Newcastle vs Chelsea: Match preview, predicted line-ups, quotes, form, injuries and how to watch

When and where to watch Newcastle vs Chelsea

Newcastle vs Chelsea kicks off at 5.30pm on Saturday 12 November.

You can catch all the action from St James' Park on NOW via BT TV.

Newcastle vs Chelsea match preview 

This feels like a big game.

Under the lights at St James' Park on Saturday evening we'll see if Newcastle really are, as Pep Guardiola believes, title challengers. 

The match could represent a fork in the road for both sides.

With the Blues record when it comes to managers, three league defeats in a row is unlikely to go unnoticed by the hierarchy at Stamford Bridge - though that's just as likely to mean more signings in January as it is a P45 for Graham Potter. 

Defeat for Chelsea would represent a big blow for their top four hopes with Newcaslte themselves looking to gatecrash that particular party.

With Arsenal and Man City looking nailed on to finish in the top four, that only leaves two spaces for the likes of Newcastle, Tottenham, Chelsea, Man United and Liverpool to fight over. 

Eddie Howe has worked wonders in a relatively short space of time and Potter will be hoping that with time and patience he can bring success to Chelsea. 

With the World Cup around the corner, this woud be a great time for Potter to end their poor run of form. 

The Geordie faithful will be hoping to wave the club's international stars off to Qatar with a win under their belts. 

Newcastle vs Chelsea predicted line-ups

Newcastle: (4-3-3) Pope; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn, Sean Longstaff, Guimaraes, Joelinton, Almiron, Wilson, Saint-Maximin.

Chelsea: (3-4-2-1) Mendy; Azpilicueta, Silva, Chalobah, Loftus-Cheek, Jorginho, Kovacic, Cucurella, Sterling, Mount, Aubameyang.

Newcastle vs Chelsea: Injuries and suspensions

Joelinton returns for Newcastle after serving a one-match suspension against Southampton last weekend. 

There are no new injuries for Howe to contend with, and the likes of Allan Saint-Maximin and Jonjo Shelvey got some game time at the weekend after recently recovering from injuries. 

Callum Wilson was taken off against Southampton after feeling unwell during the week, but should be rested enough to play against Chelsea and will be boosted by his inclusion in England's World Cup squad. 

Similarly, the Blues have a lot of long-term injury issues, but nothing new to report. 

Ben Chilwell, Wesley Fofana, Reece James and Kepa Arrizabalaga are all expected to be out until after the World Cup. 

Newcastle vs Chelsea: Form guide

Newcastle's fantastic form under Howe this season continues - they've still only lost once and even that was a close call - a 98th-minute defeat to Liverpool at Anfield. 

They've also won their last four matches and scored at least four goals in four of their last seven matches. 

That great goalscoring record, which Miguel Almiron, Wilson and Bruno Guimaraes have contributed greatly to, is coupled with the best defensive record in the league (equal with Arsenal).

It's a winning combination and sees the Magpies currently sitting third in the Premier League as the club strives to make it into the Champions League.

They've already beaten Spurs and drawn with both Manchester clubs - a win against Chelsea and things could get very exciting for the Geordie faithful after the World Cup.

Chelsea are on a dreadful run of form, picking up just two points from a possible 12 in their last four matches. They've also lost their last two and were knocked out of the Carabao Cup to Man City in mid-week. 

Three league defeats in a row would certainly put Potter under pressure and results would have to pick up quickly after the World Cup.

Chelsea are expected to secure Champions League football next season at the very least - a competiton they've looked much better in under Potter. 

Newcastle vs Chelsea: Last time they met

Chelsea beat Newcastle twice last season, the last time was in March when Kai Havertz struck in the 89th-minute to seal all three points for Thomas Tuchel's team at Stamford Bridge.

That was the first defeat for Newcastle in 10 matches. 

At St James' Park in October 2021, Chelsea won 3-0 with two goals from James and a Jorginho penalty all coming in the second half. 

Graeme Jones was in charge of the Magpies that day after Steve Bruce was sacked earlier in the month following the takeover at St James' Park. 

He said what?!

Graham Potter on what Chelsea lacked against Arsenal at the weekend:

"We lacked quality but the effort was there and we were beaten by the better team today.

"We huffed and puffed but you could see the difference between the two teams in terms of confidence, structure and work together.

"We’re not in a fantastic moment as we speak and in the end Arsenal deserved to win because they were the better team overall. We have to take that and use it as motivation to improve."

Newcastle vs Chelsea: Players to watch

With the World Cup just around the corner, there's lots of players to keep your eye on in this fixture.

From an England point-of-view Kieran Tripper could well start when England face Iran on 21 November, while Nick Pope and Wilson are likely to be on the bench. 

Brazil fans can look forward to seeing Bruno Guimaraes wearing that iconic yellow shirt. Joelinton didn't make Brazil's 26-man squad. 

Chelsea's Thiago Silva will be heading to his fourth World Cup for Brazil, while Mason Mount and Raheem Sterling look likely to make Gareth Southgate's starting 11 to face Iran. 

Newcastle vs Chelsea: Key stats

• Chelsea have won seven of their last eight Premier League games against Newcastle (L1), including the last four in a row without conceding.

• Newcastle are playing a Premier League game starting the day in the top three for the first time since November 2011, losing 3-1 at league-leaders Manchester City. This is the first time they're facing Chelsea while above them in the table since May 2012, and a 2-0 victory at Stamford Bridge.

• Chelsea have lost their last two Premier League games, as many as they had in their previous 15 (W8 D5). The Blues haven't lost three consecutive league games since November 2015, under José Mourinho. 

• Only five clubs have had fewer shots in the Premier League this season than Chelsea (151), with their average of 11.6 shots-per-game their lowest on record in a single campaign (since 1997-98). Meanwhile, only Liverpool and Manchester City have had more shots than Newcastle (208), with their average of 14.9 shots-per-game their highest since 2013-14 (15.2).

• Chelsea striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been involved in nine goals in nine appearances against Newcastle in all competitions, scoring six and assisting three. Against no side has he been involved in more goals in English football. 

• Chelsea’s Raheem Sterling has been involved in six goals in his last six Premier League appearances against Newcastle, scoring five and assisting one. Only against Bournemouth and Watford (9 each) has he scored more Premier League goals than his eight against Newcastle. 

• Only Kevin De Bruyne (45) and Andreas Pereira (34) have created more chances for teammates in the Premier League this season than Newcastle's Kieran Trippier (32). The England full-back’s 32 chances created is at least twice as many as any other Newcastle player this season.