Chelsea entertain Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge in a mid-table Premier League clash.
Mauricio Pochettino’s Blues will stay 11th regardless of the result but victory would move them to within one point of Newcastle, whilst Eddie Howe’s Magpies can go seventh with a win.
Team News
Ben Chilwell is ruled out for Chelsea with a knee injury suffered in their 2-2 draw at Brentford last weekend.
Levi Colwill (toe) and Conor Gallagher (illness) are doubts whilst Benoit Badiashile (groin) and Carney Chukwuemeka (knee) could return.
Marc Cucurella (ankle), Reece James, Lesley Ugochukwu, Christopher Nkunku (all hamstring), Wesley Fofana (ACL) and Romeo Lavia (knock) remain ruled out.
Newcastle will be without Kieran Trippier after he suffered a calf injury during their win over Wolves.
Lewis Hall is ineligible to feature against his parent club and so is ruled out of this clash but could feature at Manchester City next weekend, in the Magpies’ FA Cup Quarter-Final tie.
Matt Targett (hamstring), Nick Pope (shoulder), Sandro Tonali (suspension), Callum Wilson (chest) and Joelinton (quad) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Chelsea host Newcastle at Stamford Bridge on Monday 11 March at 8pm GMT, live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Chelsea have lost two of their last seven league meetings against Newcastle (W4, D1, L2).
- Newcastle have claimed one point in their last 10 league visits to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge (D1, L9).
- Anything less than victory would see Chelsea go four consecutive league meetings against Newcastle without a win for the first time since April 1994 – September 1995.
- Cole Palmer has scored in three of Chelsea’s last four league matches at home (W3, L1).
- Newcastle are winless in three league visits to London-based clubs this season (D1, L2).
Prediction
Currently four points behind Newcastle, Chelsea have to view this game as a must-win if they want to stay in the battle for a potential Europa Conference League qualification spot, yet they need to cut out the sloppy defensive errors which allowed Brentford to fight back in an eventual 2-2 draw.
Newcastle meanwhile executed a clinical counter-attacking display to beat Wolves last weekend but they now need to kick on after seeing immediate rivals slip up – aside from Brighton, although they will surely need to be wary of Chelsea’s strong attacking quality despite the Blues’ defensive inconsistency.
Stamford Bridge though has been a difficult place for Howe’s Magpies over the years but if they can take the lead, I can see them avoiding a repeat of December’s League Cup agony where they conceded late on then lost on penalties, but Chelsea will absolutely make them work for the result.
Prediction: Chelsea 0-1 Newcastle
Result: Chelsea 3-2 Newcastle
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