Chelsea mixed start to the season continued as they were thrashed 4-1 by Newcastle, with captain Reece James also getting sent off.
Defeat for the Blues left Mauricio Pochettino’s side languishing down in tenth place after fifth defeat of the season, whilst Newcastle closed within three points of the top four.
Here are five talking points from the game…
Anthony Gordon for Euro 2024
Anthony Gordon has been nothing short of excellent for Newcastle this season. After struggling to make an impact on the side in the latter end of last season, Gordon has certainly found his feet on Tyneside. The England international enjoyed a Man of the Match performance against Chelsea, scoring and assisting versus the west London outfit in his side’s dominant victory. The 22-year-old has shown no signs of slowing down this season, and if such scintillating form continues, he must surely book his place on the plane to Euro 2024 sooner rather than later, with Gareth Southgate recently confirming an interest in calling-up the winger.
Impressive Lewis Miley
With Newcastle’s injury crisis in the midfield worsening in recent weeks, Eddie Howe has had no choice but to thrust 17-year-old Lewis Miley into the heart of the Newcastle midfield. Showing such maturity at such a young age is no easy task, but Miley has rarely put a foot wrong since being called upon by his manager. The England U19 international once again showed the promise with the player he can be versus Chelsea, comfortably running the midfield with Brazilian duo Joelinton and Bruno Guimarães. Miley’s impressive performance was rewarded with an excellent assist for Alexander Isak’s opener, and with recent performances it seems as though the Magpies have an extremely promising player on their hands.
Isak back with a bang
After returning from a groin injury that has kept him side-lined since late October, Alexander Isak roared back to action with an impressive performance versus Chelsea. The Swedish international led Newcastle’s high press from the front, consistently putting pressure on the Chelsea back line and making frequent runs into the box. Isak’s hard work was rewarded in the 13th minute with the Swede scoring the game’s opening goal. With England striker Callum Wilson confirmed to be side-lined for the foreseeable future, Eddie Howe will be relying on Isak to lead Newcastle’s front-line and step up in the big moments. And with his performance versus Chelsea, the Swede showed he is ready to do so.
High-flying Magpies return to form
After an extremely demoralising defeat at the Vitality Stadium to Bournemouth right before the international break, Newcastle seemed to be a shadow of the team that has enjoyed such recent success. In the midst of a growing injury crisis, the international break could not have come at a better time for Eddie Howe’s Magpies. Boosted by the return of key players Bruno Guimarães from suspension and Alexander Isak from injury, Newcastle seemed to be an entirely different team against Chelsea than the one which lost to Bournemouth not two weeks ago. Rejuvenated and rested, Newcastle were on the front foot from kick off, and such pressure was rewarded by Alexander Isak’s well taken opener in the 13th minute. Two goals in two minutes saw them go 3-1 up early in the second half and coast to an impressive win,
Another bad day at the office for Chelsea
With the momentum generated from their last two games before the international break, the Blues were looking to continue their hot run of form against Newcastle. After falling behind, Chelsea grew into the game and showed glimpses of the football that head coach Mauricio Pochettino will be wanting his side to play week in week out. But after conceding two goals within two minutes, and Reece James receiving a red card shortly after, it quickly became another bad day at the office for the Blues. While it is clear from recent performances that the Chelsea players are buying into Pochettino’s way of football, there remains a great deal of work to do before the Blues are back competing for European football once more.
