Chelsea (A) player ratings: How are Sven Botman, Dan Burn, and Sean Longstaff still starting every game?

Newcastle United slumped to yet another away defeat in this seemingly endless season, with Chelsea running out 3-2 winners at Stamford Bridge on Monday evening.

In a strange contest where both sides were as much a threat to themselves as their opponents, Sven Botman, Dan Burn, and Sean Longstaff were yet again well below par for the Magpies.

Anthony Gordon picked up an early injury and struggled to show his best. And, while Alexander Isak scored a wonderful goal that was assisted brilliantly by Bruno Guimarães, the Swede offered little else.

Tino Livramento was one of the few others who stood up to be counted in black and white, with Joe Willock and Miguel Almirón also decent enough, while Jacob Murphy scored a howitzer at the death and looked bright.

Here's how we rated every performance from Eddie Howe's players, with a high of seven and a low of two from you know who...

This was another horror show on the road in an interminable campaign

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Martin Dúbravka – 5

Dubs came in for some criticism from Neville on the Sky commentary for getting nowhere near Chelsea's opener, but while he was a bit slow on the dive it was hardly a glaring error. His handling and shot-stopping were decent otherwise, with several tidy saves made.

Tino Livramento – 7 ⭐️

Tino looked very sharp from the outset but came in for some heavy treatment from the opposition, being fouled countless times in the first half and then again after the break. He didn't shy away from the challenge, though, and was the best of a bad bunch overall.

Fabian Schär – 5

The Swiss international started the game well, showing supreme composure, and created a massive chance for Willock on the stroke of half-time with a brilliant long pass. However, he was dragged down to Botman's level by the end and defended terribly for the third.

Sven Botman – 2

Botman made a horrendous clearance for Chelsea's first and looked massively off the pace. He also failed to block Palmer's shot or engage enough for the Blues' second, was culpable for a huge Sterling chance soon after, and failed to foul Jackson on their break for the third.

Dan Burn (c) – 4

Burn didn't stop the cross for Chelsea's first goal but made a saving tackle on Palmer not long after. Still, it was his awful attempt at a clearance that led to Chelsea's second and the home side targeted him as a weak link all night. He did clear one off the line at 2-1, however.

Sean Longstaff – 3

This was a standard performance from Longy, unfortunately, and he's more or less stealing a living at this point in terms of his contribution to the cause. There's no way he should be getting a game ahead of Miley on current form, as he only offers some huff and puff.

Bruno Guimarães – 6

He assisted Isak wonderfully for the equaliser, making an interception before getting the ball under control and stabbing a sublime pass into the striker on the edge of the box. He put in the cross of the second half, too, but like his teammates, he lost his way by the end.

Joe Willock – 6

Little Joe missed a massive chance to put us ahead just before half-time when found by a world-class long pass by Schär, though he seemed to think he was offside. That moment aside, he was probably the pick of the midfield but ran out of steam in the second half.

Miguel Almirón – 6

Miggy did well when switched to the left to combat Gusto's dangerous forward runs, helping to stem the avalanche of attacks that were coming down our left side. It was a surprise to see him withdrawn at 2-1 given his contribution, with Anderson offering little in his stead.

Alexander Isak – 7

He finished superbly for the equaliser, being found brilliantly by Bruno on the edge of the box before setting himself and curling past Petrovic. His impact on the contest was negligible otherwise, unfortunately, but he was hardly blessed with superb service from his teammates.

Anthony Gordon – 4

Flash pulled up early after a sprint down the left and didn't look right from that point onwards. He struggled to keep up with Gusto's bursts forward from right-back and was eventually forced off the field following a heavy tackle from Cucurella just after the half-hour mark.

Trippier and Barnes' injuries left us looking short on the bench again

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Jacob Murphy – 7

He looked lively immediately after coming on for Gordon in the first half, whipping in a fine set-piece delivery before firing a dangerous cross into the box from open play. The goal he scored only ended up being a meaningless consolation, but it was a truly wonderful strike.

Emil Krafth – 6

The Swede was pressed into action in difficult circumstances but was typically reliable, looking quick over the ground and aggressive in duels. He may have even done enough to earn himself a start at the weekend, with Livramento potentially moving over to left-back.

Elliot Anderson – 5

He was plenty involved in his 27 minutes on the pitch but isn't match-fit after such a long spell on the sidelines. He never hides away, though, which we love to see, and was trying to make something happen even when the game looked like a lost cause.

Lewis Miley – 5

His first action was to take a lovely touch and then misplace a pass, but he improved from there at the base of the midfield. He surely deserves a start ahead of Longstaff at the weekend.

Joe White – 5

We didn't envy him coming into the game in those circumstances but he didn't look out of place. He must be doing something right in training to have this level of trust from Howe already.

Next up for the Magpies is Man City away in the cup

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Sigh, this season doesn't get any easier, does it?

We're back at the Etihad Stadium for a second time this season on Saturday evening, for a rare FA Cup quarter-final tie against Pep Guardiola's Manchester City.

It's a 5.30 p.m. GMT kick-off and will be broadcast live on BBC One in the UK. We're not sure it'll make for pleasant viewing on our recent form, but we live in hope.

Howay the lads!