Chelsea are faltering at a key moment in the season and, most concerning of all, there are numerous problems for Liam Rosenior to solve.
From issues in goal, indiscipline and conceding from set-pieces – but it was an open‑play goal and lax marking that allowed Newcastle to take the lead.
As is so typical with Chelsea, they had been playing well, but a lapse in concentration from multiple players saw their tactical structure collapse and leave them vulnerable.
There was, however, a new issue on Saturday evening – a real lack of creativity.
This was despite Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernandez and Alejandro Garnacho all starting. It was the quietest outing in recent weeks for in‑form striker Joao Pedro, signed from under Newcastle's noses in the summer, while Liam Delap's introduction offered little lift.
Chelsea were without wingers Jamie Gittens and Estevao Willian through injury, while Pedro Neto was absent through a self‑inflicted additional one‑game ban for his reaction to being sent off at Arsenal last month. It was another sign that indiscipline – albeit indirectly – affected Chelsea on the night.
It was in defeat at Arsenal where Robert Sanchez lost his number one status. Drafted back in after Filip Jorgensen's midweek mistake at Paris St‑Germain, it marked the fourth goalkeeper change in five games.
There are questions whether decisions like that are unsettling, even for a team of exciting talents like Chelsea who lost their way after Newcastle scored against the run of play.
Both Wesley Fofana and Moises Caicedo were booked shortly afterwards, with Caicedo now on nine Premier League bookings – one away from a two‑game ban.
It is now a myriad of issues plaguing Chelsea as they falter in their bid to qualify for the Champions League, having lost 5‑2 to PSG on Wednesday – and it is hard to see them finding consistency with so much to resolve.
