Date: Sunday 27th
October 2024
Venue: Stamford Bridge
Kick-off: 14:00 GMT
Today’s early game sees us back at Stamford Bridge, to play
host to Newcastle.
Chelsea start the game 7th in the
table after last week’s defeat to Liverpool which was a reminder we are a
developing side with work still to do, not least of all, managing emotions and snidey
players with the refs in their pockets. We fell just short of getting wallets
out every time an invite for a foul was offered up and need to be a bit less
generous in games.
Whilst we recovered from our defeat with a win on Thursday night against Panathinaikos, with a much-changed side, Newcastle, come into the game off the back of a loss to Brighton last time out and start the day 12th in the table. They haven’t beaten us at Stamford Bridge in the league since 2012 but like everyone else, they’ll know there’ll be opportunities against us. Harvey Barnes has been involved in four goals in five away games this season and will look for any chance he gets to bother Sanchez.
We’re not keeping clean sheets and haven’t managed
that in our last five games. There’s not a lot we can do about the night and
day performances of Sanchez from week to week, but we could at least look for
some consistency in our back four. Of course, there’s goals in us at home, with
17 in the last 6 games at Stamford Bridge but we need everyone on their game to
keep the goals coming.
If the manager could focus a bit more on that
and a bit less on the public laundry airing, that would also be most welcome.
.
MANAGER’S VIEWS
Going into
today’s game, Enzo Maresca. says “‘Newcastle are very clear: they are
physically strong, they are very good. They have been unlucky, especially in
the last game against Brighton, but overall they have deserved more points and
the way they work over the years together is quite clear.
I
really like Newcastle and probably this is the moment when teams can do
something good when they are in a difficult moment.”
Newcastle
manager Eddi Howe, meanwhile, says “We are in a good place and we are trying
to build on the good parts of our play against Brighton last week. The
performance levels – We totally dominated that game for large spells. If we
perform that way consistently, we will get results in the long term.
They [Chelsea]
have real strength in depth. They are beginning to stabilise now in the sense
of you can see consistency in their team selection. Credit to them for bringing
in a really good manager that has brought in that tactical structure. He is
very clever with what he does. We know the next two games are going to be very
challenging. I embrace the challenge and look forward to it, having watched
Chelsea in the last few weeks I do expect a good game, a tough game.”
SQUAD NEWS
For Chelsea, Wesley Fofana and Marc Cucurella are available again after suspension.
For Newcastle, Callum Wilson (back), Kieran Trippier (thigh), Jamaal Lascelles (knee), Sven Botman (knee) and Martin Dubravka (knee) are all out.
TEAMS
CHELSEA (Possible line-up): Sanchez;
James, Fofana, Colwill, Gusto; Fernandez, Caicedo; Madueke, Palmer, Sancho;
Jackson
NEWCASTLE (Possible line-up): Pope;
Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall; Joelinton, Tonali, Guimaraes; Barnes, Isak,
Gordon
LAST SEASON
Chelsea 3-2 Newcastle
(11th March 2024)
CURRENT FORM (PL)
CHELSEA: DWWWDL
NEWCASTLE: WWLDDL
OTHER STUFF
- Chelsea’
have lost 1 of 29 Premier League home games against Newcastle (2012)
- Newcastle
have won two and drawn one of the last four league meetings.
- Chelsea’s
only three defeats in their last 23 Premier League games have been against
Arsenal, Manchester City and Liverpool.
- Chelsea
have failed to keep a clean sheet in their opening four home Premier League
games.
- Newcastle
have not won in their last four league matches.
- Newcastle
have not scored in their last two league games.
PREDICTION
Sportsmole: Chelsea 2-0 Newcastle
