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Chelsea climbed to the highest of the Premier League for the primary time in over two years with a convincing 2-Zero win at Newcastle on Saturday. Frank Lampard’s facet moved above Leicester on aim distinction due to Federico Fernandez’s first half personal aim and Tammy Abraham’s strike after the interval Chelsea are unbeaten in 9 video games in all competitions and have not misplaced of their final six league matches. With 5 clean-sheets of their final six matches in all competitions, Chelsea’s third successive league victory was the right method to begin a busy interval main as much as Christmas. Maurizio Sarri was in cost the final time Chelsea had been in pole place within the Premier League in September 2018.
But Lampard’s squad are extra formidable than his predecessor’s fragile workforce and a severe title problem appears to be like more and more potential.
Chelsea may give up high spot earlier than the tip of the day, with each Aston Villa and Tottenham capable of go above them relying on their outcomes.
The west Londoners had received solely as soon as of their earlier seven visits to Newcastle, however for as soon as St James’ Park did not show a home of horrors.
Lampard had complained about having to play within the Saturday early kick off when a number of of his gamers had solely returned from worldwide responsibility on Thursday.
Thiago Silva was not even out there to characteristic on the bench after the 36-year-old performed for Brazil in a World Cup qualifier in opposition to Uruguay on Tuesday.
German centre-back Antonio Rudiger got here in for his first league begin of the season, whereas Ben Chilwell at left-back began regardless of limping out of England’s recreation with Belgium resulting from a again harm.
– Chelsea strain –
Chelsea’s weary stars shrugged off their fatigue to make a robust begin as Timo Werner raced onto a by ball for a low strike that Karl Darlow pushed away for a nook.
Darlow was at full stretch once more when Abraham met Hakim Ziyech’s cross with a robust header that the Newcastle keeper tipped over.
The Blues’ strain was rewarded within the 10th minute when a brief nook caught Newcastle flat-footed.
Mason Mount whipped in a low cross and Fernandez turned it into his personal web underneath strain from Chilwell on the far publish.
The fifth Premier League personal aim of the hapless Fernandez’s profession did not sate Chelsea’s urge for food.
With Lampard’s males monopolising possession, Werner ought to have doubled their lead from Mount’s cross, however the German ahead scuffed his shot vast from 10 yards.
Callum Wilson, who had scored six of Newcastle’s 10 league objectives this season, was lacking with a hamstring harm and the Magpies had been toothless in assault with out their high scorer.
Chelsea had a golden alternative to kill them off when Werner robbed the dawdling Fabian Schar and raced into the Newcastle space, however as a substitute of capturing he performed an terrible cross that was simply cleared.
Blues defender Kurt Zouma headed simply vast moments later earlier than Chelsea had a momentary wobble.
Isaac Hayden blazed over from close-range as Newcastle lastly had a sight of aim and Joelinton curled over from the sting of the world second later.
But Chelsea put the consequence past doubt within the 65th minute when Werner accelerated away from the Newcastle defence and slipped a cross to Abraham, who guided his shot previous Darlow and in off the publish.
Promoted
Abraham has now scored in three consecutive appearances in all competitions for the primary time since September 2019.
Newcastle’s Sean Longstaff hit the bar from long-range, however Chelsea’s lead was by no means in jeopardy.
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