Pre-brief & Chelsea team news for Newcastle

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With Newcastle United paying a visit to Stamford Bridge in this round of fixtures in the premier league we look ahead to Chelsea's quest to keep their current good run of results going. 


The final action to conclude the weekends premier league games comes on Monday night as Chelsea face Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge. This is the 150th league meeting between the two sides since the first league meeting in 1907. Chelsea have taken all three points from Newcastle's 18 premier league visits, more than Chelsea have done against any other visiting team apart from Tottenham.

Chelsea's hard fought in at Sheffield United on Sunday lifted Chelsea to fifth in the premier league, only a point behind fourth placed Liverpool. Thomas Tuchel stated 'We are now the hunters', on Saturday Leicester hosted Liverpool and Manchester City played Tottenham who are currently in eighth in the evening with the chase very much on.

The game provides an opportunity for Chelsea to secure a third league double of 2020/21 and only the third over Newcastle throughout the 21st century. Chelsea won the reverse fixture 2-0 at St James Park in November thanks to a own goal from Fernandez and a second half strike from the man who netted Chelsea's winner at Barnsley Tammy Abraham. 

Team news for Chelsea 

Whilst Newcastle had a free midweek, Chelsea were made to work hard for an FA Cup victory over Barnsley, however, lacked the usual quality in achieving this on an unreliable Oakwell surface. In the second half Thomas Tuchel switched from a back three to a 4-1-4-1 in order to help the team to rotate the ball quicker and play faster and further upfield. 

The increased aggression and drive from Billy Gilmour provided the tone for Tammy Abraham's decisive strike which received the stamp 'Made in Cobham'. However it was the defensive Drogba-esque clearance of the goal line which sealed Chelsea's victory. 

Barnsley were both direct and physical, but with the visit of  Newcastle United will mean a revert back to the low block which Chelsea have faced more often in the premier league, given that Newcastle manager Steve Bruce's first-choice players have been hit by both injury and suspension. 

Timo Werner was rested in Yorkshire after suffering a dead leg but should be ready to face Newcastle. Sheffield United's Aaron Ramsdale clattering into the German at Bramall Lane resulting in his fourth penalty kick won in the premier league and his seventh in all competitions.

This is exactly half of Chelsea's overall total for this season. The other penalties have been won by  Tammy Abraham  (2) Olivier Giroud, Kai Havertz and Mason Mount (all 1) and two being for handball (one being a Tammy Abraham shot, the other by Christian Pulisic).

All four attempts from Timo Werner have been on target. Though the German has not found the net he is contributing to the team in other ways, for instance winning a penalty and providing an assist for a goal at Sheffield United. In that same game academy graduate Mason Mount became the youngest Chelsea player to achieve double figures in premier league goals since Arjen Robben. 

Though the initial line-up may revert to one for familiar in the league , on Thursday we saw N'Golo Kante given his first start under Thomas Tuchel , who he considers as one of the best midfielders in the world. The ability of Kante to win the ball back could prove to be the difference against a depleted Newcastle , who are often vulnerable when caught in possession. The Magpies have fallen victim 6 times from goals started by counter-attacks, the most in the premier league.

The absence of Thiago Silva will mean that Andreas Christensen will continue at the back three which has contributed four clean sheets in 5 outings. No player from the opposition has scored against Thomas Tuchel side so far, with the Blues allowing an average of only five shots per game, this is half of the shots allowed last season.

Marcos Alonso recalled back to the team by Tuchel, scored the games only goal in this fixture last season whilst playing as a left-back.

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Location: London, UK

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