Didier Drogba doubt mars Chelsea's recovery

Hiddink added: "We've talked about the tragedy in Abidjan with the whole squad. Winning and losing are very important but this showed there are other things in life to put them into some kind of perspective.

"You can't forget about something like that when it's happened and of course we won't, but life goes on and the best thing is to get back to work, which is what Kalou did against Newcastle."

Second-half goals from man-of-the-match Frank Lampard and Florent Malouda rewarded Chelsea's dominance and ensured Alan Shearer's much-heralded return to his home-town club began with a losing start as the Londoners dominated from start to finish against the North-East club - who on this showing appear destined for the drop into the Championship.

Hiddink knows he can expect a tougher task this week, when the Blues lock horns with Liverpool in the latest instalment of the clubs' increasingly tedious Champions League rivalry.

The Chelsea boss expects his opposite number Benitez to send his side out with the same kind of high-tempo approach that saw them account for Spanish giants Real Madrid in the last round.

He added: "What Liverpool do in the Champions League, when you see them play against the likes of Real Madrid, is that they come onto you at high speed. I don't think they'll change that attitude or those tactics when they play us."

While the immediate focus is obviously on the midweek European engagement, midfielder Lampard remains confident of domestic success, insisting the title race is still wide-open.

Chelsea have recovered quickly following their damaging defeat by Spurs before the international break, and Lampard said: "We had no option but to bounce back from the Spurs defeat if we were to have any hope of staying in the title race and that's why it was so important to get three points.

"The Spurs result was a setback but good teams bounce back from those and that's what we've done. We don't think the title race is over yet by a long margin and the other teams at the top won't think that either.

"It's still there and still available to play for. All we can do is win our games and let the rest take care of itself."

Hiddink added: "We will try to keep winning and we have some home games coming up in the league so hopefully we can keep the pressure on the teams around us. I just hope we're not left to regret the points we dropped against Tottenham."

For the hosts' new manager, Saturday's dropped point are hardly a source of surprise, or regret, and Shearer is still confident his side can beat the drop.

He said: "I am optimistic still, I am still confident that we can avoid the drop and my players are too, which is more important.

"One game in football is a hell of a long time - we have got seven.

"I am sure there are going to be twists and turns between now and the end of the season."