Following Bruno Fernandes' missed penalty, the Scottish midfielder's skillfully executed volley granted the home side a well-deserved lead 20 minutes into the game. Despite Cole Palmer leveling just before halftime, Chelsea posed consistent threats to Ten Hag's defense.

In response, the Dutch manager made a halftime adjustment, introducing Sergio Reguilon and repositioning Luke Shaw centrally to bolster the defensive setup. This strategic move proved effective, allowing McTominay the freedom to advance and emphatically guide home a well-placed cross from Alejandro Garnacho, restoring Manchester United's lead.

Although Armando Broja hit the woodwork with a header later on, Andre Onana faced limited challenges in the second half as the hosts climbed above Newcastle. Eddie Howe's team can reclaim the lead with a victory or draw against Everton on Thursday night, while Chelsea remains in the tenth position.

Chelsea finds themselves descending into the lower half of the Premier League. Pochettino attributes their situation to injuries, absentees, and having one less day to recover from the weekend's match compared to their opponent.

Newcastle has the opportunity to reclaim sixth place on Thursday against Everton. Currently, six points separate the top four teams, and there's a nine-point gap within the top six – potentially seven if Newcastle secures at least a point at Goodison Park.

Chelsea equalized in the first half with a splendid goal from Palmer, but the Blues' manager acknowledges that his team couldn't establish dominance in the game.

Pochettino, speaking to Amazon Prime, conceded, "The opposing team deserved the victory. It was challenging from the beginning – they displayed immense energy. Perhaps our performance was impacted because we played on Sunday and maintained a similar lineup."

"Executing the game as we intended might have been difficult, but we generated sufficient chances to stay in contention. We initiated the second half strongly, controlling the game. However, in one crucial moment, we conceded, and it became exceedingly challenging."

This season has the potential to be one of the closest and most remarkable in Premier League history. Guardian Post Sport will be here to provide timely updates on the pivotal moments.

We trust you enjoyed the coverage of this match, and we invite you to join us again soon for more live-text commentary on the blog.