Cole Palmer played a significant role as Chelsea defeated Newcastle in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge.
In the 57th minute, Palmer made a significant impact by skillfully maneuvering the ball before striking it hard and low past goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.
Chelsea took the lead early on when Sven Botman’s clearance was seized upon by Palmer, whose shot was deftly guided into the bottom corner by Nicolas Jackson, marking his second goal in consecutive league matches.
Just before halftime, Aleksander Isak’s powerful strike from the edge of the box offered Newcastle a glimmer of hope, but Palmer swiftly restored Chelsea’s advantage.
Substitute Mykhailo Mudryk intercepted a pass from teammate Conor Gallagher, sprinted past the Newcastle defense, and calmly rounded Dubravka to score from a tight angle.
In the dying moments of the game, Jacob Murphy unleashed a thunderous shot into the top corner, but Mauricio Pochettino’s side held on for their 11th victory of the season.
Despite the win, Chelsea maintains their 11th position in the table, although they have a game in hand over Newcastle, who are one point and one place above them.
Newcastle struggled to find their rhythm initially, with Fabian Schar’s off-target shot representing their only real attempt on goal in the first half, as home goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic remained largely untested.
The visitors had difficulty creating chances in the opening period, with Isak’s goal just before halftime marking their first shot on target after 43 minutes.
By this stage, Eddie Howe had lost another player to injury as Anthony Gordon came off following a challenge by Marc Cucurella.
Murphy replaced Gordon and his sublime finish late on made the scoreline closer than it seemed in reality.
Palmer impresses in front of watching Southgate
There’s no denying that Palmer has emerged as Chelsea’s most impactful acquisition since his move from Manchester City on the final day of last summer’s transfer window.
Once again, Palmer proved crucial for the Blues when they were in need, providing the assist for Jackson’s goal and showcasing an excellent finish himself. This brings his total to 19 Premier League goal involvements this season – comprising 11 goals and eight assists.
Palmer has been directly involved in both scoring and assisting in five separate league matches this season, a feat unmatched by any other player. His debut Premier League season with the Blues continues to gain momentum.
He was substituted after 87 minutes to a thunderous ovation from the home supporters, capping off yet another man-of-the-match display where he played a pivotal role in securing victory for his team.
Palmer has stood out as a beacon of consistency, offering a much-needed sense of composure to an occasionally turbulent Chelsea side. His recent outstanding performance caught the eye of England manager Gareth Southgate, who is set to announce his squad this Thursday for upcoming friendlies against Brazil and Belgium.
Following his senior England debut in November, the former Manchester City midfielder will be eager to build on his two caps with more brilliant performances this month.
More injures on disappointing night for Newcastle
Newcastle had hoped to secure a league double over the Blues for the first time since 1986-87 but fell short in a lackluster performance.
Eddie Howe’s team took time to find their rhythm after conceding early in the match.
Gordon, who aimed to catch the eye of Southgate, was forced off after just 34 minutes, dealing a significant blow to the injury-plagued Magpies.
In the second half, Dan Burn suffered an awkward landing and was substituted. Newcastle’s injury concerns are compounded by the absence of Kieran Trippier due to a calf issue, along with long-term absences of Callum Wilson, Joelinton, and Nick Pope.
Murphy’s goal showcased exceptional quality, as he unleashed a sensational strike from just inside the penalty area, bypassing Cucurella and leaving Petrovic with no chance of saving it.
Newcastle must regroup swiftly ahead of a crucial FA Cup quarter-final clash against reigning champions Manchester City on Saturday (17:30 GMT).