Team
news and stats ahead of Chelsea vs Newcastle in the Premier League on
Saturday; kick-off 8pm.
Team news and stats ahead of Chelsea vs Newcastle in the Premier League on
Saturday; kick-off 8pm.
Team news
Timo Werner should be fit to return when Chelsea host Newcastle in Monday's
Premier League clash.
The Germany striker has been struggling with a dead leg but is back in full
training.
Thiago Silva will miss out however, as the Brazil defender continues to
nurse a thigh complaint.
Newcastle head coach Steve Bruce will be without four key players for the
trip to Stamford Bridge.
Striker Callum Wilson (hamstring) and defenders Fabian Schar (knee) and
Javier Manquillo (ankle) are all facing up to eight weeks on the sidelines
with injuries suffered during last Saturday's 3-2 win over Southampton,
while midfielder Jeff Hendrick is suspended after being sent off during the
same game.
Ciaran Clark is available after missing the Saints game because his partner
had gone into labour, while fellow defenders Jamaal Lascelles (hamstring)
and Federico Fernandez (muscle) will be assessed as they close in on
returns.
Jones Knows' prediction
Newcastle and Thomas Tuchel had a big sliding doors moment in 2015. Tuchel -
then manager of Mainz - was linked with the vacant Newcastle job in January
2015.
But the decision-makers decided to appoint John Carver until end of season.
Newcastle were subsequently relegated and Borussia Dortmund came calling for
Tuchel. The rest is history.
Six years later and Tuchel now faces Newcastle as Chelsea boss with a squad
packed with quality and one that may have title ambitions this time next
season. I'm yet to be fully convinced though as they've yet to face an
attack capable of asking them severe questions. If Callum Wilson was fit for
Newcastle, I'd probably have had a swing at the 12/1 for an away win.
Chelsea shouldn't be touched at 1/5 with Sky Bet but the match result and
correct score market represent no strong betting angles in this one as I'm
not convinced Newcastle will be ruthless enough with their finishing without
Wilson.
I certainly think they'll give Chelsea a scare though playing their
new-found brave pressing game that allows their defence to push up the
pitch.
Since switching to this diamond-like formation halfway through their defeat
to Leeds with Miguel Almiron playing in the pocket, Newcastle are averaging
nearly two goals a game and 14 shots a game. This makes the 5/4 for them to
have nine or more shots at 5/4 very interesting and even the 12 or shots
line at 11/2 should be given consideration.
Another betting angle to consider is Cesar Azpilicueta to pick up a booking.
He's been an ever-present for Tuchel in the Premier League on the right of a
back three but is prone to a late challenge on a speedy opponent. Eberechi
Eze, Ademola Lookman, Anwar El Ghazi and Son Heung-min have all drawn
bookings off the Spaniard this season and here he has to deal with the
frightening prospect of keeping a lid on Allan Saint-Maximin.
Since the start of last season, no player to have played more than 800
minutes averages more dribbles per-game than the winger (9.14) with 14
opposition players in that time picking up a booking for fouling the flying
Frenchman.
At 11/2 Azpilicueta looks ripe for a card.
JONES KNOWS PREDICTS: 2-1
Opta stats
Chelsea have only lost one of their 25 home Premier League games against
Newcastle United (W18 D6), a 2-0 defeat in May 2012.
Newcastle have lost their last seven away league games against Chelsea,
scoring just three goals and conceding 18.
Chelsea are looking to win eight consecutive home top-flight matches against
an opponent for the first time since winning nine in a row against West Brom
between 1984 and 2013.
Newcastle have won two away Premier League games in London this season,
beating West Ham and Crystal Palace. The Magpies haven't won three in a
season in the capital since the 2013-14 campaign, beating Spurs, West Ham
and Crystal Palace.
Chelsea have won their last three Premier League matches, as many as they
had in their previous 11 (W3 D3 L5). The Blues have conceded just one goal
in their four league games under Thomas Tuchel, while they've faced on
average just five shots per game under the German, compared to 10.1 under
Frank Lampard in the league this term.
Newcastle have won two of their last three Premier League games (L1), as
many as they had in their previous 13 in the competition (D2 L9). The
Magpies are looking to win consecutive away league games for the first time
since July 2020.
Newcastle have lost 14 of their last 18 Premier League matches played on a
Monday (W2 D2), failing to score in 13 of those matches, including each of
the last four.
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has never previously managed a top-flight
match on a Monday - his last match in any competition on this day was in
August 2016, leading Borussia Dortmund to a 3-0 win in the first round of
the DFB-Pokal against SV Eintracht Trier 05.
Only against Aston Villa (9) has Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud scored more
Premier League goals than he has versus Newcastle (8). However, those eight
goals against the Magpies all came in his first six appearances against
them, with the Frenchman failing to score in his last seven.
Miguel Almirón has scored three goals in his last four Premier League games
for Newcastle, as many as in his previous 32 in the competition. However,
all four of his strikes this season have come in home games.
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