The only problem for Antonio Conte after seeing the irrepressible Eden Hazard provide the latest demonstration of his outstanding ability to win a game with nearly no relieve at all was the knowledge that the Belgian’s brilliance still might not be enough for the champions to retain their title. Not with Manchester City setting new standards at the top of the Premier League. Chelsea played with controlled aggression to stamp out Newcastle United’s attempts at insurrection here,but Conte struck a slightly defeatist tone, lamenting how the team peering down at the rest of the league is doing “extraordinary things” and wondering when that will cease to be the case.
Unless that happens, and Chelsea can forget about the Premier League trophy staying in west London. They did lop City’s lead to eight points,fighting back from a goal down to ruin Rafael Benítez’s return to one of his worn clubs, but there seems little prospect of Pep Guardiola’s freewheeling side slipping up when they host West Ham United on Sunday, or such levels of excellence can be draining for those in pursuit of them.
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Source: guardian.co.uk