Newcastle United 2-2 Chelsea, Player Ratings: St Reece James’ Park

1. REECE JAMES (8.1)

Reecey started the comeback in the opening minutes of the second half, scoring with a most wonderful free kick to underline what was yet another excellent performance from the captain in both midfield and at right back (he switched to the latter position after Enzo replaced Malo Gusto). It’s the 10th Premier League goal of his career, and the second this season.

James is putting together a very good season — probably his best since 2021-22 — and the obvious key enabler for that has been his health. He’s been able to stay fit, in part due to judicious rotation and workload management by the coaching and fitness staff, and we’re reaping the benefits when he’s on the pitch.

Hopefully that approach continues to enable us, and enable him, to keep leading us on and off the pitch.

2. JOÃO PEDRO (7.2)

There was a strange stat from Sky making the rounds last week, about how our No.9’s have only scored one (1) goal this season, or some such … when JP alone had four in the league coming in. Most of those had come in games where Liam Delap had started as our nominal center forward, so the engagement farmers took that opportunity and ran with it.

But not even they could deny this classic bit of center forward play from our … you know, center forward! Route one, taking advantage of some passive defending, then a clinical finish. Didier Drogba would be proud.

3. ROBERT SÁNCHEZ (7.1)

He may have given up two goals, but this was a tremendous performance from Bob, making a couple incredible saves (including the initial save on Newcastle’s opening goal) and also collecting an assist for JP’s equalizer. It was apparently the first official goalkeeper assist in the Premier League for Chelsea since 2010.

vs. NEWCASTLE UNITED (PL, A, D 2-2)

EXCEPTIONAL (8.5-9.5): —

EXCELLENT (7.5-8.4): James (8.1)

GOOD (6.5-7.4): João Pedro (7.2), Sánchez (7.1), Caicedo (6.9)

AVERAGE (5.5-6.4): Cucurella (6.3), Enzo (6.3, sub), Neto (6.0), Chalobah (5.9), Palmer (5.8), Santos (5.7, sub)

SUBPAR (4.5-5.4): Garnacho (5.4), Fofana (5.2), Gusto (5.0)

BAD (3.5-4.4): —

TERRIBLE (2.5-3.4): —

OVERALL