Going into the game, the stats were most certainly on Chelsea’s side, with the ‘Blues’ having only lost one of their last 22 top-flight home games against Newcastle (W15, D6).
However, any suggestions that the game was a foregone conclusion were put to bed early on as Newcastle came out of the blocks with zest. The visitors pressed the Premier League champions high and got their reward after just 12 minutes as they took a shock lead.
Andreas Christensen was beaten to a long ball by Dwight Gayle before some pinball ensued. Marcos Alonso prodded the ball back towards his own goal and whilst Thibaut Courtois successfully denied Jacob Murphy, there was nothing he could do to prevent Gayle from turning home the loose ball. Replays showed that there had been a handball in the build-up but Newcastle didn’t mind.
Despite the early setback, Chelsea responded well. Only a stunning save from Karl Darlow prevented Hazard from levelling the scores within five minutes, whilst Alvaro Morata twice saw penalty appeals waved away.
The hosts weren’t made to wait too long though, as they levelled after just 21 minutes. Just seconds after Christensen had headed N’Golo Kante’s cross against the post Hazard struck to level the game. Cesar Azpilicueta crossed for Morata and whilst Florian Lejeune did brilliantly to prevent the ball from reaching its intended target, he could only clear as far as the Belgian who rifled the ball into the ground and into the far corner to restore parity.
Chelsea were dominating the possession at this point but Newcastle remained a threat on the break. The pace of the game made for an intriguing spectacle and the hosts were soon ahead.
With 33 minutes on the clock, Ciaran Clark made a hash of clearing the ball and handed it straight to Victor Moses on the right. The Nigeria international crossed into the box and Morata got the better of Chancel Mbemba to head home and give Antonio Conte’s side the lead. Whether the goal should have stood is up for debate, with the Spaniard appearing to push Mbemba as he awaited the cross.
11 - Since the start of last season, Alvaro Morata has scored 11 headed goals, more than any other player in Europe’s big five leagues. Trademark. pic.twitter.com/5JxlPIvdWy
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) 2 December 2017
Nevertheless, the goal stood and despite Danny Drinkwater trying to add to the lead with a strike from range, Chelsea went into the break with a 2-1 lead.
Presumably encouraged by how they managed to turn the game around, Chelsea flew out of the blocks in the second half, with Lejeune being forced into a last-ditch clearance to deny Morata a tap-in after Moses got to the byline down the right.
A long-range strike from Hazard was deflected narrowly wide with Darlow beaten, before Mikel Merino flashed an effort from 25 yards wide of Courtois’ right-hand post.
Eden Hazard’s touch in front of goal appeared to have deserted him as Chelsea dominated the second period without finding a way to extend their lead and make the game safe, but they were handed a chance to do just that on a silver platter with 73 minutes played when Matt Ritchie upended Moses in the box to give the hosts a penalty.
Hazard took responsibility from the spot, stepping up to dink the ball down the middle and make it 3-1 to Chelsea.
6 - Eden Hazard has scored more Premier League goals versus Newcastle United than against any other team in the competition (6). Panenka. pic.twitter.com/SFKywkVnzu
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) 2 December 2017
It could have been a hat-trick for Hazard minutes later as he got in down the left and looked to chip Darlow but the goalkeeper did well to deny him.
From there on in there was only ever one winner as Chelsea made it 19 points from their last seven league games, Newcastle, meanwhile have managed just four points during the same period.
Next up for Chelsea is a Champions League clash with Atletico Madrid in midweek, whilst Newcastle host Leicester in the Premier League next Saturday.