Newcastle v CHELSEA: Preview

Date: Saturday twentieth December 2025

Venue: St James Park

Kick-off: 12:30 GMT

Recent from the newest episode of “Maresca’s
Marvels: The Staff Choice Saga”, our intrepid supervisor is again on the helm for
one other lunchtime journey, this time taking us on a northerly trek to the
land of brown ale and large coats. As a result of logic is clearly optionally available, we’ve
been blessed with the earliest kick-off of the weekend—in any case, who wants
sleep, or correctly functioning hamstrings?

As if midweek soccer drama wasn’t sufficient, each Chelsea and Newcastle managed to squeeze each ounce of stress from their EFL quarter-finals: we scraped previous Cardiff with all of the grace of a cat on a tiled ground, whereas Newcastle left their successful act so late you’d have thought Ant and Dec have been scripting it.

Newcastle, presently allergic to wash
sheets, are in all probability nonetheless smarting after their bruising derby defeat to
Sunderland. In the meantime, Chelsea dispatched Everton 2-0, after Maresca had
suffered his worst 48 hours, leaving us clinging on to fourth place like a
toddler to a Christmas toy, thanks additionally to some festive favours elsewhere.

Now, let’s be sincere, returning to St James’ Park hasn’t precisely been a present just lately—three journeys, three Newcastle victories. So maybe it’s smart to brace ourselves for an additional Maresca meltdown as we roll into the festive fixtures.

Ho ho ho, what might probably go improper?

MANAGER’S VIEWS

Going into at present’s sport, Newcastle supervisor,
Eddie Howe, says “We just like the early kick-offs, we like taking part in at dwelling, so
something we are able to do to swing it in our path is essential. They’re a really
good staff, so we should be excellent. It’s a brief restoration time for us,
so it’s a huge problem this week, however we’re trying ahead to that.”

Enzo Maresca, in the meantime, says “For me, it
is at all times tough to play there [St James Park]. Evening or day. Newcastle are
an excellent staff and their supervisor is unbelievable, he [Eddie Howe] has finished a
unbelievable job for years.

Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton,
Lewis Miley additionally, they’re all unbelievable gamers, worldwide gamers. They
full one another. They’re bodily robust, good on the ball, they’re one
hundred per cent full, excellent. It’s tough for any staff to face them…”

SQUAD NEWS

For Newcastle, the therapy room is beginning to look extra crowded than the Gallowgate Finish on derby day: Tino Livramento (knee), Dan Burn (rib), Nick Pope (groin), Kieran Trippier (hamstring), Sven Botman (again), Will Osula (ankle) and Emil Krafth (knee) are all protecting the physios busy. At the very least there’s a glimmer of hope with Lewis Corridor (hamstring) – he would possibly simply make it off the therapeutic massage desk in time to lace up his boots.

For Chelsea, Estevao
Willian is reportedly out with a muscle harm – although frankly, Maresca
selecting him was by no means actually on the playing cards. Liam Delap (shoulder), Levi Colwill
(knee), Romeo Lavia (thigh), and Dario Essugo (thigh) are all working in direction of
their levels in Sports activities Science with all this time without work, whereas Mykhaylo Mudryk continues
to serve a suspension with no obvious finish.

TEAMS

NEWCASTLE (Potential
line-up): Ramsdale;
Miley, Schar, Thiaw, Corridor; Tonali, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Elanga, Woltemade,
Gordon

CHELSEA (Potential line-up): Sanchez; James, Chalobah, Fofana, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Neto, Palmer, Garnacho; Peter

LAST SEASON

Newcastle 2-0 Chelsea (eleventh Might 2025)

CURRENT FORM (PL)

NEWCASTLE: LWWDWL

CHELSEA: WWDLDW

OTHER STUFF

37 of the 60 Premier League video games between
Newcastle and Chelsea have been gained by the house sideNewcastle have gained their final three Premier
League dwelling video games in opposition to ChelseaNewcastle have conceded in every of their final
9 Premier League video games.No facet have saved extra clear sheets than
Chelsea within the Premier League this season (8)Newcastle have scored two objectives in every of
their final 5 Premier League dwelling video games and are averaging two objectives per sport at
St James’ Park

PREDICTION

Sportsmole: Newcastle 2-2 Chelsea