BENITEZ: KEEP THAT UP AND WE WILL SURVIVE
CHELSEA 2 NEWCASTLE UTD 1
Rafa Benitez remains convinced his Newcastle United side can stay up in the Premier League.
They dropped into the relegation zone on Saturday when other results went against them, and remained a point adrift of safety after losing at Chelsea.
Benitez, whose side host 17th-placed Cardiff City on Saturday, was heartened by his team’s performance at Stamford Bridge.
“Whatever happens, this squad can stay up,” he said.
“If we work and play with the same passion, intensity and work rate, we will definitely have chances to get points against a lot of teams.
“We know we can beat some of the teams we still have to play, and in the end, thatwillmakethedifference.
“We have to beat the teams at the bottom of the table.”
The starting line-ups illustrated the disparity in resources, but Maurizio Sarri’s decision to stick with Eden Hazard as his attacking focal point could have been interpreted as a message in his search for a new striker.
Alvaro Morata was absent for a second successive game amid suggestions of a departure before the end of the January transfer window, while Olivier Giroud was on the bench alongside Callum Hudson-Odoi. The 18-yearold winger has been linked with a big money move to Bayern Munich.
The strikerless Blues led when David Luiz’s 50-yard pass found Pedro, whose run eluded Ciaran Clark. The Spaniard lifted the ball over Martin Dubravka, with the goalkeeper in no-man’s land.
The Magpies went close with the direct route. Salomon Rondon flicked on Dubravka’s long kick for Ayoze Perez, who drilled a low shot just wide.
Newcastle levelled after 40 minutes. Matt Ritchie’s corner was met by Clark, who leaped above Luiz to direct a powerful header into the bottom corner.
Chelsea came close to restoring their advantage from the restart, but Willian passed wide following Jorginho’s lofted through ball. He should have scored.
Pedro spurned two straightforward chances early in the second half, before Hazard, who had been a peripheral figure, created Chelsea’s second.
The Belgian sucked in four defenders before feeding Willian, who checked inside from the left side of the area and curled the ball inside the far post.
It was Willian’s first Premier League goal since October and his third of the season, equalling defender Clark’s tally.
Only two players have scored 10 or more goals and provided 10 or more assists in Europe’s top five leagues: Barcelona’s Lionel Messi and Hazard.
Hazard was crunched by challenges from Christian Atsu and Isaac Hayden before Chelsea went close again.
Willian chased another long Luiz pass and lifted the ball over Dubravka. Jamaal Lascelles needlessly conceded a corner.