That’s it for now. Until next time, goodbye!
The signs look ominous for the rest of the chasing pack in the race for the Champions League. Newcastle, meanwhile, are seven points above the relegation zone, though they have played a game more than 18th-placed Fulham.
It’s a fourth successive league win for Tuchel, who has taken 13 points out of 15 to lift Chelsea into the Champions League places, with Giroud and Werner scoring in the first half to seal the points.
90' + 3' FULL TIME: CHELSEA 2-0 NEWCASTLE UNITED.
90' + 1' Lewis is down holding his knee. The left-back has had a difficult game today, and was at fault for Werner’s goal.
89' Newcastle have only managed one shot fewer on target (four) than Chelsea, but Kepa has not had too many excellent stops to make, with the only standout that save from Willock. Wilson really has been a big miss for the visitors today.
87' As it stands, Chelsea are cruising into the top four, moving above West Ham and Liverpool. Newcastle, meanwhile, will be staying in 17th.
85' A corner from the left is whipped in by Fraser, but it is cleared by a towering header from Rudiger, who had Carroll lingering with intent close by.
83' Bar that chance for Willock, which was well saved by Kepa, Newcastle really have not come close enough to pushing Chelsea as the second half has worn on.
80' An immediate impact from James. He takes on a shot from the right side of the area, but Darlow sticks out a leg and directs it around the upright.
75' Over! Lascelles gets up to connect with Fraser’s corner, but he sends his header above the crossbar.
74' Good save! Another strong bit of goalkeeping from Kepa, who scampers across his line to leap across and tip Willock’s header around the post.
67' Almiron has scored three goals in his last four Premier League games for Newcastle, as many as in his previous 32 in the competition. However, all four of his strikes this season have come in home games, and the playmaker has been on the fringes of things so far.
62' There really seems little trouble for Chelsea, even though Newcastle are working hard. The Blues have had 68.1 per cent possession in total.
60' A mistake in Chelsea’s midfield hands possession to Shelvey who, having spotted Kepa off his line, attempts to catch the Chelsea goalkeeper out, but he doesn’t get enough power on it and Kepa calmly chests it down.
57' Before tonight, Tuchel has never previously managed a top-flight match on a Monday – his last match in any competition on this day was in August 2016, leading Borussia Dortmund to a 3-0 win in the first round of the DFB-Pokal against SV Eintracht Trier 05.
55' After that spell of Newcastle pressure, Chelsea are back retaining some steady possession, keeping their visitors at arms’ length.
52' Willock scored a debut goal against Southampton, and the Arsenal loanee takes on a shot from the centre of the area, only to slice it off target.
50' Chelsea have not lost a Premier League game when leading by two or more goals at half-time since losing their first ever such game in the competition vs Norwich City in September 1992 (P130 W127 D3 since).
48' It’s a decent effort from Shelvey, who gets his effort up and over the bar. It was heading towards the left-hand corner, but just lacked the power to beat Kepa, who lunged across to make a decent stop.
47' Newcastle force Kepa into his first save – Gayle’s tame effort easily gathered in by the world’s most expensive goalkeeper. The Magpies are then back on the attack, winning a free-kick around 30 yards out from goal.
46' We’re back up and running for the second half.
If Newcastle are to get anything out of this, they must find a way to get Saint-Maximin, Almiron and Gayle on the ball in the final third. Chelsea have had complete control, and Tuchel’s side are heading into the top four as it stands.
A routine performance so far from Chelsea, who hold a comfortable 2-0 lead heading into the break thanks to Giroud’s opener and Werner’s first league goal since November – which ended a run of exactly 1000 minutes without a strike. Newcastle have worked hard, but not come close to testing the Blues.
45' + 3' HALF-TIME: CHELSEA 2-0 NEWCASTLE UNITED.
45' + 1' Another opportunity for Mount, but he rather snatches at it, lashing a low effort across the face of goal from a tight angle.
44' Given Kepa's issues in previous league matches, Newcastle have not come close to testing Chelsea's goalkeeper anywhere near enough. Indeed, they have managed just two attempts so far, with neither on target.
42' Another effort on Newcastle’s goal as Chelsea look to get this match wrapped up. Mount gets a shot off on the turn, but slices across it and sends it wide.
40' There has been a check for handball on VAR, but the goal stands. Finally, Werner has ended his barren run. Will that be the start of a scoring streak?
36' Against no side has Giroud scored more Premier League goals than against Newcastle (nine - level with Aston Villa).
34' CLOSE! That goal just won’t come for Werner! He latches onto a terrific ball to the edge of the box from Kovacic and gets off a fantastic first-time effort, but Darlow just manages to tip it over.
33' Werner has failed to score with any of his last 30 attempts in the league (including two so far this evening), since netting against Sheffield United back in November, but he played a key role there as Giroud netted his tenth of the season in all competitions.
30' Werner wanted a foul for that tackle from Lewis, who did catch the German international with a flailing arm, though it was in no way intentional. Werner did receive a cut lip for his troubles, though, and will need treatment.
28' A chance for Newcastle to get their big men up the pitch, with the visitors forcing a succession of corners. Neither find their mark, however, and Werner attempts to break. Lewis, though, makes a fine recovery challenge.
26' Huge chance! Chelsea stretch the pitch once again, a long ball out to the left finding Alonso, who had made a charge into the area. He directs a header into the path of Werner but, on the lunge, he can’t prod his effort home.
24' Giroud has now become the 17th player to make 100 appearances in the Premier League as a substitute.
22' A rare attack for Newcastle, as Lewis finds Saint-Maximin, who breaks at pace into the area. He tries to set himself and get a shot off, but his path to goal is quickly blocked off.
17' Abraham is back on the pitch, but he is not moving freely at all – it appears that his right ankle is the issue. Giroud is warming up, so that’s one possible change coming up if Abraham cannot recover.
16' VAR has checked for a foul, and there is nothing doing. Abraham, meanwhile, has certainly come off worse, and will require some treatment.
15' CHANCE! That could easily have been 1-0 to Chelsea. Abraham raced behind Newcastle’s defence to latch onto a lofted pass. He takes it under his control but, before he can get a shot off, Lascelles lunges in and makes a well-timed, albeit robust, challenge.
14' Another half-chance for Chelsea, as Mount delivers another inviting outswinging corner, which Werner meets, but the former RB Leipzig star sends his header well wide.
12' Hudson-Odoi is seeing plenty of the ball so far, with Chelsea looking to stretch the pitch as much as possible. Mount is pulling the strings, handed a free role from his position in the front three.
10' Chelsea have controlled this from the off, though that should come as no surprise. Werner has space down the left, but fails to make anything of it, with his cross easily blocked.
8' More slack marking from a corner gives Chelsea another chance. Abraham is the one who gets free on this occasion, but he can’t turn his header on target.
7' Chance! Azpilicueta meets a corner from the right, which was delivered by Mount. The Chelsea captain directs his header goal wards, but Krafth is on hand to divert it over the bar.
5' Chelsea have only lost one of their 25 home Premier League games against Newcastle (W18 D6), a 2-0 defeat in May 2012.
3' An early save for Darlow, as Chelsea get off to a swift start. Hudson-Odoi cuts in from the right and lays it off to Kovacic, whose sweeping pass picks out Alonso. The wing-back unleashes a powerful effort, but Newcastle’s goalkeeper is alert at his near post.
1' KICK-OFF! We are up and running in this clash.
The teams are out at Stamford Bridge. Kick-off is coming up in a few moments!
Several enforced changes for Newcastle, who are without top scorer Callum Wilson, who sustained an injury in the win over Southampton – Gayle is his replacement. They keep their diamond system, with the suspended Jeff Hendrick replaced in midfield by Hayden, who moves out of defence with Lascelles and Clark returning. Krafth also comes in for Manquillo at right-back.
NEWCASTLE SUBSTITUTES: Paul Dummett, Matt Ritchie, Jacob Murphy, Sean Longstaff, Andy Carroll, Ryan Fraser, Martin Dubravka, Matthew Longstaff, Joelinton.
NEWCASTLE (4-3-1-2): Karl Darlow; Emil Krafth, Jamaal Lascelles, Ciaran Clark, Jamal Lewis; Joseph Willock, Isaac Hayden, Jonjo Shelvey; Miguel Almiron; Dwight Gayle, Allan Saint-Maximin.
Six changes from Tuchel, compared to the side that started in the midweek FA Cup win over Barnsley. Kepa played that match and retains his place, making his first league appearance since October, while Christensen, Hudson-Odoi, Alonso and Abraham also remain in the starting XI.
CHELSEA SUBSTITUTES: Reece James, Kurt Zouma, Emerson, Edouard Mendy, Christian Pulisic, Olivier Giroud, Ben Chilwell, N’Golo Kante, Hakim Ziyech.
CHELSEA (3-4-3): Kepa Arrizabalaga; Cesar Azplicueta, Andreas Christensen, Antonio Rudiger; Callum Hudson-Odoi, Mateo Kovacic, Jorginho, Marcos Alonso; Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham, Timo Werner.
It is a rather different story for struggling Newcastle, who sit in 17th, though there is a seven-point gap between the Magpies and the bottom three. Steve Bruce’s team have, however, won two of their last three games, recording a 3-2 victory while down to nine men against Southampton last time out.
Chelsea have been rejuvenated under Thomas Tuchel, who has guided the Blues to three successive wins since drawing his first match in charge after replacing Frank Lampard. A win today would take them into the top four.
Hello! Welcome to live coverage of the final Premier League game of this round of fixtures, as Chelsea host Newcastle United. Stick right here for all the action as it happens!
