Raheem Sterling’s response to Newcastle’s thrashing tells it all: the Chelsea star was let down.

At St. James’s Park, Chelsea’s run of impressive Premier League results came to an abrupt halt.

On Saturday, Newcastle United defeated Chelsea, leaving Raheem Sterling, who had delivered a respectable individual performance, with a sense of disappointment. As much as the costly-to-assemble squad of Mauricio Pochettino would like to know, his side has lost more Premier League matches than they have won this season.

A magnificent free-kick by Sterling off Tyneside cancelled out the opener by Alexander Isak and tied the game at halftime. However, after the interval, Jamaal Lascelles, Joelinton, and Anthony Gordon all scored to give the Magpies a decisive 4-1 victory.

Pochettino’s squad had a genuinely miserable afternoon capped by the dismissal of Reece James, and the Chelsea manager was not the only one who found the outcome unbearable.

Sterling, who was by far the finest player for Chelsea on the day, was captured on camera sat stunned and alone as his teammates made their way back to the locker room following the final whistle.

Prior to the international break, the Blues appeared to have regained some momentum following a sluggish start under Pochettino. With victories over Brighton, Fulham, Burnley, and Tottenham, alongside draws against Arsenal and Manchester City, a significant number of supporters were persuaded that the team had arrived at a pivotal moment.

However, the crushing loss to Newcastle will force them to return to the drawing board immediately in preparation for a challenging two-week stretch run that includes home games against Brighton and Manchester United.

After a trophy-laden tenure with Manchester City, Sterling joined Chelsea last summer in an attempt to establish himself as the primary player at Stamford Bridge. Although the 28-year-old is undeniably one of Pochettino’s most reliable performers, the Blues’ overall results remain significantly below expectations.

“We played the worst game of the season,” Pochettino remarked following the final whistle. “The experience of being in the stands was difficult.” We are unable to lodge a complaint regarding the outcome, as our initial assessment of the event was inadequate. We failed to perform as we ought to have; we exhibited a dearth of vigor and vitality.

“Even after we tied the game at 1-1, we had an opportunity to force Newcastle to play deeper, but it was far too easy for them.” This explains my extreme displeasure with the performance.

“Being a young team, they require this sort of circumstance in order to mature. We will check into our hotel before boarding an early train tomorrow with no time off. We cannot place responsibility on individual players; the team as a whole is to blame. We must comprehend the level required to compete and continue to develop.”