Chelsea - Crystal Palace 1-0
Chelsea ended a run of three Premier League games without victory, edging out Crystal Palace thanks to Kai Havertz’s second-half header.
Graham Potter once again made several alterations to his Chelsea lineup, but after a promising start, the hosts soon found themselves on the back foot. The Blues had to survive a few nervy moments as Palace pushed for an opener, before wrestling back control of the contest.
With new signing Mykhailo Mudryk watching on, the often-maligned Havertz should have done better with a free header, but could only guide his effort over the bar. A flurry of late chances saw Thiago Silva and Lewis Hall come particularly close to finding a breakthrough, yet the game remained goalless heading into the break.
A hopeful Conor Gallagher appeal underlined Chelsea’s growing desperation after the break. The Blues were struggling for attacking fluency, bringing on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in an attempt to spark the match into life, and within five minutes of his introduction, they were ahead.
Havertz atoned for his earlier miss, this time directing Hakim Ziyech’s cross beyond Vicente Guaita, leaving the visitors with little over 25 minutes to find a response. Havertz then had the chance to virtually wrap up the points with 10 minutes to play, yet his close-range header at the back post somehow missed the target.
Palace had come from behind to win on four separate occasions this season, but second-half chances were at a premium until the final minutes.
Ultimately, Chelsea held firm to go level on points with next weekend’s opponents Liverpool, albeit having now played a game more.
For the Eagles, it's a sadly familiar feeling, having now lost 12 matches with Chelsea on the bounce. More importantly, a sixth defeat in seven league games leaves Palace looking nervously over their shoulder.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Conor Gallagher (Chelsea)
Newcastle - Fulham 1-0
Alexander Isak was Newcastle United’s hero as they secured a last-gasp 1-0 win over Fulham.
It looked like Eddie Howe’s side, who received a let-off when Aleksandar Mitrovic had a penalty ruled out for an accidental double touch, would have to settle for a point despite a dominant display, until the substitute broke the deadlock in the 89th minute.
The Magpies almost got off to the perfect start, with only a sensational tackle from Issa Diop preventing Sean Longstaff from scoring in the fifth minute. Indeed, the hosts were dominating proceedings after setting camp in their opponent’s half of the field, but apart from a tame Callum Wilson header, Cottagers goalkeeper Bernd Leno was barely tested.
Fulham were, in fact, defending their 18-yard box to good effect, which came as no surprise after three clean sheets in their previous five outings.
However, Newcastle finally started plotting a way through, and Leno twice thwarted Wilson before the break, while also claiming Miguel Almiron’s long-range effort.
The second half was a much more even contest, as Wilson and Joao Palhinha wasted chances at either end before Fabian Schar rattled the post with a free-kick.
The visitors then had a goal ruled out in comical fashion, as after VAR had intervened to award a penalty for a foul by Kieran Trippier on Bobby Decordova-Reid, Mitrovic’s resultant spot-kick was ruled out because he slipped in his run-up and inadvertently kicked the ball twice.
That swung the momentum of the game, and Fulham soon had a huge let-off when Allan Saint-Maximin fired wide from the edge of the box.
Then, with just seconds left, club-record signing Isak, making his first Premier League appearance since September due to injury, was on hand to break the Cottagers’ stern resistance and head home from close range after Wilson’s initial effort was saved.
The result, which ends Fulham’s run of five successive wins in all competitions, means Newcastle move back into third, just one point behind second-placed Manchester City.
