LONDON, Sept 1, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Chelsea suffered fresh frustration after 
blowing the lead in a 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace, while Newcastle beat 
Tottenham 2-1 as Manchester United and Liverpool prepared for their Premier 
League showdown on Sunday.

Enzo Maresca's Chelsea have won only once in the first three league games of 
the Italian's reign after a chaotic close-season.

Beaten by Manchester City on the opening weekend, Chelsea powered to a 6-2 
win at Wolves last weekend before scraping into the UEFA Conference League 
group stage after a 2-1 loss at Servette on Thursday.

Former Leicester boss Maresca insists his expensive Chelsea rebuild, 
featuring a host of new signings, is ahead of schedule despite their 
inconsistent start.

Jadon Sancho's loan move from Manchester United was the final piece in 
Chelsea's overhaul since last term and the winger was introduced to the crowd 
before taking his seat in the director's box next to Blues co-owner Behdad 
Eghbali.

But Sancho can't have been impressed by his new team as they failed to kill 
off Palace after Noni Madueke picked out Cole Palmer and his pass was slotted 
home by Nicolas Jackson in the 25th minute.

- Isak fires Newcastle -

Maresca was furious after Palace midfielder Will Hughes avoided a second 
yellow card for a foul on Palmer.

Looking for their first point this season after defeats against Brentford and 
West Ham, Palace made the most of that escape to drew level in the 53rd 
minute.

England midfielder Eberechi Eze unfurled a superb curling finish that flashed 
past Chelsea keeper Robert Sanchez from 20 yards.

Eze's eye-catching goal and a late close-range miss by Jackson ended 
Chelsea's run of 14 successive wins against Palace in all competitions.

At St James' Park, Wilson Odobert, Pape Sarr and Pedro Porro all wasted good 
chances for Tottenham in the early stages.

Newcastle took the lead in spectacular fashion in the 37th minute when Lloyd 
Kelly pulled the ball back to Harvey Barnes, who unleashed a sublime volley 
into the far corner from 10 yards.

Tottenham equalised in the 56th minute as Newcastle defender Dan Burn 
accidently diverted the ball into his own net while trying to clear after 
Brennan Johnson's cross eluded Nick Pope, who had weakly parried James 
Maddison's shot in the build-up to the goal.

Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali came on for his first Premier League 
appearance in over 10 months after his ban for breaching betting rules.

The Magpies went back in front in the 78th minute when Jacob Murphy ran onto 
Joelinton's defence-splitting pass and laid on a tap-in for Alexander Isak.

Unbeaten Newcastle's second win in three league games condemned Tottenham to 
a first defeat this term, with the north London derby against Arsenal next up 
after the international break.

Liverpool travel to Old Trafford in Sunday's late game as Reds boss Arne Slot 
gets his first taste of the bitter rivalry with United.

Hired from Feyenoord to succeed Jurgen Klopp in the close-season, Slot has 
overseen 2-0 wins against Ipswich and Brentford in his first two games.

Slot's fellow Dutchman Erik ten Hag is already under pressure at United after 
their 2-1 defeat at Brighton last weekend.