[Player Ratings] Chelsea 3-0 Newcastle: Hazard Hat-Trick Fires Blues Into Top Spot

Chelsea thrashed Newcastle 3-0 at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon to go top of the Premier League. Here, Joe Carroll gives us his player ratings for Jose Mourinho’s men.

Eden Hazard hit a hat-trick in a star showing against Newcastle United which propelled Chelsea to the top of the Premier League.

The Belgian continued his incredible run of form after helping his side topple Manchester City on Monday night, by notching a superb treble which takes him to 12 league goals this season.

His first came just before the half hour mark, sweeping home beyond Tim Krul after Branislav Ivanovic picked him out just inside the area.

If his first was about functionality, his second was all about style. Collecting the ball from Willian on the left wing, Hazard drove purposefully into the box, exchanging passes with Samuel Eto’o who tricked his marker with the skilful use of his instep to return it to the winger. With only Krul to beat the Belgian cooly slotted beyond the Dutch keeper to double his tally.

It was not all one-way traffic though. Moussa Sissoko almost found a way through but for good work from Petr Cech and Newcastle’s transfer window signing Luuk de Jong’s header from a Sissoko cross did not have enough power to beat Cech.

But the game ultimately ran away from the visitors in the second half and when Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa hauled down Eto’o in the second half, Hazard rounded off a perfect day to ensure Jose Mourinho’s men took full advantage of Arsenal and Manchester City’s slip ups against Liverpool and Norwich City.

Player Ratings

Cech- 6- did well to keep out Ben Arfa with the scores level and to stop Sissoko at 1-0, making himself big in the process but didn’t have too much to do.

Azpilicueta- 6- Sissoko got the better of the full-back on a few occasions but otherwise a good display.

Luiz- 7- we’re not used to seeing such assured performances from Luiz at centre-half so the Brazilian deserved credit for his clean sheet. Although the Magpies didn’t look too much like scoring.

Cahill- 8- took up where he left off from Monday’s game at Man City. A defensive rock: read the game well, was aerially strong, won the ball when he could and stopped Newcastle’s route to goal. Fantastic.

Ivanovic- 8- we’re well used to seeing these flying performances from the Serb at Stamford Bridge and he did not disappoint today. His adventure into the Newcastle area allowed him to lay on for Chelsea’s opener.

Matic- 7- didn’t quite stand out as much as he did on Monday at the Etihad Stadium but was nonetheless an important cog in the Chelsea machine. Not only is he effective in breaking up opposition attacks, he can get Chelsea moving with tidy passing.

Lampard- 7- partnered Matic in a holding double act and looked solid. Didn’t put a foot wrong.

Willian- 6- didn’t quite have the same explosive impact as he did at Man City on Monday but carried the ball forward before passing to Hazard for his second.

Oscar- 6- a quiet performance from the man who usually pulls the strings for the Blues. With the competition in the form of Juan Mata now gone, has Oscar become complacent?

Hazard- 9- perhaps Oscar’s quiet form has something to do with the mercurial Belgian. Scoring his first hat-trick in English football, the winger was simply electric. His second goal in particular was something special. Man of the Match.

Eto’o- 7- looks more and more at ease in the Premier League with every game and his performance today was more selfless than ever. A sublime piece of skill to return the ball to Hazard for his second goal.

Subs

Schurrle- 5- on for Hazard with 5 minutes to go. Little impact.

Salah- 6- came on for Willian on 78 minutes and had a great chance to score that went begging.

Ba- 5- replaced Eto’o with just under 20 minutes but struggled to get in to the game.

Jose Mourinho said after Chelsea’s 1-0 win over Man City on Monday that they were not title contenders…do you think they are now?…Sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League, do you think Mourinho will take the Blues all the way?…What did you think of Eden Hazard’s performance?…Which was your favourite goal?…Can he keep up this kind of form for the rest of the season, and in the Champions League?…please leave your comments below…