Chelsea were surprised on Monday by the promoted Ipswich (2-0), a second defeat in a row which ejects them from the podium of the Premier League, a championship in which Manchester United, beaten 2-0 by Newcastle, is sinking. .
In the other match of the evening, Aston Villa and Brighton (2-2) shared the points, and the regrets, at the end of a meeting where they both led the score, in turn.
There are inevitably a lot of regrets also on the side of Chelsea (4th, 35 pts), off the podium after a very poorly negotiated end of the year 2024.
THE « Blues » have experienced a big cold spell over the last three matches, pocketing only one point at Everton (0-0) and conceding two defeats in quick succession.
They had only conceded two, in fact, in the previous 17 days of a championship where the label of candidate for the title had been promptly stuck to them.
“When we win we are not the best, but when we lose we are not the worst. We have to continue on this path and try to win the matches”said defender Marc Cucurella at the microphone of Sky Sports.
Leader Liverpool (45 pts) is now ten points ahead of Chelsea, with a game in hand. Between them appear Nottingham Forest (2nd, 37 pts) and Arsenal (3rd, 36 pts), traveling to Brentford on Wednesday.
Amorim in pain
Ipswich, club of singer Ed Sheeran, however, finds hope with this third victory this season, the first in their Portman Road stadium.
Swedish Newcastle striker Alexander Isak (right), congratulated by his teammates after opening the score on the Manchester United pitch, in the championship, December 30, 2024 / Darren Staples / AFP
THE « Tractor Boys »eighteenth, are only one unit behind the current first non-relegation place, Wolverhampton.
The promoted side has only seven points less than Manchester United, the sleeping giant of the English championship, which has fallen to a sad fourteenth place.
The famous club in the red jersey suffered a third consecutive defeat in the Premier League, Monday against Newcastle (2-0), in front of its supporters at Old Trafford.
And on Sunday, he goes to Liverpool, the historic rival, on permanent display since the start of the season…
His attack is faltering, his defense is taking on water, and his new coach Ruben Amorim is unable to right a drifting liner.
Newcastle’s Brazilian midfielder Joelinton after his goal on the Manchester United pitch, in the championship, December 30, 2024 / Darren Staples / AFP
Against Newcastle, the team dropped the flag twice in the first twenty minutes, against Alexander Isak (4th, 0-1) and Joelinton (19th, 0-2), happy to rush into the defensive gaps.
Amorim took out striker Joshua Zirkzee during the first period to bring in midfielder Kobbie Mainoo (33rd). This stabilized the team, nothing more.
Erik ten Hag’s successor, who arrived in November, has a meager record after eight league matches: five defeats, including three in a row to end the year 2024, a draw and two victories.
Newcastle, on the other hand, finished the year very strong, in fifth place, with one point more than Manchester City (6th, 31 pts).
This now makes four victories in a row for the « Magpies » in the Premier League, a series in which they scored thirteen goals and conceded only one.
