Chelsea on the charge and into the top four.

Have a read of the report

And keep an eye out in the morning for the latest Football Daily podcast for reaction from tonight's games

We are back on Tuesday as the Champions League returns. "The cham-pionsssss!"

Until then.

Chelsea

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

"Second half was not our best, we struggled with decision making, confidence and technical mistakes. But we always accept the fight. I got the impression we don't wan to lose what we built in the first half, I prefer us to think about what we can create.

"It was a long wait for Timo Werner, he was decisive in the last matches with assists, today again with an assist and then a goal. It is most important for the strikers, there are no video tapes or talks that can do that for them. It is deserved.

On Kepa starting: "The decision we took together with the goalkeeper coach and the goalkeepers. We see them as one team competing for one place. You need to feel safe to be the best in this position. He did good in the last game and to give him a match in the Premier League, we need two or three strong goalkeepers to achieve our goals. I'm very happy with his performance but Edouard Mendy is the number one and he will return to goal.

On Tammy Abraham injury: "It's serious enough he had to go out and we worry about him and hopefully he will not miss to many matches."

On top four: "There was a big gap between us when we started, it's not over, now we've made it and it's the moment to hang in and keep on showing the hunger we had. Now we've made this big step today we have to follow up and not lose any intensity or determination."

Newcastle United

Newcastle boss Steve Bruce tells Sky Sports: "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.

"We changed this slightly at half time and got at them a bit better and showed more intent. If you come here and get taken open but set pieces was a problem in the first half and they had too many first contacts. It is something we will look at.

"There were a few positives in the second half and I think the players are enjoying it, we have to get a few results but I am far happier in myself the way we played in the second half in the way we want to go about our work.

"There are that many teams involved, it has been an unbelievable year. Everyone is making a fist of it down below and there are six, seven teams looking over their shoulder. If we continue like we have done recently we will be OK."

Chelsea

• Chelsea have won four Premier League games in a row for the first time since November 2019 (a run of six under Frank Lampard).
• Thomas Tuchel has picked up 13 points from his first five Premier League games in charge of Chelsea (W4 D1), level with José Mourinho’s first five with the club and bettered only by Carlo Ancelotti and Maurizio Sarri (15 pts each).
• Thomas Tuchel is just the third manager to see his team concede just one goal in his first five games as a boss in the Premier League, after José Mourinho with Chelsea and Peter Taylor with Leicester (no manager has shipped no goals in their first five games in charge in the competition).
• In his 100th Premier League appearance as a substitute, Chelsea’s Olivier Giroud scored his 21st goal in the competition from the bench, with only Jermain Defoe netting more (24).
• Chelsea ‘keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga kept his first Premier League clean sheet in five appearances (11 goals conceded in previous four), since a shut-out against Norwich in July 2020.

Newcastle United

Newcastle boss Steve Bruce speaking to BBC Sport: "We were excellent in the second half and in the first half we found it very difficult. The way they played ,the system they had, the two inside forwards we didn't deal with it well enough. Second half we got to grips with it and we were more aggressive - a lot of positives. First half was very difficult for us.

"With 10-15 minutes to go we can ask a question. We're disappointed with the first half if I'm being brutally honest we got back in the game in the second half.

"Defending you leave yourself a bit exposed, with the pace of Timo Werner and Callum Hudson-Odoi and Tammy Abraham up the top - they're top class players. You have to get that balance right and we're still working on that.

"We've been hit with covid, illnesses and injuries but it's all part and parcel of this season. All teams are struggling with all the games we're playing and we've just got to keep going.

"I expect fight from us, there's six, seven or eight teams in the bottom half with a long way to go and lot of games to play. If we show that spirit like we did in that second half we'll be alright."

Chelsea

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel tells Sky Sports: "I liked the first half where we played with courage and had a lot of touches in the box and lots of shots, 12 to three and kept them away from our box and did not allow any chances. During the whole match we lacked precision in the last box and the decision making can be more deadly, precise and decisive to create more from our half chances. We gave away two shots in the first two minutes of the second half, we lost duels and the decision making was like we had something to lose. The guys had two days off and maybe they wanted to keep this, I spoke too early at half time about this!

"The first decision, we arrived on Tuesday and had to play on Wednesday so we had to play a double six and the experienced guys on the pitch with those with a clear picture of Chelsea from the previous season. If we do change systems, I think we can and we have to be flexible if we need to.

On Kepa Arrizabalaga: "No, Edouard is the number one and that is clear, it stays like this, I am very happy Kepa continued with a second clean sheet and it was the right moment to let him feel the rhythm and build his confidence. We hoped for the very best performance and Edu will be in from now on because he is the number one."

"I am convinced Timo was decisive with an assist and goal, I am very happy with that and he was working hard in the last few matches. He can play as a double striker, as a number nine if he is clever enough to use his speed and runs but his favourite position is if he can move out to the left.

"Top four is the target and stays the target, there are many team behind us chasing. We had many points to recover and it stays a big challenge because many games are coming. We are going to play teams from the top and bottom, every game is difficult and we will keep fighting."

Chelsea

Chelsea's Timo Werner speaking to BBC Sport: "Very important win - it was close because VAR nearly didn't give me the goal. Whole performance in the last few weeks were very good, winning all our games and didn't concede a goal. We're back on track and that's the important thing."

On joining Chelsea during the pandemic: "Not only difficult for me it's difficult for everyone, new country, new league and we started the season well, scoring goals and making assists but then I had a long period without scoring but at the end you have to keep pushing because it's a team sport and we want to win. Doesn't matter if I score or someone else as long as we win."

On arrival of Thomas Tuchel: "It's helped me that someone can scream at me in German - he's a really good guy - has a good idea of the football we want to play and when we have more and more training sessions with him we will get better and better.

"A few weeks ago we were somewhere and nowhere and we were a lot of points behind fourth place, we want to keep going. Only four points to second place and lots have said we won't reach top four at the end of the season but here we are. We have a good shape, we're back on track."

Newcastle United

Newcastle defender Jamaal Lascelles tells Sky Sports: "I just think we did not start well enough. From our goal-kick we kicked it out for a throw in and that set the tone. We need to realise we shouldn't need to go one or two down to get going.

"We were off them a bit and made it easy. Against a team like Chelsea you have to be nasty and if you don't do that their quality will come through.

"I hope Tammy Abraham is OK but I knew I got the ball, I was not concerned about getting sent off. I got the ball and followed through on him but it was a tackle I had to make otherwise he would have put the ball in the net.

"The performances have been better but tonight was not good enough, especially the first half, we did not give up in the second half and them positive signs are always good to have."

Chelsea

Chelsea's Timo Werner speaking to Sky Sports: "First half was really good form us, we played very good football. Happy that I scored finally and there's still a long way to go but if we keep going like this is will be a good end for us.

"As a striker you always want to score, the last month was hard I was not happy with not scoring. But at the end it's a team sport, when we win everything is good. Helping my team with assists and glad I scored today.

"For a striker it's worse when you can't get in the right situations and have the chances. I've had a lot of chances which I've missed, my team brought me a lot of situations where I could score today, when I keep going the goals will come like today and the assists as well."

On being in the top four: "Really important, that's important for us to reach Champions League at the end. At the start of the season we were favourites of the title, the last two months have showed we are no and we have a lot of work to do to close the gap with City and other clubs. The football we've played and the games we have played which have not been easy but we've showed that with some development we can get better."

Chris Sutton
Former Premier League striker on BBC Radio 5 Live

Run continues under Thomas Tuchel - the game was over by half time effectively. Chelsea the dominant force - Newcastle sowed a bit more oomph in the second half but didn't do enough the final third. Not enough from Newcastle but another three points and they're in a Champions League spot.

Fulham are in the relegation zone, seven points adrift of Newcastle but with a game in hand.

Scott Parker's next three games - Burnley (a), Sheffield United (h), Crystal Palace (a).

Huge, HUGE season-defining matches.

What a start for Chelsea under Thomas Tuchel, still unbeaten and moving into the top four.

Meanwhile Newcastle have problems, big problems.

Come on ref.

Three minutes added on.

Olivier Giroud sees Andy Carroll behind him and sticks his backside into the Newcastle striker as a corner comes in.

Carroll wants a penalty and referee Peter Bankes does blow his whistle...

...to award Chelsea a free-kick for a push by Carroll.

That could easily have gone the other way.

Liking this performance from Kepa Arrizabalaga, coming off his line to punch away a looping ball in the box.

Made his mind up, went for it, got the ball away.

Tom Castle: It's going to be an interesting summer at Chelsea. A number of expensive signings don't appear to fit into Tuchel's tactics/formation. Expect several trade requests.

Five minutes to go and we've not had a card yet.

Referee Peter Bankes must have used them up yesterday.

Newcastle won't get a better chance all night.

Andy Carroll causing a nuisance by winning a header, Joelinton flicks it on into the box for Miguel Almiron who loses his head and smashes wildly over into the Shed End.