Timo Werner 8, Mateo Kovacic 8; Allan Saint-Maximin 5, Dwight Gayle 4: Chelsea v Newcastle United ratings

German attacker ends goal drought as Blues ease to 2-0 win and back into top four of Premier League

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  CHELSEA RATINGS: Kepa Arrizabalaga - 6: Surprising first Premier League start since October ahead of Edouard Mendy but Newcastle failed miserably to test out the erratic Spaniard. A few simple saves but just not put under any real pressure. Blues manager Thomas Tuchel insisted after the match that Mendy remains No 1. PA

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  Cesar Azpilicueta - 7: Saw goal-bound header blocked after six minutes and often became over-lapping full-back down right from his position in back three. AP

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  Andreas Christensen - 7: Stroll in the park as Newcastle offered no attacking threat, with the Dane coping easily with what little was thrown at him. Reuters

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  Antonio Rudiger - 7: Back in favour under Tuchel and not put under any pressure as likes of Gayle and Joelinton made no impact on Chelsea defence. AP

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  Callum Hudson-Odoi - 6: Always looking to drive Chelsea forward from out wide although his final product was lacking somewhat with crosses rarely finding a Blue shirt. AFP

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  Jorginho - 7: Seems revitalised under new manager and ran the centre of midfield alongside Kovacic. Reuters

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  Mateo Kovacic - 8: A first choice under Tuchel and while he offers nothing in terms of attacking threat, as shown by second-half shot that he curled over when well placed, that’s not what he’s in team for. Strong in the tackle, then simple distribution to Chelsea’s more attacking players. Man of the Match. PA

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  Marcos Alonso - 7: Had game’s first shot on target after two minutes firing straight at Darlow from tight angle and then supplied Werner with chance to open scoring that attacker should have done better with. Linked up well with German down left. Getty

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  Mason Mount - 7: Well delivered corner helped set-up second goal but would have been disappointed that two shots just before the break failed to even force a save out of Darlow. Reuters

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  Timo Werner - 8: Decent opportunity to open scoring 25 minutes in when he sent first-time shot wide of target from Alonso’s cushioned header. Too good for Krafth down left as German helped set-up opener for Giroud. Clipped half-volley over bar minutes after that goal and deserved to end his drought with scruffy finish following Lascelles error. AFP

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  Tammy Abraham - 5: Striker picked up ankle injury, after sliding Lascaelles challenge denied him shot on goal, that he couldn’t run off. Lasted less than 20 minutes on return to team. PA

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  SUBS: Oliver Giroud – (On for Abraham 20’) 6: Early introduction due to Abraham injury, making a 100th Premier League appearance as a substitute. Blasted home Chelsea’s first goal just after half-hour mark when low cross from Werner ended up at his feet via Darlow save. AFP

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  N’golo Kante – (On for Mount 70’) 6: Slotted into midfield with no problems. AFP

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  Reece James – (On for Hudson-Odai 78’) N/A.

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  NEWCASTLE RATINGS: Karl Darlow - 6: Slightly unfortunate when he diverted Werner’s cross straight to Giroud for opening goal. Tried desperately to keep out Werner’s shot for second, to no avail. PA

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  Emil Krafth - 6: Right-back struggled to deal with Werner and Alonso from the off and was easily beaten by German in run-up to Chelsea opener. Better in second half. EPA

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  Jamaal Lascelles - 6: Captain returned to starting XI and needed a perfectly timed recovery tackle to deny Abraham shot on goal 15 minutes in, that resulted in the Chelsea man going off injured. But was leaden footed when ball rebounded off his legs to gift Werner Chelsea’s second. EPA

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  Ciaran Clark - 7: Another back in the team after injury, reads the game well and produced some well-timed challenges in the air and on the deck. Newcastle desperately need to keep him fit with so many injuries in the centre-back positions. AFP

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  Jamal Lewis - 6: Excellent recovery run and challenge as Werner threatened quick counter-attack in first half but caught sleeping as the German made it 2-0. AP

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  Jonjo Shelvey - 5: Lovely ball down left to Lewis 20 minutes in but that was about it in the first half spending most of the time chasing Chelsea shadows. Ambitious free kick from more than 25 metres out easily saved by Kepa just after break. AP

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  Isaac Hayden - 7: Back in his favoured midfield role after covering in defensive positions, producing his usual crunching tackles and reliable distribution. Getty

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  Joe Willock - 6: Enjoyed superb first game on loan from Arsenal against Southampton but found Chelsea’s midfield a whole different ball game. No hint of repeating debut goal until scuffing Saint-Maximin cross wide just after break. Good leap and header forced save out of Kepa. PA

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  Miguel Almiron - 5: Two goals in his last game, but offered next to nothing in terms of attacking threat until presented with difficult volley that Paraguayan could only fire wildly off target in last 10 minutes. Getty

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  Allan Saint-Maximin - 5: Newcastle’s talismanic attacker wasn’t allowed time or space to make any impact. Decent run and cross set-up half chance for Willock after break, but that was as good as it got for the Frenchman. AP

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  Dwight Gayle - 4: Back in team with top scorer Callum Wilson out injured but called on in defence to turn Azpilicueta header over in first 10 minutes. A goal-poacher who relies on service in the box but was stuck out in an unnatural wide role. Reuters

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  SUBS: Joelinton – (On for Gayle 64’) 4: Contributed nothing until flick through for Almiron in last 10 minutes. AP

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  Ryan Fraser – (On for Saint-Maximin 73’) 5: Found Willock with good early cross into box soon after coming on. Getty

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  Andy Carroll – (On for Willock 81’) N/A. Getty

Timo Werner’s first goal in 15 Premier League games helped send Chelsea back into the top four with a 2-0 victory over Newcastle United on Monday.

Werner’s first league goal since November 7 – after Olivier Giroud's opener – meant the striker's top-flight goal drought lasted exactly 1,000 minutes.

New Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel had insisted only a goal could restore Werner’s confidence and now the west London club will hope the summer signing can rediscover his top form.

The former RB Leipzig player also helped set up Giroud's goal in an encouraging all-round showing.

Newcastle couldn't replicate their performances from recent wins over Everton and Southampton and are just one place and seven points above the relegation zone.

Tuchel said: "It was a very good night, the perfect evening. We knew we had he opportunity to jump into the top four. We took this chance, the guys get a well deserved two days off now."

Newcastle manager Steve Bruce said: "Whether it was passive or we did not come to terms with them well enough, we sat off and their system caused us problems, especially Timo Werner in the inside-left position. The second half was a lot better."

Gareth Cox has provided the player ratings from Stamford Bridge in the photo gallery above. To move on to the next photo, click on the arrows or if using a mobile device, simply swipe.