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Key occasions
Within the return fixture, a 2-1 win for Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, Cole Palmer performed one of many passes of the season. As no one as soon as stated, genius gonna genius.
“G’day Rob,” writes Chris Paraskevas, our antipodean Geordie. “Hope you’re properly! Presently out with Mum for dinner (Mom’s Day festivities… obtained her a gift within the hope it’ll rating me an early mark… not that she runs my life, I’m an grownup now.)
“Gordon and Botman coming again is heartening, though Trippier had actually performed his method into type in latest weeks. Whether or not Burn will likely be uncovered in that left-back spot is the large query, although he’s deceptively cell.
“This can be a large sport for us: a win would virtually get us to that essential UCL spot however a loss might be catastrophic (significantly if we begin taking part in poorly and I’m in public).
“I higher get going: Num is gazing me.”
I wonder if the formation is a again 5, with Livramento at left wing-back (towards the right-footed Neto) and Murphy at proper wing-back towards the left-footed Madueke.
Learn Louise Taylor and Jacob Steinberg’s preview
Who must shine if they’re to win?
Chelsea: Nothing fancy right here – you may’t look previous Cole Palmer. The 23-year-old makes Chelsea tick and his mojo was again towards Liverpool. A late penalty ended an 18-match objective drought and there was encouragement from a efficiency stuffed with Palmer’s trademark artistic genius.
Not that Chelsea are a one-man staff. Moisés Caicedo was named the membership’s participant of the yr final week. The midfielder has continued to excel since being deployed as an auxiliary right-back. The ploy has allowed Enzo Maresca to place Romeo Lavia subsequent to Enzo Fernández, who has been in high-quality goalscoring type. Nicolas Jackson’s return from a hamstring damage has additionally sharpened the assault. As for the defence, Levi Colwill and Trevoh Chalobah should be at their greatest towards Alexander Isak.
Crew information
Two enforced adjustments for Newcastle from the draw at Brighton final weekend. Sven Botman and Anthony Gordon change the injured pair of Kieran Trippier and Joe Willock. That both means a change of formation (4-2-3-1? 3-4-3?) or a transfer again into midfield for Jacob Murphy.
Botman hasn’t began a sport for the reason that Carabao Cup semi-final win over Arsenal in early February; Gordon is again within the XI for the primary time since being despatched off towards Brighton within the FA Cup on 2 March.
Chelsea follow the staff that beat Liverpool 3-1.
Newcastle (doable 3-4-3) Pope; Schar, Botman, Burn; Murphy, Bruno Guimaraes Tonali, Livramento; Gordon, Isak, Barnes.
Substitutes: Dubravka, Ruddy, Lascelles, Wilson, Krafth, Osula, Longstaff, Miley, Neave.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1) Sanchez; Caicedo, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; Lavia, Enzo; Neto, Palmer, Madueke; Jackson.
Substitutes: Jorgensen, Tosin, Badiashile, Acheampong, Gusto, James, Dewsbury-Corridor, Sancho, George.
Referee John Brooks.
Preamble
Right here we’ve an English top-flight match performed in mid-Might between the groups in fourth and fifth place. As soon as upon a time that might have been a useless rubber. Dodo-dead. Doornail-dead. Lifeless.
Not anymore. Newcastle and Chelsea meet at St James’ Park this lunchtime in a match that’s alive with significance, narrative and – how may we overlook – chilly, arduous, PSR-eligible money.
Each groups are determined to qualify for the Champions League subsequent season; each know that, in the event that they lose, they are going to most likely end the day exterior the highest 5. With three video games to go they’re stage on factors and objective distinction, with Newcastle forward on targets scored. That’s the place the similarities finish. The conflict of types – Newcastle’s excessive tempo towards Chelsea’s affected person possession – provides one other layer to the competition.
The shortage of a title race – at one time we thought Liverpool v Arsenal can be a decider – or relegation battle has additionally elevated the anticipation forward of this sport.. It’s not Liverpool v Arsenal in 1989, certain, and even the alternate-reality Liverpool v Arsenal in 2025. However the mouth by no means lies, and proper now it’s watering big-time.
Kick off 12pm.
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