Chelsea (H) – Pre-match thoughts, team news, possible XI and prediction

Olly Hawkins

Premier League football returns this weekend and we’re back at St James’ Park for the second time in four days.

Chelsea come to town in a game that could go a long way towards deciding whether we’ll truly ‘bounce back’ from last Sunday’s derby defeat, or continue to stutter in our push towards those European spots.

Heading into the early kick-off, we’re sat in 12th and six points behind Chelsea (4th), but the picture could look very different with a win.

Beat the Blues and it would be nine wins from our last 10 in all competitions at home, a return to the top half on 25 points, three behind Chelsea and back within touching distance of those Champions League, with Crystal Palace (5th) currently tied with Man Utd, Liverpool and Sunderland on 26 points.

That is the positive spin and the carrot on offer to Eddie Howe and the squad, but it will require an improvement on our midweek win over Fulham. Wednesday was a vital victory and very much ‘job done’ to set up a cup semi-final against Man City, although we were passive at times, never hit top gear and didn’t create a great deal, meaning we’ll have to go up a gear or two to beat a Chelsea side welcoming back Moises Caicedo and Cole Palmer.

Team news

Tino Livramento (knee) has been ruled out for a ‘few weeks’, but Lewis Hall’s (hamstring) absence on Wednesday was more of a fatigue issue, meaning he could be OK to start after a rest.

Nick Pope (groin) has a chance of returning to the squad, but Sven Botman, Dan Burn, Kieran Trippier, Emil Krafth, Jamaal Lascelles and Will Osula remain out.

Lewis Miley is likely to start at right-back once again, although it doesn’t sound like Joelinton (groin) is quite ready to come back into Howe’s XI based on the boss’ pre-match comments.

Yoane Wissa will be boosted from his midweek goal and first start of the season, but I’d expect Nick Woltemade to lead the line in this one after his rest, unless our new No 9 is able to start two games in four days (which I highly doubt).

As for Chelsea, Moises Caicedo is back after serving a three-match ban and Cole Palmer is fit again and fresh from his rest in their 3-1 win over Cardiff on Tuesday, but there’ll be no Liam Delap, Estevao, Romeo Lavia or Levi Colwill.

Predicted XI

(4-3-3): Ramsdale – Miley, Thiaw, Schar, Hall – Bruno, Tonali, Ramsey – Murphy, Woltemade, Gordon.

OUT: Livramento, Willock, Barnes, Wissa IN: Hall, Tonali, Gordon, Woltemade.

Tough to say who’ll play between Ramsey and Willock, but the former had one of his better games in midweek and may need a run in the side to really show his worth.

Murphy vs Elanga is another debate. Rotation could mean the Swede returns, I just see him getting little change out of Cucurella based on his current confidence levels, coupled with the fact our right side may benefit from some consistency in selection to help Miley settle into that emergency right-back role.

Match prediction

A tricky one to predict here, featuring an inconsistent Newcastle (despite our impressive home record) and a Chelsea side who have won two, drawn two and lost two of their last six games.

I think we’ll be ‘at it’ in many ways and expect us to come out the traps with a bit more intensity. The questions will be can we maintain that, can we stop Palmer, win the battle against Caicedo in midfield and break down a side only second to Arsenal for goals conceded this season?

Hoping for a big win to fire us up the table before Christmas, but I’ve got a feeling it’ll be a high-scoring draw.

Prediction: Newcastle 2-2 Chelsea

Howay the lads!

About Olly Hawkins

As a Junior Magpie since birth and season ticket holder, I eat, sleep and breathe all things NUFC! Here at the blog, I aim to bring you news, views, match reports and transfer exclusives as and when I get them.

View all posts by Olly Hawkins →

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56 thoughts on “Chelsea (H) – Pre-match thoughts, team news, possible XI and prediction”

  1. We absolutely have to have a go today. We are getting to the stage where we can either push on with some wins, or very quickly drop to the danger zone if we keep losing or drawing. We have no idea which Chelsea side will turn up, they have a squad of 600+ (😂🤷🏻‍♂️), but seriously, they can rotate a full 11 so we absolutely need to be on the top of our game here today.

    I’m going 2-1 to us, but we could as easily lose 4-0 … 🤷🏻‍♂️.

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  2. Gilly Toon:
    We absolutely have to have a go today. We are getting to the stage where we can either push on with some wins, or very quickly drop to the danger zone if we keep losing or drawing. We have no idea which Chelsea side will turn up, they have a squad of 600+ (), but seriously, they can rotate a full 11 so we absolutely need to be on the top of our game here today.

    I’m going 2-1 to us, but we could as easily lose 4-0 … .

    You know what they say Gilly, you’re never more than a metre away from a Chelsea player in London.
    Seriously though; we have quite good form v them at SJP, but it depends which Toon turn up just as much as which Chelsea. Tricky fixture for sure.

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  14. Nick looks constantly gassed and almost not arsed but boy he really has the knack like

    Goal stands,get in.

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  16. No way we keep this intensity all game, so need to try and get a couple more to have a buffer zone, Chelsea will be better second half.

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  18. Chelsea gonna fall over whenever possible now, looking for free kicks, up to now they deserve nowt from this game.

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  21. Brilliant first half from us but how nick missed those two chances , hope we don’t regret that second half.
    Miley brilliant at rb again, stocks rising for that lad.

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  22. Well, that was some first half. We should really be 4 up! I hope we don’t regret those missed chances but the passion is finally there. Please more of this in the second half

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  27. They know they got short change from open play so cue the dark arts. We must not lose our heads here or concentration.

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  37. ffs
    This effin team and now those missed chances come back to haunt us.
    Wissa should of been bought on ten mins ago, Barnes too.

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  55. Criminal 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

    Fuming at that. Another 2 points lost. We played well but the ref and var were corrupt and criminal.

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  56. What a game. Absolutely loved that. Two good teams metaphorically smacking each other in the face.
    Ref and var controversy and loads of top football.
    Nufc better and should’ve won but cfc are a decent team.
    It’s frustrating because nufc really needed 3 today.
    Time to make way for the whining f4nn1e5
    HTL

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