Chelsea will be hoping to solidify their place in the top four when they face Newcastle United this week in Matchweek 23 of the 2019/20 English Premier League season.
Chelsea will be hoping to solidify their place in the top four when they face Newcastle United this week in Matchweek 23 of the 2019/20 English Premier League season.
Chelsea will be hoping to solidify their place in the top four when they face Newcastle United this week in the English Premier League. The Saturday afternoon encounter at St James’ Park will be a great chance for the Blues to stretch their lead over fifth-placed Manchester United, who face Liverpool away this weekend.
For all their issues in the last few weeks, Chelsea have managed to hold onto their spot in the upper section of the EPL table. Frank Lampard’s young charges sit fourth on the Premier League standings on 39 points – six points behind Leicester City in third and five points ahead of Manchester United in fifth.
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Chelsea’s last league outing resulted in a resounding 3-0 win over Burnley, but that doesn’t quite make up for their failure to beat the likes of Southampton and Brighton & Hove Albion. Nevertheless, Lampard and company have delivered a crash course on how to build a competitive homegrown side when faced with a transfer embargo.
Although Newcastle made a welcome return to winning ways on Tuesday night by blitzing past League One side Rochdale in their FA Cup third-round replay, such results have not been forthcoming in the EPL. With just one win from their last six league games, the Magpies sit 13th on the ladder on 26 points – just five points above the drop zone and a distant 13 points behind Chelsea.
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Right-back DeAndre Yedlin could be the only absentee for Newcastle United this weekend as the American continues to nurse a hand injury sustained at the start of the year against Leicester.
N’Golo Kante will have to pass a late fitness test after the French midfielder missed last weekend’s game with a hamstring problem.
Christian Pulisic has been ruled out of the match with an adductor injury, while Marcos Alonso extends his weeks-long absence with a thigh problem.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek will also have no part to play this weekend as the England midfielder continues with his recovery from an Achilles tendon injury.
• Abraham to score anytime – -142.86 at Nags.bet • Abraham to score/Chelsea to win – +100 at Nags.bet
Entrusted as the front-man this season due to Chelsea’s transfer ban, Tammy Abraham has honoured the responsibility with a breakout campaign in the top flight.
The 22-year-old striker has been sweltering hot for the Blues, scoring 13 goals in the EPL and 15 in all competitions.
With two goals from his last three league appearances, Abraham looks a very good chance to add to his tally this weekend.
One can never quite tell how Chelsea will fare in any given match this season. Some streaky form of late has seen the Blues defeat some of the top teams in the Premier League, only to then drop points against the lesser teams.
Newcastle may be on a poor run at the moment, but the Magpies have forced both Manchester United and Manchester City to drop points at St James’ Park this season.
Whatever the outcome, it appears unlikely that either side will walk away with a clean sheet.
Prediction: Both teams to score – -138.89 at Nags.bet
Chelsea 1-0 Newcastle United (October 19, 2019)
Marcos Alonso 73’
Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle United (January 12, 2019)
Pedro 9’
Willian 57’
Ciaran Clark 40’
Newcastle United 1-2 Chelsea (August 26, 2018)
Joselu 83’
Eden Hazard 76’ (P)
DeAndre Yedlin 87’ (OG)
Newcastle United 3-0 Chelsea (May 13, 2018)
Dwight Gayle 23’
Ayoze Pérez 59’, 63’