Newcastle United marched into third place in the Premier League with a scintillating 5-0 victory over a defensively frail Crystal Palace at St James' Park on Wednesday night.
The first half was packed full of action, as Newcastle swiftly took the lead through Jacob Murphy before Eberechi Eze squandered the chance to equalise from the spot, and Crystal Palace were punished from that point on, as the Magpies scored three more through Marc Guehi's own-goal, Harvey Barnes and Fabian Schar to unbelievably make it 4-0 going into the break.
Newcastle United refused to rest on their four-goal lead in the second half, relentlessly pushing forward for more, and although they only added one more through Alexander Isak early in the half, the Magpies walked away with a commanding 5-0 victory.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
Newcastle United have been absolutely exceptional in recent weeks, and that was certainly the case once again here, with the Magpies establishing themselves as one of the frontrunners to secure Champions League football next season.
Jason Tindall said prior to the game that his side would aim to make the hospitalised Eddie Howe proud, and a remarkable 4-0 victory that pushes the Magpies into third place will have definitely done that.
Their five goals means they have now netted 14 times in the four matches since defeating Liverpool to lift the EFL Cup trophy, and that will spell danger for the teams that are challenging with them for a Champions League spot.
It is more than just the goals and wins that is impressive about Newcastle though, with the Magpies demonstrating great ability to defend deep and counter and patiently build play and control matches - all signs of a great team.
As for Oliver Glasner and Crystal Palace, it is a sorry state of affairs, with the Eagles conceding 10 goals in their last two matches - a shocking turn of events considering they have shown glimpses of being a solid defensive side throughout the season.
The only positive note for the visitors will be the performance of Adam Wharton, who came on in the 57th minute and provided a much greater presence in the middle of the park.
NEWCASTLE UNITED VS. CRYSTAL PALACE HIGHLIGHTS
Jacob Murphy goal vs. Crystal Palace (14th min, Newcastle United 1-0 Crystal Palace)
Murphy fires Newcastle in front 💢 pic.twitter.com/yT4E9sT6Dx
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 16, 2025
Newcastle take the lead, what a strike from Murphy!
Newcastle have possession and are working the ball around the Crystal Palace half, shifting the ball wide to Kieran Tripper and forward to Murphy on the wing.
Murphy initially looks for a cross but notices Dean Henderson slightly off his line, and the winger unleashes a ferocious shot into the roof of the net from an improbable angle, catching the goalkeeper off guard.
Eberechi Eze missed penalty vs. Newcastle United (36th min, Newcastle United 1-0 Crystal Palace)
PENALTY SAVED 🧤
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 16, 2025
Pope outsmarts Eze 🧠 pic.twitter.com/Ipr5UkeyyS
Eze has missed the penalty!
Crystal Palace have been awarded a penalty following a lengthy VAR check on Nick Pope's attempted challenge for the ball, with the goalkeeper crashing into Chris Richards.
Eze steps up, stuttering in his run up and looks to calmly slot into the bottom right, but Pope stands his ground and easily saves - poor from the Palace midfielder.
Marc Guehi own-goal vs. Crystal Palace (38th min, Newcastle United 2-0 Crystal Palace)
Two minutes after Palace's penalty miss, Newcastle make it 2–0 through a Marc Guehi own goal! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/7Jtq94c4aC
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 16, 2025
Salt in the wounds for Crystal Palace, Guehi has turned into his own net!
Newcastle are playing the ball around the ball, superbly working it to Tino Livramento in plenty of room on the left side, and the full-back charges forward before passing to Barnes inside the box.
Barnes fires a left-footed cross across the box, and Guehi's attempted block turns the ball into the near corner to make it 2-0 to Newcastle.
Harvey Barnes vs. Crystal Palace (47th min, Newcastle United 3-0 Crystal Palace)
Barnes is on fire 🔥 pic.twitter.com/hslKRkzCwR
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 16, 2025
Three for Newcastle, clinical from Barnes!
Newcastle win the ball back and spring a lightning counter-attack forward, with Sandro Tonali clipping the ball forward to Barnes just inside the Crystal Palace half.
Barnes drives forward into the Crystal Palace box, feints to go onto his right foot, skilfully shifts to his left and fires a low shot into the bottom right corner.
Fabian Schar vs. Crystal Palace (53rd min, Newcastle United 4-0 Crystal Palace)
What a pass, what a header! ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/YJBJ55iwUc
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 16, 2025
It is four! This is getting ugly for Crystal Palace!
Newcastle have a free-kick on the wide right side of the Crystal Palace box, taking it short to Murphy to cross into the packed area.
Murphy's cross is a good one, finding Schar in the centre of the area, and the defender flicks his header into the far left corner to make it four for Newcastle in the first half.
Alexander Isak vs. Crystal Palace (58th min, Newcastle United 5-0 Crystal Palace)
Alexander Isak catches Henderson off guard to bag his 25th goal of the season! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/tggxnAd3xV
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 16, 2025
Isak finally gets on the scoresheet to make it five!
Guehi's under-hit pass is intercepted by Joelinton deep inside the Palace half, and the resulting loose ball falls perfectly for Isak to take a strike at goal.
Isak quickly unleashes a first-time effort that flies past Henderson's full-stretch dive and into the bottom right corner - a beautiful finish from Newcastle's top scorer.
MAN OF THE MATCH - JACOB MURPHY
© Imago
Murphy is enjoying a sensational season, certainly the best of his career, and the forward made a huge impact for Newcastle once again tonight.
The winger scored the opener with an outstanding finish from an improbable angle, followed by assisting Schar's goal with a cross of the absolute highest quality.
Despite playing just 62 minutes before being taken off the pitch, Murphy still managed to record the most chances created of any player across the 90 minutes - with three big chances and three key passes.
NEWCASTLE UNITED VS. CRYSTAL PALACE MATCH STATS
Possession: Newcastle United 60%-40% Crystal Palace
Shots: Newcastle United 14-11 Crystal Palace
Shots on target: Newcastle United 7-4 Crystal Palace
Corners: Newcastle United 5-4 Crystal Palace
Fouls: Newcastle United 9-15 Crystal Palace
BEST STATS
Jacob Murphy goals:
— StatMuse FC (@statmusefc) April 16, 2025
9 — This season
8 — Previous 3 seasons combined pic.twitter.com/Z0cE9zW2qY
2 - Marc Guéhi has scored an own goal in both games against Newcastle in the Premier League this season, just the second time a player has netted one home and away against an opponent in a single campaign (after Jamie Carragher v Tottenham in 1998-99). Oops. pic.twitter.com/CAw9pUAvOG
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 16, 2025
WHAT NEXT?
Newcastle United's battle to secure a Champions League place in the Premier League will continue on Saturday when they take on fellow challengers Aston Villa at Villa Park.
Meanwhile, Crystal Palace will take on Bournemouth and Arsenal in the Premier League before clashing with Aston Villa at the end of the month in the semi-finals of the FA Cup.
Ellis Stevens
