After setbacks in their previous Premier League encounters, Chelsea and Newcastle United are set to clash at Stamford Bridge this Sunday, each team eager to rebound.
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Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea narrowly fell to Liverpool in a closely contested 2-1 match, yet bounced back with a decisive 4-1 victory against Panathinaikos in the Conference League.
Meanwhile, Newcastle suffered a 1-0 loss to Brighton & Hove Albion, adding to recent struggles.
Chelsea’s match against Liverpool was a high-stakes affair, marked by Nicolas Jackson’s goal to even the score after Mohamed Salah’s penalty. However, Liverpool quickly regained their lead as Curtis Jones found the net, ending Chelsea’s unbeaten streak since their season opener.
Chelsea’s midweek encounter in Greece saw Joao Felix shine, scoring twice to secure victory and bring confidence back to the team. Entering this weekend, Chelsea ranks sixth in the Premier League, with an opportunity to break into the top four if they secure a win and other results go their way.
The team’s attack has proven consistent, netting 17 goals in their last six games at home, although defensive lapses have persisted, preventing a clean sheet in five consecutive games.
On the other hand, Newcastle’s October form has been lackluster, as they failed to score in recent matches against Everton and Brighton. Their only goal this month came in an EFL Cup win over AFC Wimbledon.
This performance downturn has seen Eddie Howe’s side drop to ninth in the Premier League standings. In their recent match against Brighton, Newcastle struggled to capitalize on scoring opportunities, with Danny Welbeck’s lone goal securing victory for the Seagulls.
While Newcastle were widely anticipated to be a rising force following the 2021 takeover, the current stretch has left them with no wins in four Premier League games.
Howe has a balanced record against Chelsea, which includes a 4-1 home win last season, though Chelsea claimed two victories of their own in both the EFL Cup and the Premier League at Stamford Bridge.
Team News
Chelsea have a full squad available with Reece James making his comeback from a hamstring injury and Marc Cucurella and Wesley Fofana returning from suspension. Joao Felix’s midweek performance may earn him a starting spot over Jadon Sancho, and Cole Palmer is expected to continue in the lineup with a productive track record at Stamford Bridge this season.
Newcastle, in contrast, faces a series of absences, with Callum Wilson (back), Sven Botman (knee), Kieran Trippier (thigh), Jamaal Lascelles (knee), and Martin Dubravka (knee) all sidelined. Dan Burn is fit to play despite a minor ankle knock, and Harvey Barnes is anticipated to replace Jacob Murphy in attack. The full-back positions will see two former Chelsea academy graduates, Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento, stepping up.
