Chelsea at Newcastle: Three things to look for in lopsided contest

Chelsea's English midfielder Mason Mount celebrates scoring his team's seventh goal during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Norwich City at Stamford Bridge in London on October 23, 2021. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images) /

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LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 26: Saúl Ñíguez of Chelsea during the Carabao Cup Round of 16 match between Chelsea and Southampton at Stamford Bridge on October 26, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images) /

3. A chance for the secondary players

While the Blues did play a much more reserved squad in their recent game against Southampton in the League Cup, they might choose to start a few irregular players in the upcoming Premier League game, as well. This would make sense since they are the best team in the league at the moment, whereas Newcastle is struggling to get out of the relegation zone. On top of that, with new owners coming in, there might be a lot of new faces in the club soon and current players and staff might feel a bit demotivated to give their best.

This is a perfect opportunity to play some of the players who do not start regularly in the league. Players like Saul Niguez, Hakim Ziyech, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Malang Sarr could all start. They did play recently in the Carabao Cup, but they could use a bit of extra game time to increase their self-confidence. Hudson-Odoi and Sarr are playing as they are expected to and frequent games can bring in more stability and consistency in their game. On the other hand, players like Ziyech and Saul will happily take as many minutes as they can get right now, as they are nowhere near the first XI at the moment.

Ziyech was a fantastic player back at Ajax, however, frequent injuries and inconsistent game time has made him an inconsistent player overall. He will have some really amazing games but then he will have some games where he will fail to make any sort of impact. Thus, these easier matches should really help his self-confidence, if he is picked to start. Saul needs more game time too, and his performance in the EFL Cup should grant him a second consecutive start. He was all over the pitch against Saints and he even came close to scoring. Saul is a player who needs a fresh start and he is finally showing glimpses of his former self.

Next. Chelsea's Kepa Arrizabalaga shows there is always a corner to turn. dark

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