Date: Saturday
21st November 2020
Venue: St
James’ Park
Kick-off: 12:30
GMT
You never really know
what to expect from a game after an international break and our first game back
sees us face Newcastle at St James Park in today’s lunchtime kick-off.
We definitely had some
momentum gathering before we were rudely interrupted by internationals and
looked as good as we should have against Sheffield United. The absence of
Thiago Silva could leave us a bit shaky today though, such is the significance
of his presence for us already.
Newcastle lost
to Southampton last time out and will also be missing some players, not that
Steve Bruce will allow any excuses from the Magpies. We’ve a decent enough
record against Newcastle, with five wins from our last seven Premier League
meetings, but St James’ Park is another matter, with only one win from our last seven top-flight trips there,
Like I said,
you just don’t know what to expect.
MANAGER’S
VIEWS
Going into today’s game, Newcastle
Manager Steve Bruce, says “They (Chelsea) bought
exceptionally good players, at the end of the day, and that makes life a little
bit easier if you’re a manager. Of course, you have to find the right blend and
the right balance, and they certainly seem to have got that over the last few
weeks. They’ve conceded only one in
their last six games. They’re a very,
very good side and I believe personally that they will be there or thereabouts
with the changes they’ve made.”
Chelsea
manager, Frank Lampard, meanwhile, says “Newcastle
is always a very difficult game. I played in those games and they were
difficult, particularly for us. We have the difficulties of the early kick-off.
I’m not using it as an excuse – it’s just a fact and a factor for us. Steve
Bruce is a great manager who deserves huge credit for the job he’s done there
already and he organises his team brilliantly so it’s a tough game on all
fronts.”
SQUAD
NEWS
For Newcastle, Ryan Fraser, isn’t
fit, Jonjo Shelvey and Matt Ritchie are doubts and Miguel Almiron is being
assessed after arriving back in England late on Thursday. Callum Wilson (hamstring)
could make a return.
For Chelsea, Christian Pulisic
(hamstring) remains out and we’re likely to be missing Thiago Silva after his
late return from internationals Thursday. Kai Havertz is back in training after
his recovery from Covid-19 but is unlikely to be back in the squad yet.
TEAMS
NEWCASTLE (Possible line-up): Darlow;
Murphy, Schar, Lascelles, Fernandez, Lewis; Hendrick, Hayden, S Longstaff;
Joelinton, Saint-Maximin
CHELSEA (Possible line-up): Mendy; James,
Zouma, Rudiger, Chilwell; Kovacic, Kante, Mount; Ziyech, Abraham, Werner
LAST
SEASON
Newcastle
1-0 Chelsea (18 January 2020)
CURRENT
FORM (PL)
NEWCASTLE:
DWLDWL
CHELSEA:
DWDDWW
OTHER
STUFF
- Chelsea have won
five of their past seven Premier League meetings
- Newcastle have only
lost once in their past seven home league games against Chelsea.
- Newcastle are
looking to win successive Premier League matches against Chelsea
- Newcastle have won
two of their past three home league matches
- Newcastle have lost
only one of five matches against sides currently above them in the table
- Newcastle are
without a clean sheet in seven matches since the opening day of the season.
- Chelsea are
unbeaten in 11 games in all competitions, six of them in the Premier League.
- Chelsea have not
lost an away league fixture this term
- No side has scored
more league goals this season than Chelsea
PREDICTION
Sky Sports: Newcastle 0-2 Chelsea
BBC Sport: Newcastle 0-2 Chelsea
Sportsmole: Newcastle 0-2 Chelsea
