Chelsea and Newcastle are both level on points and on course to secure a place in next season’s Champions League but with Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa breathing down their neck, neither team can afford to drop points with just three games to go.
The home team are fourth with 63 points in their 35 outings. Eddie Howe’s men have done a great job throughout the season and they are just a point behind third-placed Manchester City. While a UEFA Champions League spot is very much in their reach, the final weeks could have a big say on where they finish in the table.
Having won just one out of their last three games, they need to ensure they don’t drop any more points. Newcastle played out a 1-1 draw against Brighton last time out and they will certainly have to do much better to take down Chelsea.
The visitors are level on points with the Magpies but they currently occupy the fifth spot in the table (final Champions League spot). They have been on a roll of late, winning each of their last three fixtures and are reading into this one on the back of a massive win over Liverpool in the league.
They even managed to secure a spot in the UEFA Europa Conference League final thanks to a convincing 5-1 win on aggregate against Djurgårdens. The Blues are high on confidence and will certainly make life difficult for Newcastle.
Following this clash, Chelsea will face Manchester United and Nottingham, while the Magpies will face Arsenal and Everton. With difficult fixtures lined up and the Tricky Trees just two points behind them, this fixture could have a massive say on who secures a Champions League spot. The Hard Tackle takes a close look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could deploy.
Newcastle will be without quite a few of their key players as Joelinton has joined Jamaal Lascelles, Matt Targett and Lewis Hall on the sidelines. Meanwhile, Fabian Schar’s availability is also a major doubt. If he isn’t back in time, Sven Botman could replace him in the XI.
The home team will line up in a 4-3-3 formation, where Nick Pope will be in goal. Tino Livramento and Kieran Trippier will be the full-backs, while Fabian Schar and Dan Burn will feature in the heart of the defence.
Joe Willock will continue in the centre of the park alongside Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes. The trio will look to ensure they have more of the ball and control the tempo of the game. Anthony Gordon and Jacob Murphy should feature on the flanks, with the in-demand Alexander Isak leading the line for Newcastle United against Chelsea at St. James’ Park on Sunday afternoon.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Pope; Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento; Guimaraes, Tonali, Willock; Murphy, Isak, Gordon
The Blues will be without the services of Christopher Nkunku, Wesley Fofana and Aaron Anselmino. Meanwhile, they do have a boost as Marc Guiu is back available.
Enzo Maresca deployed Moises Caicedo as a full-back against Liverpool and he could once again use him in that role with a license to drift into the midfield when they enjoy decent possession.
They will stick to the 4-2-3-1 formation, where Robert Sanchez will be in goal. Caicedo and Marc Cucurella will be the full-backs. In the heart of the defence, Nathaniel Chalobah will partner with Levi Colwill.
Romeo Lavia will start alongside Enzo Fernandez in the double pivot in midfield. Lavia will take care of the defensive side of things, while Fernandez will look to initiate attacks.
Pedro Neto and Noni Madueke should feature on the flanks, while Cole Palmer will take up the number ten role. Nicolas Jackson spearhead the Chelsea attack against Newcastle United on Sunday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Caicedo, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; Lavia, Fernandez; Neto, Palmer, Madueke; Jackson
The 25-year-old Swedish striker has been on fire for Newcastle this season. He has been involved in a total of 40 matches across competitions and has contributed towards 33 goals. Since the Magpies are without a few of their first-team stars, Isak will certainly have to step up and help his team go past a star-studded Chelsea outfit that have been playing some incredible football of late.
Isak might have five fewer goals than Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, but he is level with him when it comes to match-winning goals (nine) in the 2024/25 season. More importantly, no player in the EPL has more home goals than the Swedish striker (12). Having scored in each of his last four games against Chelsea, he is certainly the one to watch out for.
With both sides level on points and Champions League qualification hanging in the balance, this promises to be a fiercely contested battle. Newcastle have turned St James’ Park into a fortress in recent weeks and will back themselves to continue that strong run.
However, their injury concerns and shaky recent form could leave them vulnerable against a confident Chelsea side. The Blues are flying high after a dominant display against Liverpool and a spot in the UEFA Conference League final. They’ve found their rhythm at just the right time and will look to pile the pressure on the Magpies.
Given what’s at stake and the quality both teams possess, a high-intensity draw seems the most likely outcome. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-2 draw in this fixture.
