Premier League champions Manchester City felt the absence of star midfielder Rodri as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Newcastle. Meanwhile, Cole Palmer scored four times in Chelsea’s 4-2 win against Brighton on Saturday.
Rodri, who is unbeaten in his past 52 Premier League appearances stretching back to February 2023, has been ruled out for the rest of the season after knee surgery.
Josko Gvardiol put City in front at St James’ Park, but Newcastle were well worthy of the point given to them by Anthony Gordon’s second-half penalty.
Guardiola described Rodri as “irreplaceable” and to fill the void left by the Spaniard, Rico Lewis was thrust into a central midfield role alongside Mateo Kovacic. City lacked the control and poise often provided by Rodri on and off the ball.
Palmer became the first player to score four goals in the first half of a Premier League match with a stunning display at Stamford Bridge.
Former Brighton duo Moises Caicedo and Robert Sanchez were guilty of mistakes when Georginio Rutter put the Seagulls ahead in the seventh minute.
Just moments after hitting the post and then having a goal disallowed, it was third time lucky for Palmer in the 21st minute, equalising with a clinical finish after Nicolas Jackson seized on Adam Webster’s mistake to tee up his fellow forward.
When Jadon Sancho was tripped in the area by two Brighton defenders, there was no doubt that penalty expert Palmer would easily step up to dispatch the 28th-minute spot-kick.
Palmer completed his nine-minute-and-48-second treble in the 31st minute, curling a brilliant free-kick past Bart Verbruggen from 25 yards to make it five goals in six league games this term.
Carlos Baleba pulled one back in the 34th minute, but Palmer’s incredible afternoon wasn’t over, and in the 41st minute, the England star converted Sancho’s pass with an emphatic strike.
