Match report (Newcastle- Chelsea): Eddie Howe played against Enzo Maresca face-to-face, had 2:0 lead at halftime, and lost the battle. Match ended 2:2.
Srećko Šijaković 
Premier League Round 17 Analysis
Newcastle United vs Chelsea (2–2)
The 17th round of the Premier League is still ongoing, with the closing fixture scheduled for Monday between Fulham and Nottingham Forest. We are approaching the Christmas period, followed by Boxing Day, the traditional football holiday in England in modern times. This day comes one day right after Christmas at 26 and represents the day on which the presents from Christmas are being opened.
On Friday, 26 December 2025, as part of Round 18 of the Premier League, we will witness a major clash between Newcastle United and Manchester United. This fixture will help open the true festive football spectacle in England.
In this analysis, we focus on the match between Newcastle United and Chelsea, a game in which Newcastle raced into a two-goal lead within the opening twenty minutes. Despite having a significant advantage, they failed to defeat Chelsea at St James’ Park. They had a 2:0 lead.
First half: Newcastle dominance
The match started very poorly for Chelsea. Enzo Maresca opted to start Malo Gusto at right-back, while Reece James was deployed in midfield. The central defensive pairing consisted of Trevoh Chalobah and Wesley Fofana. João Pedro led the attack, while Alejandro Garnacho, in excellent form after scoring twice against Cardiff City earlier in the week, featured in the front line at left wing.
Newcastle United began the match aggressively, led by the outstanding Anthony Gordon, who has been the team’s best player for weeks. Newcastle controlled midfield through Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimarães, while Gordon relentlessly targeted Malo Gusto down Chelsea’s right side.
The opening goal came after a cross from the right found Nick Woltemade. Following an initial brilliant save by Robert Sánchez, Chalobah failed to clear the rebound. Attempting to clear with his weaker foot, he slipped, allowing Woltemade to attempt again to score easily for 1–0 Newcastle.
The goal was preceded by an outstanding reflex save from Sánchez, whose agility and determination once again stood out. It was an early 1:0 in the 4th minute, Newcastle led. It was a big advantage for the hosts.
Robert Sánchez: Chelsea’s silent hero
The athleticism and mentality of Robert Sánchez remain underappreciated. His constant effort to stop every shot, his reflex saves, and his hunger to protect the goal separate him from many others. His individual development under Maresca has been remarkable.
Sánchez is now a completely different goalkeeper compared to the one who arrived at Chelsea in 2023, when Mauricio Pochettino rotated between him and Đorđe Petrović.
Today, Chelsea has a goalkeeper who no longer concedes goals through personal errors, something that seemed impossible a year ago. Chelsea now has a goalkeeper who is confident, reliable, quick and very agile for the team.
Sanchez is showing fantastic character on the pitch for Chelsea
Chelsea’s trust in Sánchez—rather than pursuing Mike Maignan from AC Milan, whose contract expires next summer—has proven correct. Sánchez has completely overtaken Filip Jørgensen, pushing the young Danish goalkeeper toward the exit.
Despite defensive instability in front of him, Sánchez currently leads the Premier League in clean sheets, highlighting his consistency and progress. There are no more individual errors that are costing the team at all. He is persistent and is very good on the line.
Last season, rotation on the goal was passed to Chelsea since Filip Jorgensen, who is in the perfect age, one year young this year, with very great proportions, for golakepear is not even close to playing and in any event important, Mareca will only rely on Sanchez.
Only Robert Sanchez is responsible. Chelsea has avoided losing against Bournemouth. The hard effort of the Spanish side has saved Chelsea avoiding another loss.
Newcastle leads , Maresca responds
Newcastle dominated possession and tempo, with Chelsea looking disorganized and passive. A major moment came when Newcastle continued playing after Cole Palmer was fouled—no whistle was given—and Woltemade missed a golden chance to make it 3–0, shooting over the bar.
At halftime, the fear Eddie Howe had most came true: Maresca’s halftime adjustments.
Maresca withdrew Malo Gusto and introduced Enzo Fernández, restoring balance and creativity. Reece James returned to his natural right-back position, while Fernández immediately began dictating play from midfield.
Reece James vs Enzo Fernández in midfield
Using Reece James in midfield can be effective against elite opponents such as Arsenal, Barcelona, or Manchester United, where his defensive presence and ball-winning ability are valuable.
However, against less dominant teams, Enzo Fernández is clearly the superior option. His passing range, tempo control, and vision give Chelsea structure and rhythm—qualities James cannot consistently provide in midfield.
Chelsea’s defensive issues this season have coincided with James being used centrally and Gusto starting regularly at right-back. James remains Chelsea’s best defensive player, and his return to defence immediately stabilised the team.
When Recce James is playing in the midfield, he does not have the quality in midfield that Enzo Fernandez does. Fernadez is a midfield player for his career and has played millions and millions.
Enzo Fernandez is also a playmaker. Recce is good at the defensive attributes as taking the ball from the opponent, but is passing and midfield skills are dividing them two.
Maresca switched that at halftime, and with Enzo Fernandez in the second half, Chelsea has got composure and better balance in the midfield. The ball has started flowing from the midfield to the attack.
In that way, Chelsea have started being better on the pitch after the first half when James was playing, since he does not make a many good passes as Enzo Fernandez does. The passes stated, and Recce was back at right back.
Chelsea comeback
Reece James scored from a long-range free kick to make it 2–1, a strike Aaron Ramsdale had no chance of stopping.
Chelsea equalised through João Pedro, who controlled a long clearance from Sánchez, shielded the ball superbly, and finished clinically for 2–2.
At that moment, Eddie Howe lost control of the match. Substituting Anthony Gordon disrupted Newcastle’s balance, and removing Woltemade further weakened their attacking threat. Chelsea took control and created several chances, with Garnacho coming close but denied repeatedly by Ramsdale.
Maresca lacked attacking options from the bench, as Estêvão Willian and Jamie Gittens did not travel, while Tyrique George was also unavailable. Andrey Santos was introduced, while Biounotte and Marc Guiu remained unused.
Final assessment
Chelsea can be extremely satisfied with a 2–2 draw at a difficult away ground. After going two goals down early, they showed character, tactical maturity, and resilience.
The contrast between the two halves was striking. What Eddie Howe feared most happened: Maresca completely outcoached him in the second half. Chelsea even had opportunities to win the match.
As time passes, Newcastle United continue to struggle in the Premier League. Pressure on Howe is increasing, and this result will do little to convince the club’s ownership that he is the right man to lead the project forward.
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