Late flurry sees Chelsea past Newcastle

Eden Hazard was named in the starting lineup for the first time this season and he repaid Maurizio Sarri in kind, scoring the first of Chelsea’s goals. Rafa Benitez meanwhile made some surprise changes to his Newcastle team in an attempt to combat the Chelsea threat.

Jamaal Lascelles was dropped from the starting lineup as was Jonjo Shelvey. The official line from the club is that both are injured, but other sources have claimed that Lascelles and Benitez have fallen out over the manager’s decision to switch to a five-at-the-back system.

Salomon Rondon was given his first start in the black and white and he was a willing runner, if a little isolated up top on his own. Jacob Murphy also provided an outlet, playing in place of Kenedy who is on loan from Chelsea and ineligible against his parent club.

Fabian Schär and Federico Fernandez came into the defence alongside Ciaran Clark and for 75 minutes they did a sterling job. Chelsea dominated the ball throughout, enjoying 79% of possession in the first half and creating the majority of the chances but the goal would not come. 

The game sprung into life on the back of some poor refereeing. Marcos Alonso was played into the box and went down in a tangle with Schär. The referee wasted no time in pointing to the penalty spot, but replays show that the Swiss defender clearly won the ball. Hazard stepped up and smashed the ball into the far right corner.

 

26 August 2018

Chelsea would be forgiven for thinking that they had finally found the breakthrough they deserved, but they had it all to do again five minutes later. DeAndre Yedlin beat Olivier Giroud to the ball out wide - the Frenchman claimed he was fouled - and his cross was met by Joselu at the front post to send St James’ wild.

David Luiz and Kepa will both need to take a look at themselves after conceding that one. The Brazilian let Joselu run across him far too easily while the goalkeeper was perfectly positioned before letting the ball past him.

Luckily for them, their blushes were spared three minutes from time. A free kick on the right fell to Alonso whose hacked effort was diverted into the net by an unfortunate Yedlin. In fairness to the American, if he had left the ball then Ross Barkley would have had an easy tap in at the back post.

That was how the game finished and Maurizio Sarri lit up a celebratory cigarette at full time. Rafa Benitez can be proud of his team who almost got something from a game where they were never favoured. Chelsea join Liverpool and Watford at the top of the league with three wins from three.

 

26 August 2018