Chelsea are doing pretty well so far this season, but we are currently going on two matches without a win in the Premier League, after a frustrating defeat against Liverpool and an even more frustrating draw against Nottingham Forest prior to the international break.
Now Newcastle United come to town, for a first of two back-to-back games against them: we will be heading up to St James’ on Wednesday in the League Cup, which presumably will feature greatly changed and rotated sides from both teams. If we want to solidify our top-four ambitions, these are the games that we have to (get back to) winning.
Newcastle will be looking to change their own fortunes as well, having collected just two points from their last four league games. Eddie Howe isn’t necessarily under pressure yet, but that proverbial seat is getting a bit warmer. A showcase win would do nicely.
Date / Time: Sunday, October 27, 2024, 14.00 GMT; 10am EDT; 7:30pm IST
Venue: Stamford Bridge, SW6
Forecast: Unseasonably sunny and warm
Referees: Simon Hooper (on pitch); Jarred Gillett (VAR)
On TV: Sky Sports Main Event (UK); USA, Telemundo (USA); Star Sports Select HD2 (India); SuperSport MaXimo 1, Canal+ Sport 3 (NGA); elsewhere
Streaming: Sky Go (UK); NBC Sports Live, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo (USA); Disney+ Hotstar (India); DStv Now (NGA)
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Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Chelsea team news: There are no notable injuries in the squad, and a good chunk of the usual A-lineups ever stayed home midweek while the rest jetted off to Greece for an easy 4-1 win over Panathinaikos. So the likes of Cole Palmer, Malo Gusto, Moisés Caicedo, and Nicolas Jackson had essentially a full week to rest, recovery, and get ready — which is good because Palmer had a bit of a stinker last time out.
Chelsea are among the highest scoring teams in the league, but only two teams have conceded fewer than Newcastle so far, Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, and we managed to score just once against either of those two. Only one of our eight wins in all competitions has been by just a one-goal margin (though we did keep a clean sheet in four of them).
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Photo by Owen Humphreys/PA Images via Getty Images
Newcastle team news: The Magpies have not reaped the rewards of the their stellar defensive record thanks to one of the division’s worst attacks: 8 goals in 8 games, with only five different players scoring, is a challenging way to rack up points. Striker Callum Wilson continues to be unavailable, which probably doesn’t help.
Kieran Trippier, Sven Botman, and Jamaal Lascelles have also been ruled out, while backup goalkeeper Martin Dúbravka is doubtful.
Former Chelsea prospects Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall have featured in every league game so far and could start at left and right wing-back at the Bridge on Sunday.
View from the enemy: Coming Home Newcastle
Previously: Historically, both recent and not so recent, we’ve “always” done well against Newcastle. Their only win in the league at the Bridge in what is now the last 37 years needed a most ridiculous goal from Papiss Cissé in 2012.
But in the last couple years, we’ve won just two of the last five meetings in all competitions (the last two), including a 3-2 win in this fixture last March. Mykhailo Mudryk came off the bench to score the eventual winner in that one, just like he did in the League Cup quarterfinal last season as well. In fact, Mudryk has two goals in less than 45 minutes’ worth of action (three substitute appearances) against the Magpies in his career.
