Date: Tuesday 19th December
2023
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Kick-off: 20:00 GMT
Tonight’s game sees us play host to Newcastle United in the EFL quarter
final. It didn’t end well the last time we played them, albeit at St James’ Park,
where they sent us home with tails firmly between legs.
We managed a result against bottom-place Sheffield United at the weekend
but not until we’d endured a bit of a dull first-half. Palmer found his mojo
again second half and it sprung us into enough life to get a comfortable 2-0
win. In this competition meanwhile, we also beat Blackburn Rovers 2-0 to set up
tonight’s last-eight fixture, after home wins over
AFC Wimbledon and Brighton.
Newcastle also had a win at the weekend, beating Fulham 3-0, and beat
Manchester United by the same scoreline to reach the EFL quarter-finals. Similarly
to our last meeting, we’ve heard much of their injury woes, with 7 confirmed at
last count. So clearly the 11 absentees we have simply aren’t newsworthy
anymore.
Newcastle are unbeaten against us in our last 3 meetings and whatever
the tales of woe told, they have some key players returning to the starting XI.
They were also beaten in seven successive quarter-final ties
before progressing to runners-up last year, so they’ll be looking to improve on
that.
MANAGER’S VIEWS
Going into tonight’s game, Chelsea
manager Mauricio Pochettino, says “We need to fight, we need to be
aggressive, to follow our last game in the way we behave and improve in the way
we play – and to have the capacity to fight for every single ball. It’s an
important competition and for us, it was one of our objectives and it still is.
It’s going to be an important game tomorrow and we have to face a very good
team. Of course I want to win a trophy here in England, and win one with
Chelsea if we have the opportunity. My wish and desire is to win and it’s
possible. We need to respect our opponents, Newcastle are going to be tough so
we will need to deserve to go through.”
Newcastle manager, Eddie Howe, meanwhile, says “We want the games, we want the competition. We want
the excitement of challenging for trophies. That’s where we have to be – not
just now but in the future. January sounds a good month, it sounds a lot of fun
– I’m looking forward to that. It’s no fun if it’s easy is it? We will pick a
team that gives us the best chance of winning at Chelsea.”
SQUAD NEWS
For Chelsea, Wesley Fofana (knee), Ben
Chilwell (Hamstring), Trevoh Chalobah (thigh), Carney Chukwuemeka (knee),
Robert Sanchez (knee), Reece James (broken), Marc Cucurella (ankle), Lesley
Ugochukwu (unspecified), Noni Madueke (unspecified) and Romeo Lavia (ankle). Malo
Gusto (knee) is available and we were teased with Christopher Nkunku warming up
at the weekend, so we might actually see him get 5 minutes tonight.
For Newcastle,
Nick Pope (shoulder), Jacob Murphy (shoulder), Matt Targett (thigh), Javi
Manquillo (groin), Elliot Anderson (back), Joe Willock (calf) and Harvey Barnes
(ankle) are injured. Sandro Tonali is suspended, Kieran Trippier (unspecified)
and Alexander Isak (groin) will face assessment, and whilst Joelinton and
Fabian Schar were substituted at the weekend, they are not considered to be
serious issues.
TEAMS
CHELSEA (Possible line-up): Petrovic; Gusto, Disasi, Badiashile, Maatsen; Caicedo, Fernandez;
Sterling, Gallagher, Palmer; Jackson
NEWCASTLE
(Possible line-up): Dubravka; Krafth, Lascelles, Botman, Burn; Miley,
Guimaraes, Longstaff; Ritchie, Wilson, Almiron
LAST MEETING
Newcastle 4-1 Chelsea
(25th Nov 2023)
CURRENT FORM (ALL)
CHELSEA: DLWLLW
NEWCASTLE: DWLLLW
OTHER STUFF
- Chelsea have just two
wins from their last six games across all competitions.
- Newcastle have lost
three of their last six games across all competitions.
- Chelsea and Newcastle
United have faced each other 174 times, Chelsea have 78 wins and 40 draws.
Newcastle have 56 wins.
- The most recent meeting
ended in a 4-1 win for Newcastle.
- Chelsea have conceded 14 goals in their last six
matches across all competitions.
- Newcastle have failed to win 4 of their last six
matches across all competitions.
PREDICTION
Sportsmole: Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle
