Once Reece James whipped in a 25-yard free-kick in the 49th minute — as exquisite as his execution was, the Newcastle wall and Aaron Ramsdale never seemed comfortable with their respective positioning — the home side’s frustratingly familiar fragilities resurfaced.

Nick Woltemade followed up his nightmare own-goal outing in the Tyne-Wear derby with a first-half brace in Newcastle's pulsating 2-2 draw with Chelsea.

The Blues’ final match before Christmas is one of the most testing away trips of the league season, and they will again have Liam Delap and Estevao unavailable. Both could be ready for their next match against Aston Villa on December 27 but remain sidelined for Newcastle.

Tino Livramento is a doubt to face his old club Saturday after being forced off with a knee injury in the midweek win over Fulham, with Dan Burn, Sven Botman, Kieran Trippier, Emil Krafth and – potentially – Lewis Hall all sidelined.

Manchester City beat West Ham 3-0 on Saturday to momentarily move top of the Premier League table ahead of Arsenal playing later on Saturday. Erling Haaland scored twice and Tijjani Reijnders added another as City gave up a few chances in the second half,