Chelsea v Newcastle Team News

Chelsea will hope to make it four wins in a row in all competitions when they host Newcastle on Saturday afternoon. The Blues seem to have found their form under Frank Lampard, with the 41-year-old’s faith in youth clearly paying off after his hand was forced by the club’s transfer ban.

Opposite number Steve Bruce could only dream of Lampard’s resources although his side have beaten both Tottenham and Manchester United 1-0 this season, seemingly saving their best performances for the big teams.

N’Golo Kante is back in contention after missing the 4-1 pre-international break win at Southampton, while defenders Andreas Christensen and Antonio Rudiger are both expected to be in contention following groin issues.

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While Chelsea are fifth in the table, the Magpies are 16th, just a single point above the relegation spots. Despite those successes against Spurs and the Red Devils, United seem destined for a season battling the drop due to defeats to the likes of Norwich and home draws against Watford and Brighton.

Bruce is likely to stick with the XI that beat United, meaning match-winner Matty Longstaff should partner brother Sean in central midfield. Isaac Hayden is suspended and an ankle injury continues to sideline Matt Ritchie.

The Magpies have a poor recent record at Stamford Bridge, losing on their last six trips at an aggregate deficit of 17-3.

In fact, they have won just one of their last 25 games at the ground in the Premier League, a famous 2-0 success in 2012, and their only victory in the last seven meetings between the pair came in Antonio Conte’s final game in charge, a 3-0 win in May 2018.

If Bruce’s men are to get the points, they will have to turn the tables on another piece of history, with the boss having lost all 17 games when his various sides faced Lampard during the Chelsea boss’ playing days. 00