Top four contenders Chelsea face struggling for form Newcastle

In the late Saturday kick-off, Newcastle host Chelsea at St James’ Park as the Magpies look to stabilise their Premier League campaign after a run of poor performances.

The Magpies drew their last Premier League outing against Wolves. Both teams made a quick start with Newcastle striking first through the on-form Miguel Almiron but, the game was level not long after when Leander Dendoncker levelled for Wolves. Newcastle also played an FA Cup replay on Tuesday in which they comfortably beat Rochdale 4-1.

Chelsea were victorious in the Premier League last time out as they beat Burnley 3-0. Goals from Jorginho, Tammy Abraham and Callum Hudson Odoi secured the Blues three points instead 50 minutes.

Team news

Newcastle United’s injury crisis is beginning to ease, with forward Allan Saint-Maximin returning after a month out with a hamstring injury.

Seven players are still sidelined and Andy Carroll is a doubt, but Joelinton and Fabian Schar are available.

Chelsea have no new fitness concerns, although N’Golo Kante continues to be assessed for a hamstring problem.

Marcos Alonso could be in contention following a thigh injury but Christian Pulisic remains out.

Steve Bruce is hopeful Joelinton can follow the trend set by Miguel Almirón after the Brazilian notched his first goal for more than four months on Tuesday night:

“As I said the other night, if you compared the first five minutes of the game to the last five minutes, you could see that little bit of weight taken off his shoulders,” Bruce said of Joelinton’s display.

“That’s certainly been the case in training. We’re all delighted for him – he’s had a tough time. Hopefully, a bit like Almirón, when everyone kept asking me when he was going to score, the same thing will happen with Joe.

“We know he’s got a lot of qualities – he’s a young man and he’s still learning. But he’ll have learned how difficult the Premier League is, for a start, and let’s hope now he can get that little bit of confidence, which is why we played him in both cup ties. He nearly got two or three down at Rochdale, and thankfully in the last five minutes the other night he managed to score. Let’s hope it does him the world of good.”

Injuries, transfers and a tricky test at St James’ Park were among the subjects Frank Lampard discussed at his press conference ahead of Chelsea’s trip to Newcastle:

“There is no news on that front,’ said Lampard. ‘I won’t talk about individuals. What remains the same is the window is open and if there’s anything we can do to improve us, we will attempt to do it. There may be news, I’m not closing the door because I always want to improve us, but it has to be right in January.

“Even though we have good away form in general every game brings new challenges. Going to Newcastle I know the emotion of the crowd, the very organised team they are, the manager they have, and also the threats they have. They have got some really good results this season. We will be taking nothing lightly.

“We have to take this game head on. It is massively important we keep our focus game in, game out. We certainly can’t underestimate Newcastle because of the season they’re having.”

Head-to-head

Newcastle United have taken just four points from their last eight Premier League games against Chelsea, losing the last three. Chelsea can win four consecutive top-flight meetings for the first time since 1958. Chelsea’s 25 victories in this Premier League fixture is bettered only by their 29 wins against Tottenham.