Newcastle take the corner short for Atsu. The Ghanaian dallies on the edge of the box, shifts inside and curls a deep ball in that finds absolutely no one. That will be that.
90' +2
Chelsea slowly pass the ball around their back line until the ball strays out of play down Newcastle's right. Manquillo slides in Longstaff down the inside-right channel and the young Englishman's cross is blocked by David Luiz. Newcastle corner. What can they do with it?
90' +1
Newcastle don't look all that hurried considering they're a goal behind. In the circumstances, a narrow defeat isn't a terrible result for them, but surely a point would be better?
90'
There will be four added minutes at the end of this match. Can Newcastle spring a late surprise here?
Chelsea win a timely corner, giving them the opportunity to keep the ball down in Newcastle's half of the pitch. Willian understandably takes his time before passing it short to Hudson-Odoi. Newcastle eventually boot it clear.
88'
Luiz unwisely fires a ball towards Hudson-Odoi and hands Newcastle possession when Chelsea could just keep the ball and wind down the clock. Unfortunately for Newcastle, they can't take advantage and only succeed in giving Chelsea a throw back into their own half.
87'
O. Giroud enters the game and replaces E. Hazard.
Chelsea make their final change. Hazard goes off and is replaced up top by Giroud.
86'
Manquillo gets a spare second on the ball and curls a ball towards Rondon at the far post. The Venezuelan's header bounces wide. Not a clear chance for Newcastle but a warning for Chelsea nonetheless - this isn't over yet.
85'
Newcastle need to push forward now but will they risk leaving themselves open? Hudson-Odoi is called offside after Jorginho attempts to pick him out.
83'
Newcastle's new right-side pairing combine for the first time: Manquillo and Murphy try to make their way upfield but are stopped by Alonso.
Minute
Description
82'
Javier Manquillo enters the game and replaces D. Yedlin.
J. Murphy enters the game and replaces Ayoze Pérez.
Secondly, another like-for-like substitution: Perez is replaced by English winger Murphy.
Newcastle respond by making two subs of their own. First, Yedlin is replaced by Manquillo.
81'
C. Hudson-Odoi enters the game and replaces Pedro.
Meanwhile, Pedro is replaced by Hudson-Odoi. The Chelsea fans give the teenage English winger a warm reception - they clearly don't want him to leave for Bayern Munich, which might happen according to reports.
80'
Ritchie takes the corner short and it's eventually delivered in but Chelsea boot it out for a Newcastle throw.
79'
Newcastle need to create another chance soon if they want to come away with anything from this game. Ritchie drives in a low cross from the left and Azpilicueta puts it out for a Newcastle corner. Maybe this will be it?
77'
David Luiz has returned to the pitch for now. Newcastle chase Chelsea down in the home side's half and eventually win possession after a rogue Kepa pass.
73'
David Luiz runs up to take the free-kick but it sails way over the Newcastle goal. That could have sealed the win for Chelsea.
72'
A frustrated-looking Perez bundles over Alonso and gives Chelsea a free-kick about 25 yards out in a central position. This looks like a promising distance for a David Luiz special.
71'
Yedlin also looks OK. Newcastle try to escape their defensive third but Yedlin fluffs his pass out. Chelsea keep up the pressure. Newcastle are standing firm though - they're still in this, just.
69'
Chelsea pass the ball around, looking for one more opening to finish Newcastle off. Yedlin is the next Newcastle player to go down after taking an innocuous knock from Hazard while challenging for a header.
67'
Lascelles has been cleaned up now and looks good to play on. Chelsea regain possession as we enter the final quarter of this game.
65'
Hazard's corner drifts over to the opposite post where it's knocked out for a throw by Atsu. Lascelles is down injured - he's picked up a bloody injury on his thigh after crashing into the advertising board while trying to block Willian's attempt a few moments ago.
63'
R. Barkley enters the game and replaces M. Kovačić.
Jorginho gets yellow.
Chelsea make the first substitution of the game. Kovacic off. Barkley on.
Hazard fires a shot wide in Newcastle's box but Lejeune shanks his shot right back into danger. Jorginho is booked for holding back Rondon as Newcastle try to escape.
61'
Perez and Rondon pop the ball to one another as they approach the heart of Chelsea's defence. Newcastle look in earnest at the referee as Rudiger has a little tug on Perez's arm but Chris Kavanagh looks the other way.
60'
The Chelsea fans are unhappy after Hazard leaves Longstaff for dead. Atsu makes a timely interception and Chelsea want a foul but the referee is having none of it.
59'
Chelsea want to kill this game off. The home side work a few passes together on the edge of Newcastle's area but are forced back. Hazard tries a one-two and claims a foul for obstruction but play goes on.
58'
Hazard has been quiet this game but his quality showed there. Can Newcastle find a second wind and equalise again?
57'
Willian has scored a goal for Chelsea! Assist by E. Hazard.
GOAL! Beautiful finish by Willian. Hazard drops deep and wriggles past five Newcastle defenders. Hazard lays the ball wide to Willian - the Brazilian teases Yedlin, takes one step inside and curls the ball past Dubravka at the far post. 2-1 Chelsea!
54'
Again Dubravka flaps at the corner. This time, Perez miskicks the attempted clearance. Luckily for Newcastle, the whistle is blown as Rudiger has strayed offside.
53'
Jorginho fires another over-optimistic ball out of play while looking for Hazard. The Chelsea fans aren't happy with him but he's been the source of most of Chelsea's creativity in this match.
Kante canters forward and lays off the ball to Willian on the left. The Brazilian has to settle for a corner as Lejeune quickly steams in to make the block. Rondon knocks the ball behind for a second Chelsea corner.
52'
Kante brings Atsu down and hands Newcastle a free-kick by the halfway line. The away side can't do anything with it. Chelsea attempt to make their way forward but Lejeune quickly gets rid.
50'
Perez looks to have shrugged off Luiz and set Rondon one-on-one with Rudiger, but the referee calls play back for a foul. Newcastle are still looking lively.
48'
Either side could score next. Ritchie goes up the other end and aims a ball towards Rondon in the area, although Atsu is unaware of the striker lurking behind him and unintentionally flicks the ball away.
46'
The teams are back out for the second half - no changes made by either side. What will the next 45 minutes bring?
45' +3
HALF TIME: CHELSEA 1 - 1 NEWCASTLE UNITED
45' +2
Hazard is penalised for a foul on Perez near Chelsea's corner flag. The frustration here at Stamford Bridge is palpable.
45'
There will be two added minutes in this half. Newcastle are committing men forward now but look vulnerable when they do. Yedlin whips a ball towards Rondon but Rudiger heads it away.
44'
Jorginho sets up another chance for Chelsea - Hazard's shot is blocked this time. This is looking like an exciting end to the half.
42'
This game is temporarily turning into a frantic end-to-end affair. Ritchie is found by Yedlin in the Chelsea box but gets his body shape all wrong and slices his shot out towards the touchline.
41'
Ritchie's ball towards Clark was exquisite - that's four assists he's made for the Newcastle defender now - but no Chelsea man was alert to Clark's run. Sarri won't be happy with that.
40'
C. Clark has scored a goal for Newcastle United! Assist by M. Ritchie.
GOAL! Newcastle equalise! Ritchie's initial corner is headed back out for another. This time Ritchie curls the ball back out towards Clark on the edge of the box and he smashes a header low inside the left post! 1-1! We have a game now.
38'
Dubravka rushes out and makes a routine hold of Willian's corner. Newcastle immediately go down the other end and win a corner on the left via Atsu.
37'
Chelsea look motivated by that near-miss, forcing Newcastle back towards their own box. Rondon is penalised for ruffling the feathers of Jorginho. Chelsea win a corner shortly after.
33'
Pedro shoots from outside the area after receiving the ball from Jorginho and Dubravka drops low to make a routine save. Chelsea are still threatening intermittently but they're no longer in control.
30'
Lascelles intercepts a pass for Hazard and looks for Rondon but the Venezuelan can't capitalise on it. Instead Newcastle work the ball to the opposite side, only for Hazard to win a free-kick in his own half.
28'
Newcastle attempt to build again. Chelsea are staying patient. Rondon plays a one-two with Atsu and gets the ball back just outside Chelsea's area but blazes his shot over. A bit too hasty there.
26'
Kepa immediately throws the ball forward, looking to release Chelsea on the counter-attack. Newcastle just about manage to scramble it clear with several players out of position. That's the risk they face now they have to chase the game already.
25'
Perez gets loose down Newcastle's right but slips, although he still forces Luiz to knock the ball out for a corner. Atsu plays the ball short and it's flicked back in by Yedlin. Lejeune powers the ball towards goal and it's saved comfortably by Kepa.
24'
M. Ritchie gets yellow.
Willian's outswinging free-kick is met by the head of Luiz who powers the ball over Dubravka's bar. That was only the second shot of the game so far.
23'
Newcastle are still on the ball with Chelsea biding their time. Chelsea win the ball back and play it forward quickly. Azpilicueta is brought down by a sliding Ritchie. Ritchie is booked. Chelsea free-kick.
22'
Atsu is flagged offside as he looks to latch onto a long ball from the back. His pace could cause his old club problems if he times his runs correctly.
21'
Newcastle have an extended spell of possession but are unable to create an opportunity. Clark's ball forward is cut out by Rudiger, but Kante's errant pass hands the visitors the ball again.
20'
Newcastle gradually make their way upfield, only to pass back to Dubravka again. The keeper's long ball is aimed for Rondon and flicked out of play by Alonso.
18'
Kante runs free down the right wing. Clark stretches a foot out and steals the ball, sending both players tumbling to the turf. No foul. Chelsea throw.
17'
Kovacic dashes towards Newcastle's box and wins Chelsea another corner. Willian's corner is belted away by Rondon.
16'
Newcastle have all 11 men in their own half right now. They really need to make the most of the few opportunities they're going to have.
15'
Yedlin steals the ball from Alonso near the halfway line and surges upfield but stalls in making a pass. In the end the American leaves it too late, allowing Alonso to atone for his mistake.
14'
The referee blows his whistle for a Rudiger push on Dubravka - Newcastle free-kick. Rudiger grimaces wryly.
13'
Chelsea look for a second right away. Hazard drifts wide left and takes on Lejeune by the goalline. He ends up winning his team a corner.
10'
That was superb vision by David Luiz there. There's arguably no one better at balls from the back like that.
9'
Pedro has scored a goal for Chelsea! Assist by David Luiz.
GOAL! 1-0 Chelsea! That was far too easy. David Luiz plays a fantastic direct ball from the back towards Pedro who beats Newcastle's offside trap. The Spaniard controls the ball with one touch and lofts it into the net over Dubravka with the other. Lovely finish. This could be one-way traffic.
7'
Atsu pressures Azpilicueta near the Chelsea defender's own box. There's a slight mix-up between Ritchie and Clark as Azpilicueta plays the ball down the line but the Newcastle defenders work it out in the end.
6'
Newcastle nick the ball back in their half and proceed to pass back to Dubravka, who lumps it forward. Rudiger wins the header and Dubravka gets the ball right back.
5'
Alonso finds space on the overlap down Chelsea's left again but his cross is too high to find a teammate. Chelsea are looking positive early on.
4'
Willian takes on Yedlin and Lascelles but can't beat the latter. Chelsea throw. Alonso's quick cross into the Newcastle area is blocked.
3'
Newcastle are trying to press Chelsea in their own half, perhaps in an attempt to emulate Southampton's success here last week. Ritchie fouls Pedro in the process.
2'
Chelsea zip the ball around nicely in these early stages, looking to make progress down their left. Jorginho pops a searching ball over the top for Hazard but it bounces out of play.
1'
Referee Chris Kavanagh gets this match underway!
Hello and welcome to our live commentary of this Premier League match between Chelsea and Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea have started 2019 with a miniature wobble. After losing to Tottenham midweek in the League Cup and being held 0-0 by Southampton in the Premier League last time out, suddenly the Blues are potentially facing three games without a victory. Maurizio Sarri will be keen for his team to get back to winning ways and keep distance from the teams below them.
On paper, Newcastle United look like the ideal opponents for Chelsea today. Rafa Benitez's men have won only one of their eight league games since the start of December and have sunk back into the relegation zone. Another defeat here wouldn't be terminal, but the Magpies need to break their slide, and fast.
CHELSEA (4-3-3): Kepa Arrizabalaga; Cesar Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Antonio Rudiger, Marcos Alonso; N'Golo Kante, Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic; Willian, Eden Hazard, Pedro.
SUBS: Willy Caballero, Andreas Christensen, Ethan Ampadu, Emerson, Ross Barkley, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Olivier Giroud.
NEWCASTLE UNITED (5-4-1): Martin Dubravka; DeAndre Yedlin, Jamaal Lascelles (c), Florian Lejeune, Ciaran Clark, Matt Ritchie; Ayoze Perez, Sean Longstaff, Isaac Hayden, Christian Atsu; Salomon Rondon.
SUBS: Fabian Schar, Freddy Woodman, Javier Manquillo, Federico Fernandez, Jacob Murphy, Joselu, Jamie Sterry.
This game took a little while to get going but has turned into pretty good fun. Chelsea took a predictable lead via a beautiful Pedro finish early on but Newcastle creditably didn't drop their heads. Instead, the visitors worked their way back into the game and deservedly equalised with a powerful header from Clark. Chelsea have a job on their hands in the second half.
Chelsea's attention will now turn to their crunch clash against Arsenal next week where they will have the chance to cement their top four position. Newcastle have the distraction of an FA Cup replay against Blackburn midweek before they play Cardiff in a relegation six-pointer at St James' Park. A home win is surely a must if they want to get out of trouble. That's all for now. Goodbye!
That result has made Chelsea's position look a lot better, given that Manchester United are quickly getting back into Champions League action - the Blues are a point behind Tottenham and three behind Manchester City for now. Newcastle stay in 18th after Burnley, Southampton and Cardiff all got positive results earlier, but they're only a point away from safety. There's still plenty of time for them.
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