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September 1, 2024

Chelsea Held to a Draw by Crystal Palace as Newcastle United Defeats Tottenham Hotspur – EPL

Chelsea faced new frustration after relinquishing their lead in a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace, while Newcastle secured a 2-1 victory over Tottenham on Sunday.

Credit to English Premier League Image Gallery

Chelsea encountered more frustration after squandering their lead in a 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace, while Newcastle triumphed over Tottenham with a 2-1 win on Sunday. Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea has managed only one victory in their first three league matches during the Italian’s tenure following a tumultuous close season. After losing to Manchester City in their opener, Chelsea bounced back with a commanding 6-2 win at Wolves last weekend but barely advanced to the UEFA Conference League group stage after suffering a 2-1 defeat to Servette on Thursday. Despite this inconsistent start, former Leicester manager Maresca claims his ambitious Chelsea rebuild, featuring numerous new signings, is progressing faster than expected.

Jadon Sancho’s loan move from Manchester United represented the final major piece in Chelsea’s ongoing transformation since last season. The talented winger was warmly received by the crowd, who expressed excitement at his arrival before he took his place in the director’s box next to Blues co-owner Behdad Eghbali. This moment highlights Chelsea’s commitment to revitalizing their squad and underscores the anticipation surrounding Sancho’s impact as he embarks on this new career chapter. The stadium’s atmosphere was optimistic, as fans looked forward to seeing how Sancho would contribute to the team’s aspirations this season.

However, Sancho likely departed with mixed emotions regarding his new team, as they struggled to make the most of their chances against Crystal Palace. Despite showing moments of promise, Chelsea failed to convert several opportunities that could have shifted the match’s momentum in their favor. In the 25th minute, Noni Madueke made a crucial play by setting up Cole Palmer, who then assisted Nicolas Jackson, resulting in a well-deserved goal. While the goal showcased their potential, it also highlighted the inconsistency that left Sancho and the fans hoping for more decisive performances in the future. The experience must have been bittersweet for Sancho, as he recognized the squad’s talent while acknowledging the need for greater cohesion and effectiveness on the pitch.

Isak Sparks Newcastle’s Attack

Maresca was livid after Palace midfielder Will Hughes escaped a second yellow card for a foul on Palmer. 

In their quest for their first point of the season after suffering defeats to Brentford and West Ham, Crystal Palace seized the opportunity and equalized in the 53rd minute. This moment was crucial for the team, as they had been eager to turn their fortunes around and build momentum after a rocky start. 

England midfielder Eberechi Eze unleashed a stunning curling shot from 20 yards that sailed past Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.

Eze’s stunning goal and a missed opportunity from close range by Jackson marked the end of Chelsea’s impressive streak of 14 consecutive victories over Palace in all competitions. 

Meanwhile, at St James’ Park, Tottenham’s Wilson Odobert, Pape Sarr, and Pedro Porro squandered several promising chances in the match’s opening moments.

Newcastle opened the scoring in stunning style in the 37th minute as Lloyd Kelly laid the ball off to Harvey Barnes. Barnes then executed a brilliant volley from 10 yards out, sending it into the far corner of the net.

Tottenham leveled the score in the 56th minute when Newcastle defender Dan Burn inadvertently redirected the ball into his net while attempting to clear it. 

This occurred after Brennan Johnson’s cross had slipped past Nick Pope, who had poorly parried James Maddison’s shot in the lead-up to the goal. Meanwhile, Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali made his long-awaited return to Premier League action, coming on for his first appearance in over ten months following his ban for violating betting regulations.

The Magpies regained the lead in the 78th minute when Jacob Murphy sprinted onto Joelinton’s incisive pass and set up a simple tap-in for Alexander Isak. 

This victory marked Newcastle’s second win in three league matches, leaving Newcastle unbeaten and handing Tottenham their first defeat of the season. Following the international break, Tottenham will now prepare for a crucial north London derby against Arsenal.

Liverpool is set to travel to Old Trafford for Sunday’s late fixture. It will mark Reds manager Arne Slot’s first encounter with the fierce rivalry against United.

Brought in from Feyenoord to replace Jurgen Klopp during the close season, Slot has guided the team to 2-0 victories over Ipswich and Brentford in his opening two matches. 

Meanwhile, his compatriot Erik ten Hag is already feeling the heat at United following their 2-1 loss to Brighton last weekend.