'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Chelsea enjoyed plain sailing against Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge, out-manouvering them 2-0 to record five straight wins across all competitions.
The Blues amassed their eighth consecutive league win over the Toons, thanks to goals from Olivier Giroud and Timo Werner.
Unlike the demanding circumstances at Barnsley, it was esthetic, energetic and applicative football from Chelsea. They enjoyed the lion's share of the ball, as one would assume, but were far more direct and penetrative.
Newcastle, on the other hand, struggled to keep up with Chelsea's quality of delivery and pace of play.
On that note, we list the major talking points from Chelsea's rout of Newcastle United as Thomas Tuchel registered his fifth straight win as Blues boss.
#1 VAR raises doubts yet again as Abraham is forced off
Early on in the game, Mateo Kovacic played a delightful pass into the path of Tammy Abraham. The striker made a stellar run in between the Newcastle centre-halves, who should never have been as distant and taciturn as they were.
Abraham timed his run to perfection, but was bundled over by the outstretched leg of Jamaal Lascelles. One could argue the striker should have done better with his first touch, but the tackle on him was as harsh as it could have gotten. At least to the naked eye.
What was more startling was that VAR did not care to intervene or look into the challenge, or a possible offside, even once.
The play continued without pause. However, Chelsea's young forward could not shrug off the pain from the challenge. He soldiered through the bench as Giroud, the super sub, hopped on.
#2 Newcastle invite pressure as Giroud scores
Chelsea's sustained pressure and overload in the middle finally led to a goal when a pass found Werner in space down the left.
The striker was allowed to dribble into the box with ease as neither Isaac Hayden nor Emil Krafth closed him down. Having said that, it was a display of good close control on the ball and turn of pace from the former RB Leipzig talisman.
Werner's run produced a dangerous low cross into the box, which was parried away by Karl Darlow, only for Giroud to bury home the opener on the rebound.
Newcastle United's shape came into question because the duo, who let Werner run into space, offered too much time and failed to defend as a pair. The marking inside the box was extremely lethargic as well, for the Magpies did not win the first ball or react quickly enough to Giroud's effort.
#3 Quality in Chelsea's delivery leads to Werner's goal
Throughout the game, Newcastle United endured serious communication issues at the back. Every time Callum Hudson-Odoi overlapped down the right or Mason Mount lined up a problem, they struggled to match the whip and timing on the cross.
While Chelsea's movement off the ball has to be credited, a lot has to do with the way the visitors setup for crosses and corners.
On one such occasion, a Newcastle shirt partially managed to win the first ball. Partially because it was indeed a flick-on for an alert Werner, who tucked the ball past Karl Darlow to finally end his goal drought.
That's 10 goals for the German this season, who has also laid on nine assists and won numerous penalties for Chelsea.
#4 Chelsea's game-management wears down Newcastle
While there was no carnage at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea took the sting out of their opponents with intelligence.
In every department across the pitch, Chelsea's players stuck to a particular game plan and executed the same to near perfection. Tuchel ordered his full backs to impose their presence in the middle of the park, maintaining their pressing levels with Antonio Rudiger and Cesar Azpilicueta often stationed wide to check the wings.
Kovacic and Jorginho proved exactly why N'Golo Kante is not making it to the starting XI. Their control of the ball and ability to resist pressure from Newcastle ensured complete dominance for the Blues in midfield.
Kante's substitution for Mount was spot on as Chelsea inserted further defensive cover and energy into the center. Besides a Miguel Almiron half-chance in the second-half, it never looked like Newcastle would breach Kepa Arrizabalaga's goal.
#5 Mateo Kovacic's drive aided Chelsea's superiority
If there had to be a solitary reason for Chelsea's supremacy in control over Newcastle today, it would be due to Mateo Kovacic.
The midfielder ran the races in midfield, covered a lot of distance to shut down gaps and worked brilliantly with his partner Jorginho. His defensive contribution was simply outstanding, but may go unnoticed because of his attacking craft.
The Croatia international weaved past Newcastle midfielders like they were practice cones, regardless of the space he was allowed. Kovacic's dribbling and drive to play braver unlocked Newcastle many a time.
Not to mention, there was serious precision in his tackling as well as interceptions, which often turned into dangerous attacking patterns for Chelsea.
Kovacic really is looking the part in Tuchel's two-man pivot.
