Chelsea are in Newcastle today with the chance to go eight points clear of Manchester United. Nothing comes easy at St. James’ Park.
Chelsea won, drew and last in their last three games at St. James Park. Newcastle’s home ground is not as accursed as it used to be for the Blues, but it is by no means an easy fixture. The last time Chelsea kept a clean sheet there was in 2011, and that streak will probably stay intact.
Scott Brant: Newcastle 1 – 2 Chelsea. It will be a tough match, but the Blues will emerge with the much-needed three points. If, somehow, they lose this match could spark some transfer movement.
It sure would be nice if they beat Newcastle and Manchester United lose to the already-crowned Premier League champs, Liverpool, putting eight points between themselves and their nearest competitor. Willian and Tammy Abraham to score.
Olaoluwa Nwobodo: 1 – 2. This definitely feels like a 2-1 kind of game. Chelsea has had a full week of rest heading into it. Frank Lampard will likely send out a mixture of his “strongest” XI and the XI that played against Burnley. The Blues still have defensive problems, but at least now they’re keeping clean sheets. Long may it last.
Barrett Rouen: 0 – 2. This could very easily and is likely to go 2-1 or even 2-2 or 1-1. Newcastle is a tough match to predict because Chelsea ALWAYS struggle with them, and St. James Park is a hard place to play, especially given the forecast for the match.
Joelinton is now up and running possibly, but Chelsea have found a few clean sheets recently. The team is rested and ready and I would never predict a loss.
Kevin Peacock: 0 – 3. Newcastle have, in the past, had a habit of being a thorn in Chelsea’s foot. However, not for the first time this season, it feels like a corner has been turned under Frank Lampard’s management, so, all being well, this game ends in victory.
Tambraham has been on fire throughout the current campaign and will grab goal one. Mason Mount has been less prolific in front of goal after a good start to the season. He’s due a goal and delivers midway through the second half. With Newcastle chasing a goal and the Blues under the cosh, Michy Batshuayi scores the third on the counter-attack.
Tan Yi Hao: 0 – 3. Newcastle are arguably one of the unluckiest teams in the league this season in terms of the overwhelming number of injures. Steve Bruce comes into this game with Paul Dummett, Dwight Gayle and DeAndre Yedlin all out, whilst Allan Saint-Maximin, Fabian Schar and Jamaal Lascelles have just returned from long-term injuries and are not fully match fit.
All these problems for Bruce undoubtedly provide a huge advantage for Chelsea, who displayed last week the resolve to break down highly defensive teams that proved troublesome of late.
Chelsea are on a good run of form now, and I am backing them to make it three wins in three.
Nate Hofmann: 1 – 3. Steve Bruce deserves a lot of praise for how this Newcastle side have performed so far this season. It’s not a particularly attractive style of football, but it’s doing the job so far.
Unfortunately, this is the exact type of team Chelsea struggle to beat: defensively organized, quick on the counter, and hobbled by injuries. This could be the Bournemouth match all over again.
But hey, that was last decade! I’ll lean on the recency bias of the Burnley victory instead. Easy win for Chelsea.
Abhishek Pancholi: 2 – 1. The Magpies have always raised their game against Chelsea and they will do so again. An annoyingly chaotic game will be decided by a long range screamer followed by a tap-in from a botched set-piece clearance by the Blues defence.
Varun Dani: 0 – 3. Home win at Stamford Bridge: Check. Callum Hudson-Odoi making goal contributions: Check.
Next in line: consistency.
The extended recovery and preparation periods in the last two weeks have relieved the mental strain of the winter period, which has translated into results. These results seem to have changed the often volatile atmosphere around the Blues stemming from their maddening inconsistency. Frank Lampard must ensure his men rack up the wins in January to have a firm grip on fourth place, as Bayern, Leicester, United and Spurs will make February the make or break month. Expect Chelsea to build up steam with this Newcastle win, for there is no other option.
Vansh Ambashta: 1 – 2. Chelsea will struggle in the first half, following their general trend against teams like these and Newcastle has always been a team that the Blues have struggled against. The Magpies will defend in a compact structure and will make life difficult for Chelsea’s forwards.
Tammy Abraham and Mason Mount to score.