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Chelsea vs Newcastle match preview: Prediction, team news, injuries and line up
Chelsea take on Newcastle in the Premier League today and Express Sport in hand with the match preview.
Premier League action returns this weekend following the latest international break.
Chelsea secured a 4-1 at Southampton last time out to move into fifth place in the table.
Newcastle, meanwhile, stunned Manchester United a fortnight ago with a 1-0 win.
The result moved Steve Bruce’s side out of the relegation zone.
What do the stats say?
Chelsea have on their last six Premier League home games against the Magpies, scoring 17 times in the process and conceding three.
Newcastle have won just once in their last 25 league visits to Stamford Bridge, claiming 2-0 victory under Alan Pardew in 2012.
Toon boss Bruce has won just one of his 21 Premier League meetings with Chelsea (D5 L15), however, this did come at Stamford Bridge in November 2010 (3-0 with Sunderland).
Chelsea vs Newcastle team news
Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger is nearing a return from a knee injury but this game may come too soon.
N’Golo Kante is a doubt after suffering a muscle strain on international duty with France.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Achilles), Emerson Palmieri (thigh), Marco Van Ginkel (knee) remain sidelined.
As for Newcastle, Matt Ritchie misses out with an ankle injury while Florian Lejeune is doubtful with a knee problem.
Isaac Hayden will serve the second of his three-match ban.
Chelsea: Emerson returns to training for Newcastle clash
The line ups are due to be announced one hour before kick-off.
These are our predictions for the teams Frank Lampard and Bruce will pick:
Chelsea XI: Kepa; Azpilicueta, Tomori, Rudiger, Alonso; Jorginho, Kovacic, Mount; Willian, Abraham, Hudson-Odoi.
Newcastle XI: Dubravka; Yedlin, Schar, Lascelles, Clark, Willems; Almiron, M. Longstaff, S. Longstaff, Saint-Maximin; Joelinton.
What is our match prediction?
Chelsea have hit form after a slow start to Lampard’s tenure, winning their last four games.
Despite the confidence Newcastle will have gained from beating United, this should be a much sterner test for Bruce and his men.
Prediction: Chelsea 2-0 Newcastle