Cole Palmer was the star of the show, contributing a goal and an assist as Chelsea secured a crucial 3-2 win against Newcastle at Stamford Bridge, giving their European aspirations a significant boost. At just 21 years old, Palmer once again demonstrated his value to the team, helping close the gap on the top seven teams in the league, much to the delight of manager Mauricio Pochettino.
The game started with Nicolas Jackson finding the back of the net in the sixth minute, capitalizing on a loose ball from Sven Botman’s poor clearance, with Palmer’s shot deflecting off him. Despite losing Anthony Gordon to injury towards the end of the first half, Eddie Howe’s side managed to equalize before the break, courtesy of a stunning curler from Alexander Isak.
However, Palmer’s brilliance shone through once more as he scored a remarkable goal from around 20 yards out, marking his 11th goal of the season and swinging the momentum back in Chelsea’s favor. A sensational solo effort from substitute Mykhaylo Mudryk further extended Chelsea’s lead.
Although Jacob Murphy’s fierce strike raised hopes of a comeback for Newcastle, Chelsea managed to hold on for the win. The result sees them narrow the gap to just a point behind 10th-placed Newcastle and four points adrift of the top seven, keeping their European dreams alive.
