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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Nizaar Kinsella

Chelsea player ratings vs Newcastle: Thiago Silva poor in sloppy defence with Raheem Sterling only positive

Calamitous Chelsea imploded away at threadbare Newcastle in a dismal 4-1 defeat at St James's Park. 

Reece James was sent off for a second yellow card after a 90-second second-half spell, which saw the Blues concede twice and lose in the North East. 

Alexander Isak opened the scoring but Raheem Sterling equalised through a stunning free-kick as Chelsea competed well for 60 minutes. 

In the 60th minute, Chelsea switched off, allowing Jamal Lascelles to put Eddie Howe's injury-hit side ahead. 

Joelinton sealed victory in the 61st minute after shocking defending from Thiago Silva, who became Chelsea's oldest-ever player on Saturday. Anthony Gordon put further gloss on the scoreline with a fourth. 

Nizaar Kinsella was at St James's Park witnessing the action. 

Robert Sanchez - 4

He fell over at a first-half corner, presenting an open goal to Joelinton, who somehow missed. Not particularly at fault for any of the goals but poor at coming for crosses all afternoon. 

Reece James - 4

He was the best of the sloppy defence until his lax defending got him sent off for a professional foul on Gordon. 

Reece James was shown a second yellow card with 20 minutes remaining (Getty Images)

Benoit Badiashile - 4

He gave the ball away early on to put his side in danger and was arguably at fault for Lascelles' second goal. 

Thiago Silva - 4

He looked every bit Chelsea's oldest-ever outfield player when he gave away the ball for Joelinton to seal the victory. It was a rare poor afternoon for the legendary defender. 

Marc Cucurella - 4

He switched off when his backline tried to play an offside, keeping Isak on for his opening goal. 

Enzo Fernandez - 5

He gave the ball away with his first pass but finally got a shot on target midway through the first half, forcing Nick Pope into a save.

Lesley Ugochukwu - 5

Got very stuck in against a physical Newcastle side but didn't close down Gordon's cross well enough as he set up the Toon's second goal.

Conor Gallagher - 5

He curled the first shot of the game wide after a good run but fluffed a chance presented to him by Pope before half-time. 

Cole Palmer - 5

He proved an important link player between midfield and attack but couldn't get on the ball as much as he would have liked. 

Raheem Sterling - 8

Sterling scored a sensational free-kick to equalise, having won the shooting chance himself on the break. 

Raheem Sterling levelled it up with a wonderful free-kick (Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

Nicolas Jackson - 5

Worked hard but carried almost no goal threat. Looked angry when substituted. 

Substitutes

Moises Caicedo - 5

Unable to impact the game at all as Chelsea imploded. 

Mykhailo Mudryk - 6

The game was gone when he came on, but he produced some nice touches. 

Armando Broja - 5

Nothing he could do to turn the game around once he came on. 

Levi Colwill - 5

A thankless task coming on after James' red card, but unable to stop the goals from going in. 

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