Chelsea Player Ratings: Palmer Leads Newcastle Win
**The Blues went down 5-1 to Newcastle at St. James' Park, with a woeful performance that saw them totally outplayed. ** Let's break down the individual performances of the Chelsea players.
Palmer Shines in a Sea of Despair
Cole Palmer (8/10) was the only bright spot for Chelsea, showcasing a level of talent and composure that was sorely lacking from the rest of the team. He looked lively throughout, finding pockets of space in the midfield and creating some dangerous chances. Palmer was a constant threat and deservedly scored Chelsea's only goal.
Everyone Else Struggled
Nicolas Jackson (5/10) missed a few decent chances, but his overall performance was underwhelming. He didn't really get involved enough, failing to make much of an impact in attack.
Mykhailo Mudryk (4/10) had another disappointing outing. He looked lost on the pitch and was easily dispossessed. The Ukrainian winger is seriously struggling to live up to his hype.
Enzo Fernandez (5/10) was a shadow of his usual self. He lacked energy and was unable to control the midfield. He couldn't dictate the pace of the game as he's often able to do.
Wesley Fofana (4/10) was exposed by Newcastle's relentless attack. He was caught out of position several times, and his defensive solidity was lacking. The Frenchman was a liability on the pitch.
The Rest of the Pack
Ben Chilwell (5/10), Reece James (4/10), Levi Colwill (4/10) and Malo Gusto (4/10) were all disappointing. Their performances were overshadowed by Newcastle's dominance. The midfield and defensive lines just couldn't cope with the pace and intensity of the Newcastle attack.
This was a real wake-up call for Chelsea. They need to regroup quickly and find their mojo, or this season could turn out to be a lot more painful than they'd hoped.