In a crushing display of dominance, Newcastle United dismantled Crystal Palace with a resounding 5-0 victory at St. James' Park on April 16, 2025. This match marked the culmination of a remarkable run for Newcastle, who secured their sixth consecutive win, propelling them to third place in the Premier League standings.
Newcastle entered the match riding high on a four-game winning streak, having recently triumphed over Manchester United with a 4-1 scoreline. The home team wasted no time in asserting their dominance against a struggling Crystal Palace, who were looking to bounce back after suffering a 2-5 defeat to Manchester City in their previous outing.
Jacob Murphy opened the scoring for Newcastle in the 14th minute, expertly converting a chance after a swift counter-attack. His right-footed shot found the back of the net, setting the tone for a first half that would see Newcastle run rampant. Following Murphy's early goal, the home side continued to press, with several near misses before doubling their lead.
In the 38th minute, Palace's fortunes took a turn for the worse when an attempted clearance from defender Marc Guehi deflected into his own net, resulting in an unfortunate own goal. This added to the mounting pressure on Palace, who found themselves trailing 0-2 before the halftime whistle.
As the first half came to a close, Newcastle capitalized on their momentum, scoring two additional goals during stoppage time. Harvey Barnes netted the third goal just before the break, finishing a well-placed shot from the left side of the box. Shortly thereafter, Fabian Schar headed home a free-kick delivered by Kieran Trippier, sending Palace into the locker room at a staggering 0-4 disadvantage.
Crystal Palace made a tactical adjustment at halftime, opting to maintain the same lineup. However, the second half began with more woes for the visitors. In the 57th minute, Daichi Kamada was brought on as a substitute, marking his first appearance in three matches. Unfortunately for Palace, just a minute later, a miscommunication in their buildup play led to a costly turnover.
Newcastle seized the opportunity, with Alexander Isak finishing off a swift counter-attack to score the fifth goal in the 58th minute. This goal effectively sealed the fate of the match, as Newcastle continued to dominate possession and create chances while Palace struggled to respond.
Despite their best efforts, including several attempts from Kamada and teammates to penetrate Newcastle's defense, Crystal Palace could not find the back of the net. Their offensive struggles were compounded by a solid performance from Newcastle's goalkeeper, Nick Pope, who had previously denied a penalty kick taken by Eberechi Eze in the 33rd minute, further demoralizing the Palace side.
As the match progressed, Newcastle's players began to rotate their squad, with Murphy and Joëlinton substituted off to preserve energy for future matches. The home side maintained a firm grip on the game, effectively managing the clock and limiting Palace's opportunities.
With this victory, Newcastle not only solidified their place in the top three of the Premier League but also extended their winning streak to six matches, a feat that highlights their current form and ambitions for the season. Meanwhile, Crystal Palace's defeat marked their second consecutive loss, leaving them in 12th place and raising concerns about their defensive vulnerabilities.
Looking ahead, both teams will need to reassess their strategies as they continue through the season. Newcastle will aim to build on their momentum, while Crystal Palace will seek to regroup and address their recent shortcomings in defense to avoid further setbacks.
