Chelsea XI vs Newcastle: Confirmed team news, predicted lineup and injury latest for Premier League

In partnership with

Evening Standard

·9 maggio 2025

Chelsea XI vs Newcastle: Confirmed team news, predicted lineup and injury latest for Premier League

Enzo Maresca set to revert back to strongest side for huge game at St James’ Park

Chelsea’s starting lineup could feature 10 changes for their trip to Newcastle on Sunday.

Enzo Maresca fielded an experimental lineup for Thursday’s Conference League semi-final second-leg win over Djurgarden at Stamford Bridge, including handing a first senior start to 16-year-old Reggie Walsh in midfield.

The Blues return to Premier League action at St James’ Park on Sunday for their first of what Maresca called “three finals” to ensure they finish in the top five and thus qualify for next season’s Champions League.

Newcastle currently sit above them in fourth place on goals scored and so Maresca’s preferred XI will return on Tyneside.

OneFootball Video

That means Marc Cucurella could be the only man to keep his place from the game against Djurgarden, having started in midfield on Thursday but likely to return to left-back this weekend.

Robert Sanchez will replace Filip Jorgensen in goal, while key attacking duo Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson are also expected to start.

Maresca could pick an identical XI to that which stunned champions Liverpool last weekend, including a start for Romeo Lavia in midfield and Moises Caicedo as an auxiliary right-back.

Asked whether his lineup at Newcastle will be similar to the team named against Liverpool, Maresca said: “Yes, we’ll see it. The first match against Djurgarden also gave us a little bit of a chance to rotate and to protect players. We’ll see.”

Christopher Nkunku, Wesley Fofana and Omari Kellyman are all injured, while Mykhailo Mudryk remains unavailable.

Marc Guiu was not risked against Djurgarden but could make his return to the matchday squad if he passes a late fitness test.

Predicted Chelsea XI (4-2-3-1): Sanchez; Caicedo, Colwill, Chalobah, Cucurella; Lavia, Fernandez; Neto, Palmer, Madueke; Jackson

Doubt: Guiu

Injured: Nkunku, Fofana, Kellyman

Unavailable: Mudryk

Time and date: 12pm BST on Sunday May 11, 2025

Venue: St James’ Park, Newcastle

How to watch: TNT Sports