90min
·25 October 2024
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Yahoo sports90min
·25 October 2024
Chelsea are aiming to get back to winning ways in the Premier League when they host Newcastle United on Sunday afternoon.
The Blues have failed to claim victory in their last two domestic matches, drawing at home to Nottingham Forest before a deflating defeat to Liverpool last weekend.
Enzo Maresca's side have been more impressive on the road in the Premier League having only beaten Brighton & Hove Albion at Stamford Bridge, but a visit from the misfiring Magpies could help them secure another home triumph.
Injuries have cleared up for Chelsea and they head into Sunday's affair with a fully-fit squad. Both Marc Cucurella and Wesley Fofana have returned from suspension after missing Anfield last weekend, while the likes of Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson and Reece James are all available to Maresca.
Wesley Fofana returns in defence / Visionhaus/GettyImages
GK: Robert Sanchez - Questions continue to be raised over Sanchez's performance levels after some extremely shaky displays this term. Filip Jorgensen has impressed in the cup competitions and could usurp Sanchez in the coming weeks.
RB: Reece James - James was a welcome returnee against Liverpool and he performed admirably at Anfield given his recent injury woes. How long the Blues will be able to keep him fit remains to be seen.
CB: Wesley Fofana - The Frenchman missed the trip to Liverpool as he served a one-game suspension and Tosin Adarabioyo was unconvincing in his absence. Fofana's stock rose come the full-time whistle at Anfield.
CB: Levi Colwill - The usually reliable Colwill also had an afternoon to forget on Merseyside, conceding a penalty and generally struggling up against Diogo Jota and then Darwin Nunez. Newcastle's Alexander Isak will prove a similar handful.
LB: Malo Gusto - Cucurella featured for the entirety of Thursday's win over Panathinaikos in the Conference League. That would suggest that Gusto will retain his spot at left-back against the Magpies.
DM: Moises Caicedo - Caicedo is starting to impress thoroughly in a Chelsea shirt and he even popped up with an excellent assist last weekend. He will be key in helping the Blues win the midfield battle against a combative Newcastle side.
DM: Romeo Lavia - Enzo Fernandez played 71 minutes on Thursday and was dropped from the starting XI at Liverpool. When fit, Lavia appears to have jumped ahead of the World Cup winner in the pecking order courtesy of his defiant defensive displays.
RW: Noni Madueke - Yet to dazzle quite as much as he did at Molineux in Chelsea's second game of the season but the Englishman has still impressed following a string of appearances. His ingenuity and pace will prove tough for Newcastle's left-hand side to stop.
AM: Cole Palmer - Palmer is so often the difference-maker for Chelsea and he will want to put a quiet Anfield performance behind him. He already boasts six Premier League goals and five assists after just eight appearances.
LW: Jadon Sancho - Manchester United was evidently the problem for Sancho, who shone on loan at Borussia Dortmund last season and has made a swift start at Stamford Bridge. He will be battling former Chelsea academy graduate Tino Livramento on Sunday.
ST: Nicolas Jackson - Jackson has looked a far more composed and polished striker under Maresca, adding to his tally with a calm finish against Liverpool. He scored in this fixture last term and will be eager to test a Newcastle defence short on pace.
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