Fewer touches than Dubravka: NUFC liability with 45% passing should never start again - opinion

Newcastle United lost 1-0 to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday as Kai Havertz scored the only goal of the game for the hosts.

The Magpies had a chance to go ten games unbeaten in the Premier League after a sublime run of form heading into this match, but the champions of Europe proved to be a step too far for Eddie Howe’s men.

Havertz scored the winner late on as he burst through onto a ball from Jorginho and superbly brought it down and finished with aplomb. It was a moment of quality from the Germany international and a goal worthy of winning any game, unfortunately for Newcastle.

One player who surely left Howe feeling frustrated was wide man Jacob Murphy as he struggled throughout the game out on the left.

In the absence of Ryan Fraser and Allan Saint-Maximin, who were both on the bench, Murphy failed to grab the game and be the creative spark Newcastle needed to get anything out of this match.

He was abysmal on and off the ball and this should be the final nail in the coffin for him in regards to starting Premier League matches for the club.

In possession, he was poor for the Magpies. As per SofaScore, he had fewer touches (27) than his goalkeeper Martin Dubravka (29) and only completed five passes at a success rate of 45% in his 89 minutes on the pitch. He also failed with three of his five attempted dribbles and created zero chances for his teammates.

Murphy was perhaps unlucky not to win a penalty off Trevor Chalobah as the defender pulled his shirt in the box, but a mistake from a Chelsea player does not gloss over what was a dreadful showing on the ball for the ex-Norwich winger.

Off the ball, he was far too weak. Via SofaScore, he lost eight of his 12 individual battles and was dribbled past once whilst