Mudryk and Palmer help Chelsea sink Newcastle after Gordon limps off

In the luxurious confines of the posh seats, Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali could have easily harbored a sense of serene assurance. This wasn’t the juncture for Chelsea’s co-owners to fret over the repercussions of their lavish spending potentially backfiring in the form of penalties for breaching the Premier League’s Profit & Sustainability regulations.

The intricacies of accounting could wait. There was little merit in delving into numerical analyses when Cole Palmer exhibited such brilliance on the field. Sometimes, the most prudent choice is simply to recline and contemplate the potential of Chelsea’s disruptor extraordinaire, Nicolas Jackson, whose 12th goal of the season injected vitality into their pulsating 3-2 victory over Newcastle.

Jackson’s audacious flick kick-started the proceedings, although it wasn’t the highlight of this frenzied match. That distinction undoubtedly belonged to Mykhailo Mudryk, who, after his £89 million transfer, emerged from the bench to secure the win with a breathtaking solo effort that sent Mauricio Pochettino, under considerable pressure, into ecstatic jubilation.

Newcastle, missing an opportunity to climb to seventh place after another lackluster away performance, could only marvel at Mudryk’s dribbling prowess. The Ukrainian’s transition since his move from Shakhtar Donetsk hadn’t been seamless, but this performance served as a timely reminder of his explosive talent. Perhaps Roberto De Zerbi’s prophecy about Mudryk’s eventual Ballon d’Or contention wasn’t far-fetched after all. And maybe Chelsea, despite doubts surrounding their recruitment strategy amidst an 11th place standing, weren’t as fractured as they seemed at times this season.

“We all acknowledge the fans’ right to voice their grievances,” remarked Pochettino, whose team still clung to hope for European qualification. “But we’re equally justified in our refusal to surrender. Witnessing the players’ determination and performance was uplifting.”

Both teams could attribute their erratic form to injuries. Pochettino, perennially plagued by unfavorable medical updates, faced fresh challenges with Levi Colwill and Ben Chilwell joining an already crowded treatment room. However, sympathy was scarce, with supporters nearing the end of their patience after last week’s draw with Brentford.

Yet, Boehly and Eghbali couldn’t help but be impressed by Chelsea’s handling of Newcastle. Marc Cucurella, deployed at left-back for the first time since December, exhibited resilience. Malo Gusto swiftly contained Anthony Gordon, and Chelsea soon exploited gaps in Newcastle’s defense, which had conceded the most goals away from home this season.

The opening goal left Eddie Howe perplexed. Palmer initiated the move with a sublime pass, but Newcastle’s defense faltered. Sven Botman’s clearance fell to Palmer, whose shot was veering wide before Jackson redirected it past Martin Dubravka.

“Mistakes led to the goals we conceded,” lamented Howe, though he dismissed notions of needing tactical adjustments. “I don’t think there was anything wrong with our approach. Our focus now shifts to the FA Cup.”

Chelsea dominated proceedings for a stretch. Palmer, eager to impress Gareth Southgate, brimmed with creativity. Enzo Fernández and Conor Gallagher exhibited midfield tenacity. Jackson tested Dubravka again, and Newcastle’s worries escalated as Gordon limped off with a knee injury just days before Southgate’s England squad announcement.

However, Chelsea repeated their familiar flaw. Their concentration waned, allowing Newcastle to level when Fernández’s ambitious pass was intercepted, Gusto lost control, and Trevoh Chalobah ventured out of defense. Bruno Guimarães seized the opportunity, finding Alexander Isak, who curled a sublime shot past Djordje Petrovic.

The equalizer sparked a frantic sequence, with Jackson’s goal disallowed, Dubravka denying Raheem Sterling, and Joe Willock almost edging Newcastle ahead. The game opened up, with both defenses appearing vulnerable, and Petrovic made a crucial save from Miguel Almirón after the break.

Chelsea responded, with Palmer tormenting Dan Burn and Sterling narrowly missing the target. Newcastle found themselves pinned back, and Chelsea regained the lead as Palmer found space, received a pass from Fernández, and beat Dubravka from distance.

Moisés Caicedo, increasingly influential in midfield, instigated the move by linking up with Fernández. Chelsea’s relentless pressure stifled Newcastle. They could have widened the gap when Jackson released Sterling, who inexplicably ignored Palmer. Pochettino’s exasperation was palpable when Sterling’s effort was cleared off the line, and Burn squandered a chance to punish Chelsea.

Chelsea’s game management faced scrutiny. Axel Disasi made a crucial challenge on Willock, while Tino Livramento’s shot was blocked. However, Newcastle’s momentum fizzled out when Jackson broke free in the 76th minute. His pass found Gallagher, and Mudryk took over, displaying nimble footwork to bypass Fabian Schär and Dubravka before slotting the ball home.

The only blemish for Chelsea was Jacob Murphy’s late goal, setting up a nervy finish. Pochettino, however, still identified areas for improvement.