11 March 2024 , 21:58
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Cole Palmer starred in Chelsea's final Premier League game before the international break, sending a message to England boss Gareth Southgate with a goal and assist against Newcastle United.
The Blues needed less than six minutes to get their noses in front, when Palmer's effort took a touch off Nicolas Jackson and crept into the back of the Newcastle net. It was all-square just before the break, though, thanks to a fantastic low finish from Alexander Isak.
Mauricio Pochettino's men weren't done, though, As has often been the case this season, Palmer came up trumps while his team-mates blew hot and cold, conjuring a goal out of nothing just before the hour mark.
The hosts could have scored a third, only for Dan Burn to get back and clear a Raheem Sterling effort off the line. Eventually they increased their through substitute Mykhailo Mudryk, though, allowing under-pressure manager Pochettino to sleep a little easier.... though Jacob Murphy's late blast made for a nervy final few moments.
The teams had exchanged victories earlier in the season, with Newcastle winning comfortably in the league meeting at St James' Park but losing on penalties when they travelled to Stamford Bridge in the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup.
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Chelsea had the run of the game in a relatively quiet first half and looked set to go in ahead at the break. Instead, though, they gave their opponents a foothold on which they managed to build in the second half.
The third goal of the game always looked likely to be crucial, and Palmer's well-taken low effort boosted manager Pochettino before Mudryk rounded Martin Dubravka and scored his team's third and Murphy smashed home a consolation. Here are Mirror Football's talking points from the Blues' valuable win.
1. Palmer the hero once more
Who impressed you the most on Monday night? Have your say in the comments section
Palmer's second-half goal was sn important one (Getty Images)For the fifth time this season, Cole Palmer ended a Premier League match with a goal and an assist. That's more than any other player in the competition, and this wasn't a case of stat-padding as both were all his own work.
Even though Chelsea weren't at their best, Palmer offered a threat going forward. He always looked the most likely to do something special, and so it proved with his low effort to put Chelsea back in front.
After a challenging run of results, Pochettino needed someone to step up after it looked as though another lead might tumble. How he'd love to see more of the same against Leicester in the FA Cup this weekend.
2. Isolated Isak forced to do it himself
Alexander Isak didn't get much of a sniff in the first half, with Newcastle's midfield and wide men struggling to support the Swede. Sometimes, though, players of his quality only need one chance.
Alexander Isak's goal was a rare bright moment for Newcastle (Getty Images)Ian Wright was on punditry duty for Monday Night Football on Sky, but Isak's goal evoked another former Arsenal frontman. His languid curled effort found the bottom corner of Djordje Petrovic's net in a manner most commonly associated with Thierry Henry during the French international's playing days.
Isak was averaging a goal every 120 minutes in the league before Monday night's game, and brought that average down further. Even when he's feeding off scraps, he's shown himself to be a nightmare to play against, and there is sure to be interest if Newcastle miss out on European football - not that Eddie Howe's side would want to sell.
3. A welcome goal for Jackson
Nicolas Jackson's first season in English football has been a mixed one. The young forward has enjoyed more football than he might have expected, thanks to injuries sustained by Christopher Nkunku, but his finishing hasn't always been on point.
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Nicolas Jackson opened the scoring (Getty Images)Not that you'd have noticed that from the manner in which he took the opener. The Senegal frontman's finish showed a poacher's instinct as he recognised Palmer's effort might need helping past Dubravka, and his subtle flick did just that.
The goal appeared to give him confidence, with another effort testing Dubravka midway through the first half, and he saw a second goal chalked off for offside on the stroke of half-time.
4. Gordon's England audition doesn't go to plan
Before the game, Monday Night Football pundits Ian Wright and Jamie Carragher debated whether they would take Cole Palmer or Anthony Gordon to Euro 2024 as part of England's squad. In the first half, there was only one winner, though not due to a special moment from either.
Anthony Gordon couldn't even manage 45 minutes against Chelsea (Getty Images)Instead, Gordon picked up a knock early on and never got into the game. Just 35 minutes were on the clock when he made way for Jacob Murphy, and there's now a big question mark over whether the ex-Everton man will even be available for the upcoming international break.
Gordon has impressed in previous meetings with Chelsea, but it wasn't to be this time. And, despite an impressive season, he may have missed his last chance to catch Gareth Southgate's eye before the England squad heads to Germany.
5. Chelsea's inexperience still a concern
There were still worrying signs for Mauricio Pochettino (Getty Images)With Thiago Silva only on the bench, Chelsea's starting line-up was even younger than usual. For all the excitement coursing through the team - not just Palmer, but also Malo Gusto's impressive display down the right - there were also questions over control.
As the clock ticked towards half-time, they just needed someone to put their foot on the ball and calm things down. Instead, multiple attempts to clear were squandered in the lead-up to Isak's goal, almost certainly leaving Pochettino tearing his hair out, while Marc Curucella's naivety allowed Murphy to score his team's second.
That's a problem you get with an inexperienced squad, no matter how expensively-assembled it might be. One would imagine things will improve the more games they play as a unit, but for now it's about what they can achieve while they're still a work in progress.
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