Palmer Stars for Chelsea in Newcastle Clash
At Stamford Bridge on Monday night, the fortunes of two promising English prospects took different paths. Chelsea's dependency on Cole Palmer became evident once again. The summer signing from Manchester City, valued at £42.5 million ($52m), played a pivotal role in their crucial 3-2 win against Newcastle, contributing his 18th and 19th Premier League goals of the season.
The Blues enjoyed an ideal beginning when Jackson's clever flick redirected Palmer's low shot past Martin Dubravka within six minutes. Despite missing opportunities to extend their lead, Chelsea faced consequences for their wastefulness. A series of mistakes culminated in Alexander Isak finding space on the edge of the box to execute a splendid equalizer.
However, Chelsea found solace in Palmer's brilliance during what was becoming a closely contested second half. Just before the hour mark, he received Enzo Fernandez's pass on the edge of the box and, with a flawless first touch, created enough space to drive the ball through Sven Botman's legs and into the net.
As Newcastle pressed for a comeback, substitute Mykhailo Mudryk sealed the victory by skillfully maneuvering through the Magpies' defense and past Dubravka before calmly slotting the ball into the net. With the win secured, Chelsea's fans erupted into an impromptu rendition of Bob Marley's "Three Little Birds," only for Jacob Murphy's late stunning goal to inject some last-minute tension into the match.
While Mauricio Pochettino still faces numerous questions, this performance offers a glimmer of hope amid a season overshadowed by negativity at Stamford Bridge, marking a significant improvement after a year of limited success.
Man of the Match
Cole Palmer was named the Man of the Match in Chelsea’s game against Newcastle. His performance was highlighted by Gary Neville as ‘outstanding’ and pivotal to Chelsea’s 3-2 victory. Palmer scored two goals, including a well-executed volley, and provided an assist that contributed significantly to the win1. His overall impact this season has been remarkable, with a total of 19 Premier League goal involvements, including 11 goals and eight assists.
What next for Chelsea?
Chelsea’s next match is against Leicester City in The FA Cup, scheduled for Saturday, 16th March. Following that, they will face Burnley in the Premier League on Saturday, 30th March.
Chelsea attackers players rating vs Newcastle
Attack
Cole Palmer (9/10):
Just sensational. Chelsea would be lost without him.
Nicolas Jackson (7/10):
Showed inventiveness to give his side an early lead. Link-up play was solid.
Raheem Sterling (4/10):
Booked for a petulant foul. Generally pretty wasteful in the final third. Needs to start stepping up more regularly as a senior member of this young team.
