If the world needed a reminder that Cole Palmer can make a difference, this game provided further proof.

A thrilling match was decided by the Chelsea player’s brilliance – much to Newcastle’s frustration, with Palmer scoring the winner having already delivered a stunning pass in the build-up to the home side’s opening goal. Gianfranco Zola, who watched from the stands, must have been delighted with his performance.

Palmer was actually denied a fourth-minute opener, with VAR ruling the midfielder marginally offside as he rounded the post, although the visitors’ reprieve was short-lived. The England international’s stunning pass soon after saw Pedro Neto skip down the left, with Nicolas Jackson outpacing Newcastle’s retreating defenders to convert from the low centre.

Alexander Isak equalized after a fine team move involving Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall, both graduates of Chelsea’s Cobham academy. But after a competitive first half, Palmer restored the home side’s lead immediately after the break with his seventh Premier League goal of the campaign, beating Nick Pope at the goalkeeper’s near post.

Neto headed against the woodwork, Pope saved from Mykhailo Mudryk and the late award of a penalty for a foul on Christopher Nkunku was overturned after a lengthy VAR check. Yet Chelsea’s vulnerability at the back had still offered the visitors a chance of recovery. Reece James blocked Isak’s header on the line, with the striker later denying having squeezed around Robert Sanchez.

Liam Twomey and Jacob Whitehead break down the key talking points at Stamford Bridge.

Was Palmer’s the pass of the season so far?

Livramento probably should have known what was about to happen when Palmer took that briefest look over his left shoulder as he prepared for a pass from Malo Gusto.

Palmer’s ‘scanning’ ability has devastated Premier League defenses for over a year, and here it opened a window for a pass that didn’t seem remotely close.

After his second touch, with the ball shifting to the right just outside Chelsea’s penalty area, he already knew exactly where Livramento was in relation to the sprinting Neto and the narrow area beyond in which he had to land his pass. His second look, just before curling the ball around an advancing Joelinton, was merely to ensure his initial calculations were correct.

Palmer provided a beautiful pass for Neto in the build-up to the opener (Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images)

The best pass in the Premier League this season? It might not even have been Palmer’s best. However, it was undoubtedly sublime, turning a fraught defense into a dangerous attack in the blink of an eye. Neto’s lightning speed did the rest, leaving a stumbling Livramento in his wake and rendering Fabian Schar’s desperate cover slide useless.

It will be remembered mainly for Neto and Jackson finding the right balance to ensure it ended in a goal, but it will soon be displaced by Palmer’s next moment of brilliance.

Liam Twomey

What role did Chelsea’s academy play in the equalizer?

Midway through the first half, Newcastle had gone 470 minutes without a goal from open play.

They struggled to be fluid against Chelsea, looked a little too desperate and lost the ball when they tried to attack directly. So their equalizer came out of nowhere – and was forged at their opponents’ Cobham academy, with Livramento and Hall receiving the Chelsea academy Player of the Year award in 2021 and 2023 respectively.

Chelsea appeared to have Newcastle trapped in their own corner, with Schar’s only option to continue playing speculatively. However, some clever interplay between Livramento and Miguel Almiron allowed Bruno Guimaraes to receive the ball in a semblance of space. And with Sandro Tonali’s cover allowing Livramento to be licensed, the Newcastle right-back burst under the pressure in Chelsea’s midfield.

Isak celebrates his equalizer (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

After being found again by Joelinton, whose neat turn took both Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia out of the game, Livramento passed the ball to Harvey Barnes. He duly pulled Gusto before sliding the overlapping hall into the room.

Hall found an unmarked Isak in the middle – who just avoided being offside – to secure his first Premier League assist, fourteen months after first arriving at Newcastle via Stamford Bridge.

Jacob Witkop

Why did Newcastle struggle to contain the hosts?

Newcastle’s three midfielders were responsible for both of Chelsea’s goals, as well as Palmer’s disallowed effort early on.

Sometimes this was immediately apparent: for Chelsea’s second goal, for example, Isak was dispossessed by Lavia, with no cover in midfield to prevent Palmer sauntering 20 yards upfield and stroking home.

Tonali tries to dispossess Lavia (Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images).

Other times the hosts forced the defense into rash challenges through their positioning. Frequently Jackson or Palmer would drop deep and with no pressure from Newcastle’s midfield three, one of Dan Burn or Schar would be taken out. Pace isn’t either player’s strength either, and the forwards turned them over with ease, with Chelsea’s off-ball option filling the space of the absent centre-back.

Basically, Joelinton and Tonali, Newcastle’s number 8, do not have the attacking ability to justify such a gap in defensive midfield.

Chelsea took advantage of this time and time again.

Jacob Witkop

Reece James… the left back?

The evidence from this season so far is that Enzo Maresca seems to particularly enjoy surprising opponents and spectators with the way he sets up his Chelsea team.

When the starting lineups were announced, the logical assumption was that Gusto would reprise the inverted left-back role that produced mixed results against Liverpool at Anfield. Instead, it was club captain James who was deployed to the left of Chelsea’s back three in possession, with Gusto turning into midfield from the right.

Perhaps the thinking behind it was defensive, with Maresca hoping James’ presence would help negate the dangerous left-footer Almiron. In that case, the Paraguayan only threatened Sánchez’s goal with one sharp point and a wayward shot in the first half, and was otherwise limited to touches in less dangerous areas.

James slides away from Almiron (Chloe Knott – Danehouse/Getty Images)

The biggest defensive value James provided against Newcastle was in scramble mode, blocking one fierce Tonali shot and coming off his line twice in the first half.

In an attacking sense, James’ comfort level on the ball and in the passing range helped Chelsea’s build-up through the defensive and middle third, although his trademark crosses were less effective – not least because this team has so little for him to aim for . in the air.

But ultimately, James will simply get through a good chunk of competitive Premier League minutes without collapsing or experiencing physical discomfort, pleasing Maresca and anyone else of a Chelsea persuasion – no matter where he plays on the pitch.

Liam Twomey

How do these parties approach Wednesday evening?

As evidenced by the opening weeks of their Europa Conference League campaign, Chelsea have the luxury of fielding a completely different starting XI if Maresca so chooses.

It would be a surprise if he didn’t rely heavily on those deep reserves of talent. Chelsea’s team against Panathinaikos cost more than £500m in transfer fees to raise on Thursday, so it would be strange not to trust at least some of them for a Carabao Cup tie.

Maresca has also made it clear that James, Lavia and Wesley Fofana are not expected to start more than twice a week for the foreseeable future. Fofana has readjusted his left knee here and his injury history makes the risk of him being overexposed too great. Maresca has more than enough alternatives to prevent that.

Maresca and Jason Tindall on the sidelines (Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

Newcastle, on the other hand, have used the fewest players in the Premier League this season.

They desperately need answers tactically, especially in midfield, but options are relatively scarce. Joe Willock has not been trusted in midfield since starting at Fulham, and while Sean Longstaff is solid defensively, he limits Newcastle’s attack from the right. 18-year-old Lewis Miley has only recently returned to fitness and a start would be surprising.

The groin injury to Anthony Gordon, who was surprisingly absent on Sunday, is a new blow.

Liam Twomey and Jacob Whitehead

What did the managers say?

Enzo Maresca on Palmer to Sky: “It’s the reason why people pay – they want to see players like that. We are very happy with him.”

About the performance: “It was a different kind of game compared to the rest. We know how strong Newcastle are and how good they are. We had some good moments with the ball, so overall I’m very satisfied. We can attack better and defend better. But we started three months ago, so I’m very happy where we are now. The most important thing is that the feeling is good. The players understand what we work for every day. The fans can enjoy and dream. We as a club and as players have to understand that there are many things we can do better.”

Eddie Howe on whether Newcastle deserved a point: “I thought we did that because of the character that was shown when we came back. I thought there were a lot of positive things, a lot of really good football. As we chased the game, I felt like we could be a goal away at any moment. It’s just the last bit in both boxes where we didn’t defend the two moments we missed well enough. I thought we had enough positive plays to score more.”

On how many changes he can make for Wednesday’s Carabao Cup match against Chelsea: “We’re probably not in a position where we can make as many as we would like. We will try to make the right decisions for both games and we want to go as far as we can.”

What now?

As mentioned above, these teams will resume hostilities on Wednesday 30 October when Chelsea travel to St James’ Park in the Carabao Cup last 16 (7.45pm UK, 3.45pm ET).

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(Top photo: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)