Chelsea player ratings: Mateo Kovacic clear on top, Alonso hits the extremes

Willian, Right wing: 8

Willian’s form is so obvious and undeniable that even the most ignorant loud-mouths and perennial detractors are noting the Brazilian’s contributions to the team, usually couched in some attempted derriere-covering back-pedalling that makes it sound like this is something new and unexpected.

Remember what we said last year about how calling a footballer a metronome is actually not a good thing, because metronomes are mechanically rigid and therefore predictable (much like the player described as such)? Willian this season is the anti-metronome. He sets the tempo and rhythm for Chelsea, but varies it impeccably based on his reading of the game. He knows when to hold possession and take some time off the clock or let his players re-form; he knows when to drive forward into a counter; he knows when to attack, feint, lay off and move off the ball. And he is able to do all those things.

Tammy Abraham, Striker: 7.5

Tammy Abraham had the sort of game that strikers, even the most in-form ones, have from time to time. His teammates did not give him enough aerial service, which was unfortunate as he won six of the duels he went into, yet they still tried to pass the ball on the ground into the centre most of the time.

Even so, Abraham hit the crossbar on one powerful header and sent another over the bar. He somehow did not put the game away after Christian Pulisic squared him a ball with a momentarily-gaping net in front of him, until DeAndre Yedlin slid in.

Callum Hudson-Odoi, Left wing: 7.5

Hudson-Odoi’s ability to create space when he takes command of the ball is the key to so much of what he provides to the team. He is shaping up to be as much of a supporting creative player as the final-touch goal-scorer most expect him to be. In that regard, he could grow into the mantle of Eden Hazard – creating as many goals as he scores himself, particularly in tandem with players like Christian Pulisic and Willian who do their best work one pass before the assist.

Christian Pulisic, Forward: 7.5

When Pulisic only has 27 minutes, this is what he needs to do with them. He was creative and aggressive on the ball, using his dribbling skills to open up seams in Newcastle’s defence, where Mount’s off-the-ball runs were not able to pry the Magpies apart.

Pulisic’s connection with Kovacic and Willian were a good sign of how he will contribute most to the squad, and were a promising indication that he is learning from Willian how he can best move up Frank Lampard’s depth chart.