Chelsea continue their top-four push against Newcastle in a Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge.
Victory will lift Chelsea up to third until Sunday afternoon, whilst Newcastle can climb to ninth with a win if Bournemouth and Sunderland lose elsewhere in the mid-afternoon kick-offs.
Team News
Jamie Bynoe-Gittens could return for Chelsea following his recovery from a hamstring injury, but manager – Liam Rosenoir otherwise has no fresh injury concerns following their 5-2 midweek loss at PSG.
Estevao (hamstring), Levi Colwill (ACL) and Mykhailo Mudryk (suspension) are still sidelined.
Newcastle have no fresh injury concerns to report after their 1-1 draw against Barcelona on Tuesday evening, in the first leg of their Champions League’s Round of 16 tie.
Emil Krafth, Lewis Miley (both knee), Bruno Guimaraes (hamstring) and Fabian Schar (ankle) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Chelsea host Newcastle at Stamford Bridge on Saturday 14 March at 5:30pm GMT, live on Sky Sports Premier League in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Chelsea have won just two of their last seven league meetings against Newcastle (W2, D2, L3)
- Newcastle have claimed one point in their last 12 league trips to Chelsea (D1, L11).
- Cole Palmer has scored in each of his two league appearances for Chelsea at home to Newcastle (W2).
- Chelsea have won two of their three home Premier League matches played at 5:30pm on Saturdays this season (W2, L1), despite failing to keep a single clean sheet in those three games.
- Newcastle have won one of three away games against London-based opposition this season in the top flight (W1, L2).
Prediction
Having taken the fight to PSG in the first leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie on Wednesday evening to twice come from behind to level at 2-2, Chelsea threw the tie away with three sloppy late conceded goals so they might as well prioritise this league game to build renewed belief.
Newcastle though are in a pretty confident place after they battled their way to a 1-1 draw against Barcelona but with their prospects of a shock second-leg win at the Nou Camp, you have to think that this game might carry some priority as their better route to potential European qualification for next season.
Either way it will be interesting to see how both teams approach this in terms of squad selection and tactics, but I do think that Newcastle might be able to snatch a draw if they get their tactics right and can target Chelsea’s vulnerable defence.
Prediction: Chelsea 1-1 Newcastle
Result: Chelsea 0-1 Newcastle