Chelsea return home in the Premier League after a series of away fixtures across competitions. Enzo Maresca’s side will be looking to build momentum from their midweek win against Panathinaikos in the UEFA Conference League. On Sunday, they take on Newcastle United—a team they narrowly defeated 3-2 in this fixture last year.
Here are the key talking points ahead of the match.
1. Will Robert Sanchez Keep His Place?
Robert Sanchez was heavily criticized for his poor attempt to save Liverpool’s second goal. It wasn't the first time this season that one of Sanchez’s mistakes led directly to a goal, raising questions about his consistency. At some point, Maresca may need to consider Filip Jørgensen as an alternative. Sunday may be too soon for a change, but this looming prospect should be on the minds of both Sanchez and Maresca.
2. Backline Selection
Reece James and Malo Gusto didn’t make the trip to Greece for the Conference League match. Meanwhile, Wesley Fofana and Marc Cucurella missed the Liverpool clash due to suspension, after having started every other league game. Cucurella, however, played the full 90 minutes midweek, which raises questions about his starting status on Sunday.
Fofana is expected to reclaim his center-back role from Tosin Adarabioyo, who started at Anfield. The full-back pairing will be interesting, with James likely starting on the right and Gusto on the left. If Cucurella comes on in the second half, it would likely be for Reece James, allowing Gusto to shift to right-back while Cucurella takes his preferred spot on the left.
3. How the EFL Cup Fixture Will Influence Tactics
Following Sunday’s Premier League clash, Chelsea will again face Newcastle at St. James’ Park midweek in the EFL Cup. Last season, Chelsea knocked out Newcastle on penalties en route to the final, and Maresca will be keen to keep the upper hand. Sunday’s lineup could set the tone, pushing Newcastle to exert more in the league match, potentially leaving them less sharp midweek. This fixture will also allow Maresca to closely analyze Eddie Howe’s tactics ahead of their Cup meeting.
4. Potential Change in the Front Four
Chelsea have fielded the same front four since their trip to West Ham, with Nicolas Jackson, Jadon Sancho, Cole Palmer, and Noni Madueke starting the last four matches. Although the alternate front four in cup competitions has impressed, Jackson, Palmer, and Madueke have all performed well enough to keep their spots. If any position is up for debate, it’s Sancho’s. He’s shown promise but could do slightly more to impact the game. Mykhailo Mudryk and Pedro Neto, who started on the wings midweek, are both strong contenders should Maresca choose to freshen up the attack.