Date: Monday 15th
February 2021
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Kick-off: 20:00 GMT
Tonight’s game sees us take on Newcastle in the Premier League at
Stamford Bridge.
We’re back in London and it’s not as chilly as it was in Yorkshire in the cup midweek, so hopefully there’ll be no excuses for not turning up. Barnsley didn’t make it easy for us Thursday night, but in the main, we looked as if a cup of cocoa in front of an open fire would have conjured up a bit more enthusiasm from some of our players than a cold night in Yorkshire. Obviously we got the win in the end, but we have to be much more clinical if we’re going to continue to get the results we need.
We’ve won our last four games but there’s no getting away from the fact
that the money spent has yet to pay any dividends. In reality, it’s our academy
or senior players who’ve come up with the goods to get those results, so it
would be good to start seeing a return for the investment.
Newcastle have won two of their last six Premier
League games against us, and recent wins against Everton and Southampton has
seen them pick up six of the last nine points available, so this is hardly a
team on the ropes we’re facing tonight. We’ve won each of our last eight home
games with Newcastle in all competitions and they’ll be missing Callum Wilson tonight, so we should really be taking full advantage.
Results didn’t do us any harm over the weekend but they will be largely irrelevant if we don’t go all out for three points tonight.
MANAGER’S VIEWS
Going
into today’s game, Thomas
Tuchel, says “It
was not concussion-related (with Christensen v Barnsley) at all. It was a
headache so we took Christensen off. It’s too soon for sure for Thiago. We are
aiming for Southampton and trying hard so let’s see if we make it but we cannot
promise. It should be absolutely okay
for Timo to come back but maybe too close for Kai.”
Newcastle manager, Steve Bruce meanwhile, says “I was disappointed, like
most of us were, to see Frank Lampard lose his job. I think he’d done such a wonderful job the
year before. Now of course when you make
so many changes it certainly needs a bit of time. No matter if you are Chelsea
or whoever you are. We all feel for
Frank but that is, unfortunately, the nature of the business.
A new manager comes in with a world-class reputation. And they have changed, they have gone to a
different system. They’re playing three
at the back with wing-backs, whether that’s going to be his way forward, only
time will tell. But that is certainly what he has implemented straight away. Whoever
you are up against as a coach, you know that Chelsea will have good players. It’s
right across the board and we have a big and tough week ahead.”
SQUAD NEWS
For Chelsea, Thiago Silva remains out and Kai Havertz is
doubtful, but Timo Werner and Andreas Christensen should be fit.
For Newcastle, Callum Wilson (hamstring),
Fabian Schar (knee) and Javier Manquillo (ankle) are all injured, Jeff Hendrick
is suspended, and Jamaal Lascelles (hamstring) and Federico Fernandez (muscle)
will be assessed.
TEAMS
CHELSEA (Possible line-up): Mendy; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger; James, Jorginho, Kante, Alonso; Mount, Abraham, Werner
NEWCASTLE (Possible
line-up): Darlow; Krafth, Clark, Dummett, Lewis; Hayden,
Willock, Shelvey, Almiron; Joelinton, Saint-Maximin
LAST SEASON
Chelsea 1-0 Newcastle
(19th October 2019)
CURRENT FORM (PL)
CHELSEA: WLDWWW
NEWCASTLE: LLLWLW
OTHER STUFF
- Chelsea have won three consecutive league games.
- Newcastle have won two of their past three Premier League games
- Newcastle have lost 14 of their last 18 top-flight matches on a Monday
- Chelsea have won 18 of their past 25 Premier League home games against
Newcastle
- Newcastle have lost seven successive top-flight games at Stamford Bridge
PREDICTION
BBC Sport: Chelsea 2-0 Newcastle
Sky Sports: Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle
Sportsmole: Chelsea 2-0 Newcastle
