy in front of goal, with Alexander Isak spurning two late chances to grab his side a point.
"That, though, may have been undeserved, but Howe was adamant in his post-match press conference that 'a couple of wins will change everything' - the only problem being Newcastle face Chelsea again next in the Carabao Cup in midweek, with league games against Arsenal and Liverpool also on the horizon."
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca said:
"I don't think Cole knows Gianfranco (Zola) but they are quite similar in terms of quality, in terms of seeing things that the rest don't see.
"I don't think that we can compare both, the only thing I can say is that Gianfranco was and Cole (Palmer) is a quality player
"The best thing about Cole is that he never changed. I had him three years ago, four years ago, five years ago, I don't remember, and he's exactly the same way. The reason why people come to the stadium is to see a player like him."
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said:
"The majority I liked. It was a strong performance. Coming here you know it's going to be a very difficult game, especially when you concede relatively early in the match.
"Our response was really strong. We scored a great goal ourselves and we weren't perfect in our performance.
"We've lost the game, but I thought it was another improvement. I feel the team's moving in the right direction, albeit we're making a couple of mistakes that's cost us."
On Anthony Gordon's injury: "He felt his groin yesterday in training. We hope it's not serious, but he'll go for a scan probably tomorrow."
