Chelsea come back to beat Newcastle: 3 things we learned

Chelsea came from a goal down to beat Newcastle at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Here are three takeaways from the Premier League match.

Cesar Azpilicueta is (somehow) getting better

Cesar Azpilicueta has long been one of the best defenders in the Premier League, but took his game to another level in 2016-17 playing as the right-sided center-back in a back three. The positional change made the most of Spaniard’s exceptional defensive instincts while also allowing him to venture forward in attack.

This season, as Antonio Conte has moved to a three-man central midfield, we’ve seen even more of Azpilicueta in the attacking third, both as a center-back and wing-back. He wasn’t credited with the assist for Eden Hazard’s equalizer, but it was his cross that led to the chance. If he had been credited with the assist, it would have been his sixth of the season.

That’s an impressive return for a player who spends most of his time at center-back. This isn’t the most important part of Azpilicueta’s game — that remains his flawless defending — but it’s another dimension to a player who has established himself as one of the most versatile and consistent in the league.

Matt Ritchie exposed as wing-back

Rafa Benitez isn’t known for his tactical flexibility, trusting instead in his preferred 4-2-3-1. However, he’s moved away from that formation against the big six this season, playing a 4-4-2 away to Manchester United two weeks ago and employing a back three/five against Chelsea on Saturday.

He’s not the first manager to change his formation to match up with Chelsea’s back three, but the decision proved costly, as Matt Ritchie’s poor defensive instincts were exposed. Ritchie was poor, but perhaps should have anticipated that a player who has spent most of this season in right midfield would struggle as a left wing-back.

The Englishman was at fault for Morata’s go-ahead goal, and fouled Victor Moses to give Chelsea the penalty that sealed the result. Ritchie’s inclusion may have been more justified if Newcastle showed any attacking threat, but other than a decent cross very early on, he did little but fail to keep up with Moses.

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Chelsea gaining momentum

This win made it 19 from a possible 21 points for Chelsea in their seven matches since losing to Manchester City and Crystal Palace in back-to-back games in late October and early November. The Blues appeared to be on the brink of crisis then, with Antonio Conte clashing with club ownership and struggling on the pitch. Now they’re level with second-place Manchester United.

City are running away at the top of the league and have an eight-point lead after only 14 matches. But the Blues have emerged in the past month or so as the best of the rest. Conte seems to have settled on his preferred formation, with three central midfielders behind Hazard and Morata up front.

With Hazard back at top form, and developing a dangerous partnership with Morata, Chelsea’s strong defensive foundation gives a chance in every game. United are winning but not playing particularly well, and Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool remain inconsistent, leaving Chelsea as City’s most likely challengers heading into a busy holiday period.