Key events
If you thought I wasn’t going to share this goal again, you were very much mistaken.
An absolute worldie from 2012 from one of my favourite players in the league’s history.
It’s been a week of managers publicly blasting their players.
OK, maybe blasting is a bit strong. But both Eddie Howe and Enzo Maresca have singled out big players and have asked them to pull up their socks.
Maresca said he “expected more” from Reece James, adding that the Blues’ dressing room lacked a “proper leader”. Yeowch!
Meanwhile, Howe told Alexander Isak to “focus on football” as the out-of-form Swedish striker unsure on his future at the club.
With an average age of 23 years and 220 days, Chelsea’s starting XI across the season is the youngest in Premier League history.
They’re currently ahead of David O’Leary’s Leeds who finished third in 2000 with an average starting XI aged 24 years and 162 days.
Newcastle team
Two changes as well for Newcastle from their last outing.
They’re both on the wings with Jacob Murphy making way for Miguel Almiron on the left.
Big news on the right. Anthony Gordon is out with a groin injury and is replaced by Harvey Barnes.
Newcastle: Pope; Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall; Tonali, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Almiron, Isak, Barnes.
Subs: Odysseas, Ruddy, Krafth, Osula, Murphy, Kelly, Willock, Longstaff, Miley.
Chelsea team
Two changes to the side that lost to Liverpool last week.
Wesley Fofana comes into the back four in place of Tosin Adarabioyo. In midfield, Pedro Neto replaces Jadon Sancho on the left.
Chelsea: Sanchez; James, Fofana, Colwill, Gusto; Lavia, Caicedo; Madueke, Palmer, Neto; Jackson.
Subs: Jorgensen, Tosin, Veiga, Cucurella, Enzo, Mudryk, Sancho, Felix, Nkunku.
Preamble
Daniel Gallan
On paper, this looks like a cracking contest. Two flawed but enterprising teams, both filled with attacking talent and the ever-present risk of implosion. If you’re a neutral this is exactly what you want for the Sunday 2pm slot under gorgeous blue skies in London.
Both Chelsea and Newcastle are also after redemption. The Blues went down 2-1 to Liverpool last time out in the league while the Mapgies suffered a shock 1-0 reverse at home to Brighton.
Chelsea, currently seventh, could move up to fourth above Arsenal (at least temporarily). Newcastle have had a pretty shambolic start to their campaign and will be desperate for at least a point that would lift them into the top half of the table. A defeat, though, could see them finish the weekend in 13th.
To be frank, anything other than a Chelsea win would come as a surprise. The Blues have not lost a home league game to Newcastle since 2012 and the visitors have struggled for goals recently. But, as the great F1 commentator Murray Walker famously quipped, anything can happen and it usually does.
Kick-off at 2pm BST. Lineups and more news to come.