Chelsea and Newcastle United will be eager to return to winning ways in the Premier League when they clash at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
Gameweek 9 of the 2024/25 Premier League season will conclude on Sunday, which will be an action-packed day with four matches. The action will kick-start with three simultaneous fixtures, including Chelsea vs Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea’s impressive unbeaten run ended last weekend, with the West London club going down 2-1 against Liverpool. That result left them seventh in the Premier League standings after starting Gameweek 8 in the fourth spot. However, the Blues bounced back in the Europa Conference League, with Enzo Maresca’s men cruising to a 4-1 win over Panathinaikos on Thursday.
As for Newcastle United, they have blown hot and cold in the early days of the 2024/25 season, struggling to embark on a winning run. Eddie Howe would have hoped for a campaign similar to 2022/23. However, his charges have failed to win their last four Premier League games, dropping to ninth in the Premier League standings.
The corresponding fixture last season ended in a 3-2 win for Chelsea, with Jacob Murphy scoring a late consolation goal for Newcastle United. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Chelsea
Enzo Maresca does not have any new injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Chelsea manager will be bereft of the services of only one first-team player vs Newcastle United on Sunday.
Omari Kellyman is the only absentee, with the summer signing recovering from a hamstring injury. However, with the youngster not being a regular for Chelsea yet, Maresca has a full-strength squad to take on Newcastle United.
Robert Sanchez, who came under some criticism after his performance against Liverpool last week, will take his spot between the sticks, with Chelsea lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Newcastle United. The backline should feature Reece James, Wesley Fofana, Levi Colwill, and Malo Gusto.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo in the double pivot. Cole Palmer will reprise the no. 10 role, with Noni Madueke and Jadon Sancho being the two wide attackers. Finally, Nicolas Jackson will lead the line for Chelsea against Newcastle United.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; James, Fofana, Colwill, Gusto; Fernandez, Caicedo; Madueke, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson
Newcastle United
Unlike his counterpart in the Chelsea dugout, Eddie Howe has a few issues to worry about ahead of the trip to Stamford Bridge. The Newcastle United manager will be without at least four first-team players on Sunday.
Sven Botman and Jamaal Lascelles are long-term absentees, with the two centre-backs nursing knee injuries. In addition, Kieran Trippier (hamstring) and Callum Wilson (lower back) remain on the sidelines, with the duo unlikely to return before next month.
Nick Pope is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Newcastle United lining up in a 4-3-3 formation in front of him vs Chelsea on Sunday. The backline should feature Valentino Livramento, Fabian Schar, Dan Burn, and former Chelsea prodigy Lewis Hall.
As for the midfield unit, there is no looking past Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes, and Joelinton. The trio will aim to keep things tight in the middle of the park and initiate swift transitions. Finally, Alexander Isak will spearhead the Newcastle United attack against Chelsea, with Anthony Gordon and the in-form Harvey Barnes being the two wide attackers.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Pope; Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall; Joelinton, Tonali, Guimaraes; Barnes, Isak, Gordon
Key Stats
- Chelsea’s only defeat in 29 Premier League home games vs Newcastle United was a 2-0 loss in 2012 (W21 D7). However, the Magpies have won two and drawn one of their last four league clashes with the Blues.
- Chelsea’s only three defeats in their 23 most recent Premier League matches have come against Arsenal, Manchester City, and Liverpool (W13 D7).
- Failure to win on Sunday will mean Newcastle United will have gone five Premier League matches without a win for the first time since March 2023 (D2 L2).
- Cole Palmer’s 17 Premier League goals at Stamford Bridge in 2024 rea the most by any player in a calendar year at the stadium.
- Harvey Barnes has been involved in four goals in his five away Premier League outings this season, scoring three and assisting one.
Player to Watch
Nicolas Jackson
After a slow start to life as a Chelsea player, Nicolas Jackson has been making his mark for the West London club throughout 2024. While the spotlight has rightly been on Cole Palmer, the Senegalese international has not been much behind the Englishman with his output.
Jackson has nine goals and four assists in his last 13 Premier League matches. So, amid Chelsea’s links with several top-class strikers, the former Villarreal attacker is bolstering his case with game-changing performances. Expect another positive showing from Jackson this weekend.
Prediction
Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle United
Chelsea vs Newcastle United tends to produce fireworks, and Sunday’s clash should be no different. Both teams have vulnerable defensive units, with the home side’s goalkeeper not covering himself in glory in some recent showings.
So, an open and end-to-end affair should be on the cards, with Chelsea and Newcastle United trading blows throughout the ninety minutes. Expect fireworks, with Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson delivering the good for Chelsea. The Hard Tackle predicts Enzo Maresca and his charges to eke out a narrow 2-1 win over Eddie Howe’s men.
