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Key occasions
30 min Caicedo once more fouls Gordon, this time a gratuitous if comparatively comfortable kick from behind. He’s very fortunate he hasn’t been booked.
28 min Palmer tries a really imaginative lengthy cross, designed to place Madueke by means of on purpose. Murphy tracks his run and ushers the ball by means of to Pope.
Chelsea are having much more of the ball now, although it’s largely with Newcastle’s permission. The distinction in types is actually fascinating.
26 min Barnes, off stability, shoots straight at Sanchez after a great run infield from Murphy. Most likely about 0.1 on the previous xG.
23 min Newcastle performed this technique in opposition to Arsenal within the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final and they’re utilizing precisely the identical ways: ferocious begin, early purpose, then sit deep together with your again 5 and choose them off on the break.
21 min Murphy (I feel) shapes a superb cross round Cucurella in the direction of Barnes, forcing Sanchez to cost out of his space and clear. Glorious sweeper-keeping.
20 min Palmer has a long-range shot deflected extensive. Newcastle are nonetheless on high however there have been one or two promising indicators for Chelsea.
19 min: Probability for Isak! An extended free-kick is headed again throughout purpose by Botman in the direction of Isak, 12 yards out and simply past the far publish. He slams the bouncing ball into the bottom and Sanchez makes a snug save.
I believed the bounce made it an ungainly likelihood however Ally McCoist on TNT Sports activities thinks he ought to have accomplished higher. Solely one among us scored 13 targets on the astroturf at Latimer Street on 29 July 2002, that’s all I’m saying.
17 min Chelsea out of the blue discover themselves with a three-on-three break. Neto performs a great cross throughout the sphere to Jackson, who takes a heavy contact after which overhits his cross.
16 min Chelsea simply want to remain within the recreation. They know Newcastle can’t maintain this tempo for 90 minutes, but when they get one other purpose quickly they may not must.
13 min Barnes performs a one-two with Isak and stands up a deep cross that’s headed in the direction of the sting of the world by Caicedo. Guimaraes shapes to put it off, then tries a shock chest-volley that goes over the bar. Good thought.
12 min “Attention-grabbing to notice that the complete Chelsea outfield defenders all have names starting with C,” says Jeremy Boyce. “Not solely that, they’ve kindly organized themselves in alphabetical order by second letter: a, h, o and u. Not that it’s accomplished them a lot good within the opening minutes…”
Are you calling them a cack 4?
11 min Gordon storms away from Neto and cuts the ball again to Livramento simply inside the world. He can’t determine whether or not to shoot or cross and ultimately does neither.
Anthony Gordon is on hearth.
10 min Caicedo fouls Gordon, who seems to be extraordinarily sharp, and is perhaps lucky to keep away from a yellow card. Moments later, Barnes’ shot from the sting of the world is blocked by Colwill. Newcastle have made their trademark blistering begin at St James’.
7 min Barnes is okay. Seems it was a conflict of knees with Chalobah so he simply wanted a few minutes for the ache to subside.
6 min That actually was one of the best of Sandro Tonali, significantly the way in which he swarmed throughout Romeo Lavia to win the ball again. What a superb participant he’s, and what psychological power he has proven after
5 min Harvey Barnes is down and wishes therapy. Doesn’t look nice.
The nook was cleared and Gordon hared down the sphere, all the way in which into the world. He went down after a lean/shove from Caicedo, prompting an enormous shout for a penalty that was turned down. Tonali received the free ball off Lavia simply outdoors the penalty space and rapidly gave it to Isak. He swept it out to the correct wing-back Murphy, who slid an outstanding low cross into the house between goalkeepers and defenders.
It was missed by the lunging Isak within the center and reached Tonali, who had backed up the play, 5 yards out on the far publish. He shocked a first-time shot into the bottom and over the diving Sanchez. No thought whether or not he meant that end but it surely labored completely as a result of Sanchez was already on his approach down.
GOAL! Newcastle 1-0 Chelsea (Tonali 2)
The Chelsea nook results in a purpose – for Newcastle!
1 min Chelsea kick off from left to proper as we watch and win a nook inside 20 seconds. Newcastle have began, as we anticipated, with three centre-backs.
A cracking stat from Darren Fletcher on TNT Sports activities. That is the primary time since December 2018 that Chelsea have named the identical aspect for 3 consecutive Premier League video games. And that crew, because you requested, was:
Kepa; Azpilicueta, David Luiz, Rudiger, Alonso; Kante, Jorginho, Kovacic; Willian, Pedro, Hazard.
A reminder of the groups, who’re strolling into the Newcastle sunshine as I kind.
Newcastle (attainable 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.
“4 of the Chelsea again 5 performed for Brighton (Sanchez, Caicedo, Colwill on mortgage, Cucurella),” notes Simon Dobinson. “Did all of them play for Brighton on the identical time? In the event that they stayed at Brighton would Brighton now be in a Champions League spot? Do Chelsea followers assume £220m is worth for cash?
“After all, you could possibly add Dan Burn to that record as properly, and though Sanchez is a legal responsibility a again 5 of Sanchez – Caicedo – Colwill – Burn – Cucurella is a reasonably strong Brighton defence. They may all be taking part in Champions League subsequent 12 months and Brighton will as soon as once more be difficult for .. um .. tenth?!
“Good previous Sussex by the ocean …”
So are we now saying Brighton lack ambition? That’s a volcanic take. Btw I don’t assume they performed collectively – I feel Cucurella was bought the identical summer time that Colwill joined on mortgage.
“Was questioning over the week, the place I watched my membership exit of the Champions League with power however not fairly sufficient of it, I did surprise… Would Newcastle do properly in opposition to this PSG crew?” writes Kieran McKintosh. “Bodily midfields. Lightning-quick ahead traces. Towering defenders. PSG have the higher goalie, however apart from that I did surprise if Newcastle have the instruments to present them extra of a run for his or her cash.”
They thrashed them final season, didn’t they? A distinct PSG, I realise, but it surely helps your argument. I used to be shocked simply how a lot Arsenal’s quick begin unnerved PSG on Wednesday evening. That stated, I nonetheless assume they’re one of the best crew in Europe and I wonder if Inter’s strategy may be more practical. For those who go after PSG, the probabilities are you’ll be picked off, what, 9 instances out of 10?
And Enzo Maresca’s
Now we have three extra video games so this received’t outline the season, however for positive this is a vital recreation.
We performed Everton and Liverpool with the identical crew as right this moment. They’re doing properly and it’s good to proceed that.
We anticipate a tricky recreation. Good surroundings, robust opponent. They are going to be very, very aggressive, we all know that, so hopefully we might be prepared.
Eddie Howe’s pre-match ideas
[Is it a season-defining game?] Yeah, I feel it’s. We all know the significance of the sport. You possibly can see how tightly packed it’s, particularly after yesterday’s outcomes. The onus is on to interrupt that down and give attention to the sport.
[On the absence of Trippier and Willock] They each have minor accidents from our final recreation. Hopefully we’ll see them earlier than the tip of the season; there’s no assure on that. However we herald two excellent gamers (Botman and Gordon). Slight readjustment however hopefully the 2 guys who are available in will play properly.
They’ve received actually good attacking gamers, good tempo of their crew. We anticipate a extremely good recreation right this moment. We’re at dwelling so we have to use that to our benefit.
Louise Taylor
An unusually heat north east solar implies that there are lots of males in shorts heading to St James’ Park. Lots of them can have taken benefit of Newcastle’s supply of a free pint of beer or cider or a bottled comfortable drink to these arriving on the floor earlier than 11am. The thought is to elevate what membership executives concern may very well be a barely muted environment forward of an unusually early kick off.
Presumably they really feel the next launch of inhibitions will encourage Eddie Howe’s gamers, whereas the preliminary outlay is more likely to be recouped by followers shopping for second and third pints. The fascinating factor on this assumption is that the 2022 World Cup in Doha was successfully dry however, for all of the authentic criticisms round Qatar internet hosting the match, the environment inside stadiums was glorious.
No alcohol was wanted to get the stands rocking – and a further profit was that it created a a lot safer surroundings, for girls particularly. Furthermore on a day when, being Sunday, public transport is restricted – and non existent in some areas – and a excessive proportion of followers will drive to the sport is it actually smart to encourage them to drink?
On the pitch for this Excessive Midday duel with Chelsea there’s a blow for Newcastle because the latterly influential Kieran Trippier has failed a health check. This dictates Dan Burn will virtually definitely begin at left again, leaving Tino Livramento to revert to the correct. With Joe Willock additionally out injured, Howe recollects Anthony Gordon for his first begin since March. With Jacob Murphy and Harvey Barnes additionally beginning, which means Newcastle have three wingers on the pitch.
The Champions League mini-league desk
It’s auto-generated, I’m not trolling Brentford.
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 person as soon as stated, genius gonna genius.
“G’day Rob,” writes Chris Paraskevas, our antipodean Geordie. “Hope you’re properly! At present out with Mum for dinner (Mom’s Day festivities… received 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 approach into kind in latest weeks. Whether or not Burn shall be uncovered in that left-back spot is the large query, although he’s deceptively cell.
“This can be a huge recreation for us: a win would virtually get us to that essential UCL spot however a loss may very well be catastrophic (significantly if we begin taking part in poorly and I’m in public).
“I higher get going: Num is observing me.”
I wonder if the formation is a again 5, with Livramento at left wing-back (in opposition to the right-footed Neto) and Murphy at proper wing-back in opposition to 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 possibly can’t look previous Cole Palmer. The 23-year-old makes Chelsea tick and his mojo was again in opposition to Liverpool. A late penalty ended an 18-match purpose drought and there was encouragement from a efficiency stuffed with Palmer’s trademark inventive genius.
Not that Chelsea are a one-man crew. Moisés Caicedo was named the membership’s participant of the 12 months 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 positive goalscoring kind. Nicolas Jackson’s return from a hamstring harm has additionally sharpened the assault. As for the defence, Levi Colwill and Trevoh Chalobah should be at their greatest in opposition to Alexander Isak.
Workforce 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 recreation 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 in opposition to Brighton within the FA Cup on 2 March.
Chelsea follow the crew that beat Liverpool 3-1.
Newcastle (attainable 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 now we have an English top-flight match performed in mid-Might between the groups in fourth and fifth place. As soon as upon a time that may 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, laborious, 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 may most likely end the day outdoors the highest 5. With three video games to go they’re degree on factors and purpose distinction, with Newcastle forward on targets scored. That’s the place the similarities finish. The conflict of types – Newcastle’s excessive tempo in opposition to 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 could be a decider – or relegation battle has additionally elevated the anticipation forward of this recreation.. It’s not Liverpool v Arsenal in 1989, positive, 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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