Newcastle v Chelsea Match Preview
Newcastle United and Chelsea face off at St James’ Park with both managers under scrutiny ahead of their final game before Christmas.
Both sides will be glad for the break that will come after this game, having each competed on three fronts so far this season, with both progressing to the semi-finals of the EFL Cup this week. Newcastle are next in action on Boxing Day at Manchester United, with Chelsea facing Aston Villa a day later.
Yet they will each be desperate to go into that brief interruption to their hectic schedules on the back of a victory. Newcastle’s cup win over Fulham helped lift the mood after their derby defeat to Sunderland, but criticism of Eddie Howe will likely increase if the Magpies fail to get a positive result against the Blues.
Maresca, meanwhile, has been forced to dismiss speculation he is Manchester City’s top managerial target should Pep Guardiola leave the Etihad Stadium at the end of the season.
Chelsea are in poor form in the Premier League, with their 2-0 win over Everton last time out their first in five league games.
Recent history is also against the Blues, who have lost four successive games at St James’ Park in all competitions since a 3-0 win in October 2021. Newcastle’s 2-0 win in this fixture last season proved decisive in clinching Champions League qualification, with Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes on the scoresheet that day.
“For me, playing at Newcastle is always difficult,” Maresca said. “Night or day, they are a very good team. Their manager is fantastic and has done a fantastic job for years.
“Sandro Tonali, Guimaraes, Joelinton, [Lewis] Miley also, they are all fantastic players, international players.
“They complete with each other. They are physically strong and good on the ball. They are 100% complete, perfect. It’s difficult for any team to face them.”
Yet Howe, whose side are 12th but only six points behind Chelsea in fourth, puts little stock in recent head-to-head results or the Blues’ drop-off in form.
“I think they’re progressing and continuing to get better,” Howe said of Chelsea.
“There’s been a lot of change at Chelsea over recent seasons. They’ve gone very youthful with their recruitment and I think long term, you’ll definitely see the benefits of that.
“A very good manager, style of play and team. It’s a short recovery time for us, a big challenge this week but we’re looking forward to that. We like the early kick-offs so anything we can do to help swing this in our direction is important.”
Team news for Newcastle v Chelsea
Newcastle are dealing with a defensive injury crisis, which deepened when Tino Livramento was forced off with a knee injury against Fulham.
He is expected to be out until the new year, meaning Lewis Miley will likely continue as a makeshift right-back.
Lewis Hall could return from a hamstring issue to play at left-back against his former club, but Dan Burn (rib/lung), Sven Botman (back), Kieran Trippier (hamstring) and Emil Krafth (knee) are all still out.
Goalkeeper Nick Pope (groin) could make his return having missed Newcastle’s last six games.
Cole Palmer is set to return for Chelsea after being rested for the cup tie at Cardiff City in midweek.
Estevao will miss out again with a muscle injury, though he and Liam Delap (shoulder) are expected to return against Villa on December 27.
Romeo Lavia and Dario Essugo (both thigh) are both still out, along with long-term absentee Levi Colwill.
Predicted line-ups for Newcastle v Chelsea
Newcastle: Ramsdale; Miley, Schar, Thiaw, Hall; Tonali, Guimaraes, Ramsey; Murphy, Wissa, Gordon.
Chelsea: Sanchez; James, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Neto, Palmer, Garnacho; Pedro.
