Chelsea’s season took another turn for the worse on Saturday as two of their most experienced players cost them in a disastrous 4-1 defeat at Newcastle, just when it appeared the Blues had turned a corner.
It was Eddie Howe’s men who initially took the lead, with Alexa
nder Isak criminally being left completely unmarked in the box before he steadied himself and fired past a helpless Robert Sanchez. It was so slack from Chelsea’s sleeping defenders, but what came next was a moment of pure genius.
Raheem Sterling – who somehow keeps getting overlooked by England – confidently stepped up to a free-kick from just outside the box and, after a slow stepping run-up, arrowed the ball up and over the wall and past Nick Pope, who didn’t even bother diving.
That was about as good as it got for Chelsea, however, as they completely capitulated in the second half, with Jamaal Lascelles nodding in the second before Joelinton was gifted a third, courtesy of Thiago Silva’s mistake, moments later. Reece James was then sent off for stupidly pulling back Anthony Gordon, with the 10 men powerless to stop Newcastle adding a fourth via Gordon himself.
90minsoccer rates Chelsea’s players from St. James’ Park on what turned out to be a truly disastrous afternoon for the Blues…
Goalkeeper & Defence
Robert Sanchez (6/10):
Stood no chance on all of the goals but he doesn’t look at all comfortable as Chelsea’s No.1, and especially when he’s put under any kind of pressure from corners. It’s a weakness in his game that opponents will continue to target.
Reece James (3/10):
He’d been doing okay up until his silly decision to stop Gordon breaking on the counter, which led to him deservedly receiving a second yellow card. In a season that’s not got going for him, mainly due to injury, it’s now another game he’ll have to sit out due to suspension. Should know better.
Thiago Silva (3/10):
What was he doing?! A moment of madness from Chelsea’s oldest-ever outfield player as he somehow allowed Joelinton to take the ball off him and race through to score Newcastle’s third. Coming so soon after the second, it effectively killed off his side’s chances of a comeback. Awful.
Benoit Badiashile (3/10):
His first Premier League appearance of the season and the rustiness showed as he made the strange decision to rush out and leave Isak completely unmarked for the opening goal. Was again at fault for the second, ignoring the threat of Lascelles as he ghosted to the far post and nodded home, and was then bamboozled by Gordon for the fourth. A terrible day.
Marc Cucurella (4/10):
Another at fault for the Isak goal as he didn’t sense the danger after Badiashile had gone AWOL, leaving Isak unattended to slot home past Sanchez. Provided very little going forward in what was a below-par display, and his late booking will now see him miss the Brighton game.
Midfield
Enzo Fernandez (7/10):
Slick with his passing that saw him finish with a impressive 92 percent completion rate – and often got Chelsea moving quickly on the counter-attack before his team-mates imploded around him. He must be getting really frustrated with how things are panning out this season as his talent deserves much better.
Lesley Ugochukwu (5/10):
A rare outing for Ugochukwu as he replaced Caicedo from the start and it’s not one he’ll remember too fondly. Should’ve got a lot closer to Miley for the opening goal and his lack of match fitness was abundantly clear. Booked after Gordon completely left him for dead late on in the first half and was hooked midway through the second.
Conor Gallagher (5/10):
The furthest forward of the midfield three, Gallagher initially took the game to Newcastle but he lacks that goalscoring instinct needed to be a real threat in the No.10 role – epitomised by a big chance he wasted when well placed in the box in the first half. Taken off after being booked as Chelsea searched for a way back.
Attack
Cole Palmer (4/10):
The quietest Palmer has been all season. After the high of scoring against Manchester City and earning his first caps for England, he was anonymous here and was taken off as Chelsea tried to keep the scoreline down.
Raheem Sterling (8/10):
What a season Sterling’s having! His free-kick was reminiscent of prime Cristiano Ronaldo as he smashed the ball up and over the wall and past Pope for the equaliser. Chelsea’s most dangerous player on the pitch and it’s quite incredible that Southgate keeps overlooking him.
Nicolas Jackson (4/10):
Was Jackson even playing? It looked like he might just be starting to settle at Chelsea after four goals in his previous two outings, but he couldn’t get in the game at all here and was rightly taken off midway through the second half.
Subs & Manager
Mykhailo Mudryk (5/10):
Game was over by the time he came on and he had little impact.
Armando Broja (5/10):
Brought on to try and salvage something as Chelsea went 3-1 down but couldn’t get in the game.
Moises Caicdeo (5/10):
Pochettino might regret not starting him, even with the quick turnaround after the international break, as Ugochukwu clearly wasn’t ready to step in and make an impact. When he did come on, it was too late.
Levi Colwill (5/10):
His only contribution was a booking as he came on to try to keep Newcastle at bay following James’ red card.
Noni Madueke (N/A):
Brought on very late in the game with Chelsea already dead and buried.
Mauricio Pochettino (4/10):
Wasn’t allowed in the dugout due to his ban and his team completely lost the plot after going 2-1 down. Has to shoulder some of the blame, but would it have been any different with him closer to the touchline? His players really let him down today.
