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(Picture: ES Composite)Chelsea are back in Premier League action today as Frank Lampard’s side face a trip to Newcastle United.
The Blues headed into the international break on a four-game winning streak, with Lampard’s new-look squad beginning to click at both ends of the pitch following over £200million of spending in the summer transfer window.
Hakim Ziyech in particular has looked an astute buy for the Blues, and they will be looking for another victory at St James’ Park to kick off the weekend’s top-flight action.
Date, time and venue
Newcastle vs Chelsea is scheduled for a 12:30pm GMT kick-off today (Saturday, November 21, 2020).
The match will be held behind closed doors at St James’ Park.
How to watch
TV channel: The match will be televised on BT Sport 1, with coverage from 11:30am this morning.
Live stream: BT Sport subscribers will be able to watch the match online via the video player and the BT Sport app.
Team news
Newcastle XI: Darlow, Manquillo, Fernandez, Lascelles, Clark, Lewis, Murphy, Hayden, Sean Longstaff, Saint-Maximin, Joelinton
Subs: Schar, Carroll, Shelvey, Hendrick, Krafth, Almiron, Gillespie
Chelsea XI: Mendy, James, Zouma, Rudiger, Chilwell, Kovacic, Kante, Mount, Ziyech, Abraham, Werner
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Christensen, Jorginho, Giroud, Hudson-Odoi, Azpilicueta, Emerson Palmieri
Referee: Craig Pawson
Prediction: Newcastle 1-3 Chelsea
The Blues were on a roll before the international break, so form will obviously be impacted by that - but Chelsea will be expected to pick up another three points on the road.
If Thiago Silva misses out, Newcastle will fancy their chances of causing problems. Still, Chelsea’s attack should be too strong, especially with Hakim Ziyech is such good form.
Expert view: Alan Smith
With players returning from all over the globe at different times and with different levels of fatigue, this isn’t the ideal fixture for Chelsea.
No sooner has everyone got back and they’ve got to leave again, catching a Friday flight for Saturday’s early kick-off. Still, this is where coaches earn their money.
Not only have they got to pick the right team, they’ve got to make sure that everyone switches back to club mode and remembers the messages that had been drummed in. Frank Lampard was just beginning to see the fruits of his work before the break.
His Chelsea team had tightened up to concede less goals. Another clean sheet at St James’ Park would surely mean three points for his side.
Head to head (h2h) history and results
Premier League meetings: 50
Newcastle wins: 13
Chelsea wins: 25
Draws: 12
Last meeting: Newcastle 1-0 Chelsea, January 18, 2020.
Bettings odds and tips (subject to change)
Newcastle win: 6/1
Chelsea win: 8/15
Draw: 4/1
Odds via Betfair Exchange. Click here to find out more.
This weekend get a £10 free bet with Betfair, when you bet £10 on a Same Game Multi on the Premier League.
Terms: Min £10 Same Game Multi bet on any EPL match this Fri - Sun. Free bet valid for 72 hours, awarded at bet settlement. Excludes cashed out bets. T&Cs apply.
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