Chelsea vs Newcastle – prediction, team news, lineups

Chelsea will be looking to make it five Premier League victories in a row when they welcome Newcastle United to Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Newcastle make the trip to London this weekend unbeaten in the league since the turn of the year which has seen them pull clear of relegation danger.

Match Preview

Chelsea made light work of a struggling Norwich City side in a routine 3-1 victory at Carrow Road on Thursday evening.

Goals from Trevoh Chalobah and Mason Mount put Thomas Tuchel’s men in control at half-time before Teemu Pukki threw the cat amongst the pigeons with a second-half penalty after which Kai Havertz put the result beyond doubt with his fourth goal in as many games.

The Blues remain third in the league standings but have now pulled eight points clear of nearest challengers Arsenal albeit having played two games more.

Awaiting them next is a clash versus an opposing side who have lost nine of the last 11 meetings between the teams dating back to 2015.

With the conclusion of their Champions League tie against Lille to follow, Sunday’s hosts will be keen to pick up a morale-boosting victory ahead of the continental commitment.

Newcastle claimed a second consecutive 2-1 win on the bounce as they saw off the threat of Southampton at the St. Mary’s Stadium on Thursday, with NUFC Blog perfectly encapsulating it as a magical night on their comeback trail this season.

Eddie Howe’s men went behind to Stuart Armstrong’s 25th-minute opener but drew level through Chris Wood seven minutes later before Bruno Guimaraes secured all three points for his side with a second-half winner.

The Magpies have now amassed 21 of the last 27 points available and are now 10 points clear of the drop zone as a result.

For a team who were languishing in the bottom three just under three months ago, Sunday’s visitors are now just four points off the top half with a game in hand and things are looking up at Tyneside once again.

Team News

Antonio Rudiger was handed a rare breather in midweek but the German is expected back in the starting XI for this one.

Reece James missed the Norwich game due to a muscle injury and the 22-year-old joins fellow full-back Ben Chilwell on the Chelsea treatment table.

Skipper Cesar Azpilicueta came off at half-time in the aforementioned game with a minor illness but should be okay to take part this weekend.

With one eye side on his side’s European clash, Thomas Tuchel might contemplate rotating his side which could lead to a recall for Romelu Lukaku.

Eddie Howe will once again have to make do without the services of talisman Calum Wilson although he would have been pleased to see Chris Wood open his Newcastle account last time out.

Kieran Trippier and Isaac Hayden remain sidelined with ankle and knee injuries respectively, while Jamal Lewis is out with a groin problem.

Emil Krafth lasted the course of the 90 minutes on the South coast but the Swede is a doubt for his side’s trip to the capital this weekend.

Chelsea possible starting lineup:

Mendy; Rudiger, Silva, Chalobah; Azpilicueta, Kovacic, Jorginho, Saul; Mount, Lukaku, Havertz

Newcastle possible starting lineup:

Dubravaka; Targett, Burn, Schar, Krafth; Guimaraes, Shelvey, Willock; Fraser, Wood, Murphy

Score Prediction

Chelsea 3-1 Newcastle

Both sides have been in blistering form of late which should make for an exciting contest with chances at both ends. However,  Chelsea boast a significantly better squad on paper and we are backing them to emerge triumphant at the end of the 90 minutes.