Newcastle United and Chelsea will clash on Saturday evening, both looking to return to winning ways in the Premier League.
Newcastle are sixth on the log with 20 points in 12 games while Chelsea are 10th with 16 points.Before the International break, the Magpies lost 2-0 to Bournemouth while Chelsea at home drew 4-4 with Manchester City.
Despite drawing, Chelsea headed into the international break in buoyant mood after claiming four valuable points in back-to-back fixtures against former Premier League leaders Tottenham Hotspur and current table-toppers City.
Team News
Newcastle will be without a couple of players for this game. Sven Botman (knee), Callum Wilson, Matt Targett (both hamstring), Dan Burn, Elliot Anderson (both back), Harvey Barnes (foot), Jacob Murphy (shoulder) and Javi Manquillo (groin) are all out with injuries while Sandro Tonali is suspended. Lewis Hall is also out as he can’t face his parent club.
As for Chelsea, Ben Chilwell (hamstring), Wesley Fofana, Christopher Nkunku, Carney Chukwuemeka (all knee), Romeo Lavia ( Ankle)and Trevoh Chalobah (thigh) all remain sidelined with injuries.
Match Facts
Chelsea have lost 13 Premier League away games at Newcastle; the Blues have only lost more on the road to Arsenal and Liverpool (15 each) in the division
Newcastle will welcome a return to St James’ Park where they have won each of their last four Premier League home games without reply, beating three London clubs – Brentford, Crystal Palace and Arsenal – in the process; not since February 1907 have the Magpies won five top-flight home games in a row without conceding a goal.
Newcastle avoided defeat in both Premier League meetings with Chelsea last season (one win, one draw), having lost seven of their previous eight against then. They last enjoyed a longer unbeaten run against them between April 1994 and September 1995 (two wins, two draws)
The two clubs last met on the final day of last season, when a Kieran Trippier own goal was enough for Chelsea to earn a 1-1 draw after Anthony Gordon had put Newcastle a goal up.
Probable Line-ups
Newcastle United: Pope; Trippier, Lascelles, Schar, Livramento; Longstaff, Guimaraes, Willock; Almiron, Gordon, Joelinton
Chelsea: Sanchez; James, Disasi, Silva, Cucurella; Fernandez, Caicedo, Gallagher; Palmer, Jackson, Sterling
