Chelsea went down to defeat in the North East on a huge afternoon in the race for Champions League qualification next season. The Blues and Newcastle kicked off level on both points and goal difference with just three games left to play this term and today’s game at St James’ Park always felt crucial in the battle to finish in the Premier League top five.
Enzo Maresca’s side had rediscovered some form at just the right time and last weekend’s shock 3-1 home win against title winners Liverpool - in which Cole Palmer finally ended his long goal drought - strengthened their bid to finish in the Champions League spots. But Chelsea have a tough run-in, with Manchester United up next at Stamford Bridge before a trip to Nottingham Forest on the final day of the season, and lost 2-0 at St James’ Park after having Nicolas Jackson sent off.
Chelsea have now lost on their last four visits to St James’ Park, including a 2-0 defeat in the Carabao Cup last 16 earlier this season. Follow the game LIVE below with our dedicated match blog, featuring expert insight and analysis from Dom Smith.
Newcastle vs Chelsea latest news
- GOAL! Tonali gives Newcastle an early lead
- RED CARD! Jackson sent off after VAR check
- GOAL! Guimaraes seals win late on
Full-time: Newcastle 2-0 Chelsea
14:00A damaging result for Chelsea in the battle to qualify for the Champions League.
GOAL! Newcastle 2-0 Chelsea | Guimaraes 90’
13:53 , Giuseppe MuroGuimaraes shoots from outside the area and his effort takes a huge deflection off Gusto and loops over Sanchez and into the net. Game over
Dom Smith
13:52 , Giuseppe MuroMaresca's side have been really brave in this second half and gone at Newcastle for a sustained period. James unlucky with the header. If they lose, Chelsea will have paid for carelessness from Lavia and Jackson in the first half.
Newcastle 1-0 Chelsea
13:51 , Giuseppe Muro88 mins: Chance for Chelsea! Gusto crosses for James and he heads over unmarked from about 10 yards. Was that their chance to salvage something? Will Chelsea get a better one?
Newcastle 1-0 Chelsea
13:49 , Giuseppe Muro85 mins: Into the final five minutes. There are definitely some nerves around St James’ Park. Can Chelsea create another chance?
Newcastle 1-0 Chelsea
13:48 , Giuseppe Muro84 mins: Guimaraes gets a yellow card for a late foul on Fernandez.
Newcastle 1-0 Chelsea
13:45 , Giuseppe Muro81 mins: Chance for Chelsea! A left-foot shot from Fernandez looks to be sneaking in before Pope makes a fingertip save. Big save from the Newcastle goalkeeper.
Newcastle 1-0 Chelsea
13:43 , Giuseppe Muro79 mins: Chelsea are having a decent little spell now. They win a corner, which is cleared, and then Palmer gets a cross all wrong.
Newcastle 1-0 Chelsea
13:41 , Giuseppe Muro77 mins: Chance for Newcastle! Good play from Newcastle and Barnes has a chance to kill the game. But Barnes takes a heavy touch a Sanchez gathers. Let-off for Chelsea.
Newcastle 1-0 Chelsea
13:39 , Giuseppe Muro75 mins: Into the final 15 minutes. You feel these are a big 15 minutes for both clubs in their seasons.
Newcastle 1-0 Chelsea
13:37 , Giuseppe Muro74 mins: Double change for Chelsea. Sancho and Gusto on for Lavia and Chalobah.
Newcastle 1-0 Chelsea
13:36 , Giuseppe Muro73 mins: As it stands, Chelsea will still be in the top five. But Nottingham Forest could go ahead of them later when they play Leicester.
Newcastle 1-0 Chelsea
13:34 , Giuseppe Muro70 mins: Big chance for Newcastle! Chelsea have been the better side in the second half but Guimaraes blows a big chance when he slices an effort high and wide from close range when he should have done better.
Newcastle 1-0 Chelsea
13:30 , Giuseppe Muro68 mins: James flashes a cross across the box but there’s no-one there to get on the end of it with Palmer and Cucurella attacking the box.
Newcastle 1-0 Chelsea
13:27 , Giuseppe Muro63 mins: Another change for Newcastle as Krafth comes on for Gordon.
Newcastle 1-0 Chelsea
13:26 , Giuseppe Muro61 mins: Chance for Chelsea! A cross finds Cucurella at the back post and his low shot forces Pope into a brilliant save down low to his left. That’s the closest Chelsea have come.
Dom Smith
13:24 , Giuseppe MuroChelsea enjoying a good moment, with sustained pressure. Maresca will know how important it is that they capitalise.
Newcastle 1-0 Chelsea
13:24 , Giuseppe Muro60 mins: Barnes plays a good one-two with Guimaraes but his cross is straight at Sanchez.
Newcastle 1-0 Chelsea
13:21 , Giuseppe Muro57 mins: Isak shoots wide from a corner.
Newcastle 1-0 Chelsea
13:20 , Giuseppe Muro56 mins: Chelsea are having some joy out wide but they don’t have anything in the box when they cross.
Newcastle 1-0 Chelsea
13:17 , Giuseppe Muro54 mins: Newcastle change... Miley on for Botman.
Newcastle 1-0 Chelsea
13:17 , Giuseppe Muro53 mins: Chelsea have actually made a decent start to the second half. Neto and Cucurella have both got forward well on the flanks and the Blues have had more of the possession since the restart.
Newcastle 1-0 Chelsea
13:15 , Giuseppe Muro52 mins: Schar goes in the book for a late challenge on Fernandez
Newcastle 1-0 Chelsea
13:12 , Giuseppe Muro49 mins: Newcastle want a penalty as James shoves Gordon in the back. But the referee waves play on on VAR is happy.
Newcastle 1-0 Chelsea
13:11 , Giuseppe Muro48 mins: With that substitution at the break, Chelsea have switched to three at the back.
Newcastle 1-0 Chelsea
13:11 , Giuseppe Muro47 mins: Livramento lands awkwardly on his right knee. That looked a nasty one but thankfully he is OK to continue.
Newcastle 1-0 Chelsea
13:08 , Giuseppe MuroBack underway at St James’ Park. Can Chelsea somehow get back into this?
There is a change for Chelsea at the break. James is on for Madueke.
Chelsea did not have a shot on target in a first half Newcastle dominated. Can Enzo Maresca change something to somehow salvage something in the second half?
Dom Smith
13:01 , Giuseppe MuroChelsea will be mightily relieved to have survived the 10 minutes plus stoppage time since Jackson was sent off. Just a goal down at the break but the dismissal was a huge blow and makes a comeback in the second half unlikely, you have to say. There have been a couple of bright attacks but nothing really for the travelling supporters to cheer.
Here’s that moment of madness from Jackson, who can have no complaints about his red card.
CHELSEA DOWN TO 10 MEN
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 11, 2025
Nicolas Jackson is shown a red card for his foul on Sven Botman 🟥
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/rpO4mr2cDL
Half-time: Newcastle 1-0 Chelsea
12:53A nightmare half for Chelsea.
Newcastle 1-0 Chelsea
12:52 , Giuseppe Muro45+4 mins: Chelsea are unhappy as Palmer is penalised for bringing down Gordon on the left. It looked like a coming together but Fernandez gets a yellow card for his complaints.
Newcastle 1-0 Chelsea
12:52 , Giuseppe Muro45+2 mins: Neto does brilliantly to race away from Burn and win a corner, which comes to nothing.
Newcastle 1-0 Chelsea
12:47 , Giuseppe Muro45 mins: Chelsea need half-time to come now. This time Tonali and Isak work it well and Sanchez has to come out to deny Isak. Chelsea have been so poor so far.
Newcastle 1-0 Chelsea
12:44 , Giuseppe Muro42 mins: Chance for Newcastle… and Chalobah has to put in a brilliant tackle to blow a shot from Barnes. Great defending from the Chelsea centre-back.
38 mins: Maresca gets a yellow card for something he said on the touchline.
Newcastle 1-0 Chelsea
12:40 , Giuseppe Muro37 mins: Burn heads inches wide. The flag was up but Chelsea need to be careful here.
Dom Smith
12:39 , Giuseppe MuroIt's all going wrong for Chelsea, who are now a man down as well as a goal down. Jackson has no complaints and can't have either, really. It's a massive blow for the Blues not only today but in their race for the Champions League.
Red card
12:36 , Giuseppe Muro35 mins: Red card for Jackson after the VAR check. Nightmare for Chelsea, who will play almost an hour with 10 man. And Jackson will miss their final two Premier League games.
Newcastle 1-0 Chelsea
12:34 , Giuseppe Muro33 mins: Jackson gets a yellow card for an elbow on Botman. The Chelsea man is not looking at the ball and smashes him on the face with his elbow. VAR is having a look...
Newcastle 1-0 Chelsea
12:33 , Giuseppe Muro32 mins: Newcastle come forward but Barnes gets a ball to Isak all wrong and the attack comes to nothing.
Newcastle 1-0 Chelsea
12:32 , Giuseppe Muro29 mins: Chelsea are having a bit more of the ball now. They need Palmer to start having more of an influence on the game.
Newcastle 1-0 Chelsea
12:27 , Giuseppe Muro25 mins: Good play from Newcastle and Barnes bundles into the box and shoots straight at Sanchez.
Newcastle 1-0 Chelsea
12:25 , Giuseppe Muro24 mins: Chelsea win a couple of corners, the second of which gets headed out to Caicedo who shoots wide from distance.
Newcastle 1-0 Chelsea
12:23 , Giuseppe Muro22 mins: Newcastle are winning the midfield battle so far. Fernandez and Lavia have been quiet for Chelsea, who are moving the ball too slowly when they do have it.
Dom Smith
12:22 , Giuseppe MuroNewcastle really are one of those confidence teams, especially in front of the Toon faithful, and their tails are up since that early opener. Chelsea just need to stay in the game in the early stages and look to build a foothold in the game and then grow from there. Easier said than done...
Newcastle 1-0 Chelsea
12:21 , Giuseppe Muro20 mins: Chelsea come froward and Palmer has two shots blocked.
Newcastle 1-0 Chelsea
12:20 , Giuseppe Muro19 mins: Isak hits a shot into the ground and Sanchez saves. The Newcastle star should probably have done better there.
Newcastle 1-0 Chelsea
12:19 , Giuseppe Muro18 mins: Chelsea venture forward but a cross on the right from Jackson can’t find anyone. That’s the first we’ve seen from Chelsea going forward since that corner in the opening minute.
Newcastle 1-0 Chelsea
12:18 , Giuseppe Muro17 mins: A bad ball out from Sanchez puts Chelsea in trouble but Newcastle can’t get a shot away. Let-off for Chelsea.
Newcastle 1-0 Chelsea
12:16 , Giuseppe Muro15 mins: Newcastle come forward again and this time Murphy’s shot is blocked. Chelsea haven’t got going yet.
Newcastle 1-0 Chelsea
12:14 , Giuseppe Muro13 mins: It’s all Newcastle. Chelsea don’t deal with cross into the box and Guimaraes shoots wide.
Newcastle 1-0 Chelsea
12:13 , Giuseppe Muro11 mins: Newcastle are on top here. Barnes gets into the box but his shot is blocked, then a cross into the box has to be gathered by Sanchez. Chelsea need to survive this spell.
Newcastle 1-0 Chelsea
12:10 , Giuseppe Muro9 mins: The game has settled down a bit after that lightening start from Newcastle. A big response needed from Chelsea now.
Newcastle 1-0 Chelsea
12:09 , Giuseppe Muro6 mins: A concern for Newcastle. Barnes goes down for Newcastle and needs treatment, but he gets back to his feet and is OK to continue.
Dom Smith
12:09A truly nightmarish start for Chelsea, and it's Lavia at fault for a needless pirouette in a dangerous position which always spelt trouble. Chelsea a goal down just one minute and 54 seconds into this vital visit to St James' Park. They can't afford to lose. They're losing.
GOAL! Newcastle 1-0 Chelsea | Tonali 2’
12:03 , Giuseppe MuroWhat a start for Newcastle! From that Chelsea corner, Newcastle break, Gordon races down the left and goes down under challenge from Caicedo. The referee waves play on but Newcastle recycle and Murphy crosses from the right for Tonali to score at the back post. Early problems for Chelsea
Newcastle 0-0 Chelsea
12:02 , Giuseppe Muro2 mins: Chelsea win an early corner on the right. Fernandez can’t beat the first man and it comes to nothing.
Kick-off!
12:011 min: Underway at St James’ Park on a big day for Chelsea in the North East!
Here come the two teams in beautiful sunshine at St James’ Park, which a sea of black and white. This feels like a huge game.
Maresca expecting to face ’very aggressive’ Newcastle side
11:54 , Giuseppe MuroEnzo Maresca has been speaking to TNT Sports ahead of the game.
“It's an important game for sure,” he said.
“It will be a tough game with a tough opponent who will be very aggressive, so hopefully we can be ready.”
Palmer has shown 'character and bravery'
11:46 , Giuseppe MuroCole Palmer ended a run of 1,162 minutes without a Premier League goal when he scored against Liverpool last weekend.
“This kid is such a talented player,” Joe Cole has just said on TNT Sports.
“You can’t help but love watching him play football. He has had a difficult time in terms of goals but he has shown character and bravery in that time because he has not shirked.
“He has stuck to his guns and he was outstanding against Liverpool last weekend.”
"He sees things other players don't see" ✨
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 11, 2025
Joe Cole and Peter Crouch analyse Cole Palmer's return to form, highlighting his display against Liverpool 🔵
🎙@lynseyhipgrave1 📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/HaMRGkj6vu
Enzo Maresca is entering a defining period of his Chelsea tenure.
Dom Smith explains why here.
Newcastle vs Chelsea stats
11:29 , Giuseppe Muro- Newcastle have earned 43 points from their last 20 fixtures, a tally surpassed only by Liverpool's 46.
- Alexander Isak has scored an unrivalled 19 goals among Premier League players since the start of December, while his 23 goal involvements in that period is second only to Mohamed Salah's 30.
- After a run of just four wins in 13 top-flight matches, Chelsea are unbeaten in six league games and have won three in a row for only the third time all season.
- No Chelsea player has been directly involved in more top-flight goals in 2025 than Enzo Fernandez's six (three goals and three assists).
Dom Smith
11:22No real surprise that Maresca has named the same line-up which so convincingly saw off the champions Liverpool last weekend. Chelsea were heavily rotated against Djurgarden for the second leg but the big guns are back in now for this crucial game.
Howe: A huge game for both clubs
11:13Eddie Howe has been soaking to TNT Sports ahead of the game.
“We know the importance of today’s game,” he said. “It is a huge game for both clubs.
“We just have to deliver a really good performance. It is going to be a tough game. Chelsea are a good team, they are in good form but so are we.”
Maresca hopes Chelsea are not left to rue missed chances
11:05 , Giuseppe MuroEnzo Maresca expressed frustration that his team's wastefulness in front of goal has left Champions League qualification in the balance.
The Blues have struggled at times to convert chances and though they go into today’s crunch game with their fate in their own hands, a top-five finish is far from assured.
Maresca has seen his side suffer a number of potentially costly slips this season, including dropping five points to relegated Ipswich and being the only team so far to lose at Portman Road, as well as a run of two wins from 10 between December and February during which they scored just 11 times.
Chelsea are locked together on 63 points with fourth-placed Newcastle and the pair are favourites to wrap up two of the remaining Champions League places.
However, both know a stumble could allow in Nottingham Forest or Aston Villa who are a point and three points behind respectively.
"The frustration is that we've had many games where we've created enough chances to win the game and we didn't win," said Maresca reflecting on his team's position.
"But now is not the moment to think about that. Now is the moment to win as much as we can in these last three games."
Newcastle vs Chelsea match odds
10:57 , Giuseppe MuroNewcastle to win: 13/10
Chelsea to win: 2/1
Draw: 13/5
Odds via Betfair (subject to change).
So no surprises that Chelsea are unchanged from their last two Premier League wins.
For Newcastle, Sven Botman makes his first Premier League start since January and Kieran Trippier and Joe Willock drop out through injury.
Team news
10:46 , Giuseppe MuroNewcastle XI: Pope; Botman, Schar, Burn, Livramento, Tonali, Guimaraes, Murphy, Barnes, Gordon, Isak
Subs: Dubravka, Ruddy, Lascelles, Wilson, Krafth, Osula, Longstaff, Miley, Neave
Chelsea XI: Sanchez, Caicedo, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella, Lavia, Fernandez, Neto, Palmer, Madueke; Jackson
Subs: Jorgensen, Gusto, James, Acheampong, Badiashile, Tosin, Dewsbury-Hall, George, Sancho
Team news on the way from St James’ Park shortly.
The scene is set at St James’ Park...
A beautiful day on Tyneside. ☀️#CFC | #NEWCHE pic.twitter.com/ESfi5hETuU
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) May 11, 2025
Maresca: Chelsea midfield a match for Newcastle stars
10:27 , Giuseppe MuroEnzo Maresca has said Chelsea already have a midfield capable of winning titles in the years to come.
For much of the season, Maresca has opted to play a three-man midfield of Cole Palmer and £222million duo Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez. Romeo Lavia, who is now back and available after a succession of injuries, has also featured at the base of midfield.
Newcastle boast one of the most impressive midfields in the Premier League, with the trio of Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali and Joelinton instrumental to their rise in recent seasons,
Maresca was this week asked whether his own options in that area of the pitch are equally as influential.
“For sure,” he replied. “I think after the Liverpool game some of you told me we had repeated the same starting XI from against Everton after six months. This is important to continue with the same players.
“We have Romeo back fit, Mois is doing well, Enzo is doing well and Cole is doing well. They have Bruno Guimaraes, Tonali, [Jacob] Murphy, Joelinton, [Joe] Willock. They have different kinds of players, and [Chelsea’s midfielders] expect a huge game.”
Asked whether he feels Chelsea have enough quality in midfield to challenge for titles, Maresca replied: “Absolutely, yes.”
How things stand in Champions League race
10:19 , Giuseppe MuroA reminder of how things stand in the battle to finish in the top five and qualify for the Champions League…
After third-placed Manchester City City could only draw 0-0 at Southampton yesterday, Pep Guardiola’s side are two points above Newcastle, Chelsea and Aston Villa.
Nottingham Forest are two points further back in sixth place.
Newcastle and Chelsea are level on points and goal difference with three games to play.
Head to head history and results
10:11Newcastle wins: 57
Chelsea wins: 81
Draws: 40
Prediction
10:03 , Giuseppe MuroThis is arguably the biggest game of the weekend, despite champions Liverpool hosting Arsenal later today.
Two teams capable of beating anyone of their day as they look to take a huge step towards qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
You worry for Newcastle without Joelinton, while Alexander Isak is not lighting up the league of late.
Form has started to wobble, and the same cannot be said for Chelsea who have earned three impressive victories on the bounce.
Chelsea will surely score at least once and an early goal could see Newcastle knees start to wobble.
Chelsea to win, 2-1.
Chelsea team news
09:55 , Giuseppe MuroEnzo Maresca will bring back his Chelsea big guns at St James’ Park.
Maresca fielded a much-changed side for Thursday’s Conference League semi-final second-leg win over Djurgarden at Stamford Bridge.
Marc Cucurella could be the only man to keep his place from the game against Djurgarden, having started in midfield on Thursday, but is likely to return to left-back.
Newcastle team news
09:47 , Giuseppe MuroFabian Schar and Kieran Trippier are fit after suffering cramp late on in last weekend’s 1-1 draw at Brighton.
Eddie Howe has said Joelinton is recovering well from the knee injury that was originally expected to rule him out for the rest of the season.
How to watch
09:39 , Giuseppe MuroTV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on TNT Sports 1, with coverage starting at 11am for a 12pm midday kick-off.
Live stream: TNT Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the Discovery+ app and website.
Good afternoon!
09:30 , Giuseppe MuroHello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Newcastle vs Chelsea!
It’s a huge day in the battle to qualify for the Champions League. Five teams are separated by just four points as they chase three spots below Liverpool and Arsenal. So this is a big one.
We’ll have all the latest updates, build-up and team news right here, ahead of kick-off which comes at 12pm BST from St James’ Park.
