A polished second half saw goals from Michael Ballack and Florent Malouda confirm that the title will be decided on the final day of the season.
Chelsea end their campaign against Bolton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge while Manchester United travel to Wigan Athletic.
A win by both sides will see the crown stay at Old Trafford by virtue of their superior goal difference.
As for Newcastle, their eight-match unbeaten run was ended after a promising start and on the day Chelsea were worthy winners.
Michael Owen was left with a one-to-one chance after just six minutes when he met a lob over the top from Nicky Butt, but another lob from United's leading scorer sailed well over the bar.
Obafemi Martins was heavily involved in the early Newcastle play and in one darting run beat three defenders before driving weakly at Petr Cech from 30 yards.
Chelsea at this stage appeared content to soak up the pressure and then look for the counter attack to support solitary striker Didier Drogba.
Skipper John Terry came to Chelsea's rescue and kept their title hopes alive with a dramatic goal-line clearance after 28 minutes.
Once again it was Martins caused the problems on the left and drove the ball into the area where Cech blocked a Mark Viduka shot and the rebound flew to the edge of the box.
It was met by Owen, who placed his shot beyond Cech, only for Terry to prevent a certain goal with his clearance.
Chelsea had to wait until the 35th minute for their first real chance, when the surging Michael Essien stretched the home defence before playing in Ballack on the left, who screwed his shot hopelessly wide with just Steve Harper to beat.
Nicolas Anelka was then given a chance seconds later in the inside-right position, but he too fired well wide.
It was a much more purposeful Chelsea after the break as they appeared to step up a notch and only the woodwork prevented them taking a 53rd minute lead.
On a previous visit to the North East this season, Terry grabbed the only goal at Sunderland.
The big defender looked to have unlocked the Newcastle defence when he rose to meet a right-wing Malouda corner, only to see his powerful header cannon to safety off the bar.
Chelsea at this stage were in total command as Newcastle struggled to clear the ball and when they did, it was returned straight back to the danger area.
And the Chelsea goal that looked like coming, duly arrived on the hour mark. Abdoulaye Faye fouled Malouda on the right of the area and from Drogba's free-kick Ballack was left unmarked and headed in his third league goal in the last two matches.
Newcastle finally got going and a clearance from a Butt free-kick dropped invitingly to Martins on the edge of the area and he turned to see his goalbound effort deflected wide.
Then a ball over the top just evaded the lunging Owen as Newcastle searched for the equaliser.
But it was Chelsea who wrapped it up with their second goal after 82 minutes and it was superbly created and finished.
It was a five-man move which ended with substitute Frank Lampard threading a superb through ball on for Malouda, who shot under Harper and into the back of the net.