In a closely contested first half between Chelsea and Newcastle, both teams displayed moments of brilliance and areas for improvement. Chelsea managed to find their rhythm, especially in the midfield, but Newcastle posed a constant threat through their attacking prowess. Here’s a look at the three best performers and three players who struggled to find their form in the first half.
Best Players
- 1. Pedro Neto (Chelsea) Pedro Neto was highly active, involved in the majority of Chelsea’s attacks. His movement and positioning consistently engaged Newcastle’s defense, creating opportunities for his teammates while applying pressure on the backline. Neto showcased his energy on the right wing, delivering useful crosses into the box that kept the Newcastle defense on high alert.
- 2. Nicolas Jackson (Chelsea) As the striker of the match, Nicolas Jackson demonstrated impressive dribbling and scoring prowess for Chelsea. He remained focused and ready to capitalize on goal-scoring opportunities. His goal highlighted Jackson’s effectiveness and his ability to exploit weaknesses in Newcastle’s defense, providing a significant advantage for Chelsea up front.
- 3. Alexander Isak (Newcastle) For Newcastle, Alexander Isak was arguably the biggest headache for Chelsea throughout the game. His speed and decisiveness allowed him to breach Chelsea’s defensive line repeatedly. Isak was not only a constant threat in attack but also tracked back into midfield at times to support his team, adding an extra layer to Newcastle’s attacking strategy.
Worst Players
- 1. Dan Burn (Newcastle) Dan Burn was a weak link at the back during the first half, struggling to cope with Chelsea’s fast forwards. His positioning was often poor, creating spaces that Chelsea could easily exploit. This put Newcastle under pressure on their left side, as Burn was slow to respond to the game and frequently found himself too far from the main action.
- 2. Fabian Schär (Newcastle) Fabian Schär also faced challenges in defense, being too slow to contain the Chelsea attackers. His body language appeared uncontrolled, and his frequent positional switches contributed to the mounting pressure on his team. Schär’s indecisiveness throughout the match allowed Chelsea to exploit Newcastle’s mistakes, making him one of the poorest performers in the first half.
- 3. Lewis Hall (Newcastle) Although Lewis Hall made efforts to assist Newcastle with build-up play, he was consistently outdone and outmuscled by the Chelsea wingers. Hall struggled to drive forward and create opportunities for his teammates, and his performance in possession was lacking under Chelsea’s press. This significantly hindered Newcastle’s ability to build play from the back and through the midfield.
