Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea face the side that ended their 14 match unbeaten run and will be looking to reassert themselves as outright league leaders when they host Newcastle United on Sunday morning. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 2.00am (AEDT).
Since that game in December, Newcastle have lost their manager and won only one of their five games and they face a Chelsea side that will be smarting after a last-start loss against Tottenham.
With a full week to recover from their New Year’s day loss against the Spurs, the Blues will be out for revenge against a Newcastle side that got the better of them at the beginning of December.
Chelsea went into that fixture full of gusto, a near-perfect start to the season but were upset by two goals from Senegalese international Papiss Cisse at St James Park.
Newcastle will be without Cisse this time round as he is on international duty with Senegal for the African Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea. With his top scorer out of action for a month, caretaker manager John Carver will be looking to Ayoze Perez, Emmanuel Riviere and Moussa Sissoko, who scored just his second goal of the season in the 3-all draw against Burnley, to provide the goals.
While stronger for the return of inspirational captain Fabricio Coloccini in the draw against Burnley, the Magpies, who have leaked 31 goals this season, including 15 in their last six matches, will need to be disciplined in defence against the side that has scored 44 goals this season.
Which brings us to Chelsea and ‘The Special One’.
Despite a near flawless start to the season they’ve been caught at the top of the table by the other side in blue, Manchester City. After dropping points away to this season’s surprise packets Southampton and London rivals Tottenham, Mourinho will be pleased to return to Stamford Bridge where they are yet to lose a Premier League game this season.
If there was anything positive to come out of the 5-3 shellacking to Tottenham it’s the Blues were still able to find the back of the net and you’d expect that to continue as Spaniards Diego Costa, equal top goalscorer with 14, and Cesc Fabregas, most assists, continue their telepathic partnership.
Chelsea will want to make amends after the way they lost their last league game and will expect nothing less than three points, especially considering the form shown by key players Eden Hazard and captain John Terry.
But they won’t have it all their own way as Newcastle will play with the confidence that can be expected after being the first team to beat the star-studded Londoners. Join The Roar Sunday morning at 2:00am (AEDT) for live score updates and debate in our live blog.
billyelliott
Roar Guru
Well Newcastle never really recovered after Oscar opened the scoring late in the first half. Having started well they failed to take their chances and against Chelsea you need to take your chances. It was a different Chelsea side that came out in the second half and Mourinho will be pleased with the better showing in the second 45. The hassled and harried Newcastle and were able to put the game beyond doubt after Costa finished off some great work from Hazard and Oscar. So Chelsea are two points clear at the top. The clean sheet will be useful at the tail end of the season. Final score Chelsea 2 Newcastle 0 Til next time.
billyelliott
Roar Guru
That's it from Stamford Bridge. And goals from Oscar and Costa mean Chelsea have won 10 from 10 at home this season. We'll wait and see if there is a late goal at Goodison, but for the moment they are two points clear from City. CHE 2 0 NEW
billyelliott
Roar Guru
90+4' Zouma concedes a corner. Cabella swings it in, but it's away by Chelsea. Anita wins it back for Chelsea. Cabella tries it himself but runs into a blue sandwich and it's another missed opportunity. CHE 2 0 NEW
billyelliott
Roar Guru
90+2' Newcastle looking for a late consolation goal. Chelsea affording them some space but not enough to create a chance. CHE 2 0 NEW
billyelliott
Roar Guru
90+1' There will be four minutes of added time. Three points are in the bag for Chelsea. CHE 2 0 NEW
billyelliott
Roar Guru
90' Into the final minute of regular time. Krul collects a loose ball and bombs it forward. Newcastle still pushing for a goal. Chelsea come away through Hazard. CHE 2 0 NEW
billyelliott
Roar Guru
88' Remy with the shot. The crowd rises but no real trouble. Perez at the other end of the park tries to create space for the cross but is closed down well. CHE 2 0 NEW
billyelliott
Roar Guru
87' Ameobi was looking for Dummett to get around him there but has to play backwards. That's the difference between the two sides in this second half. Chelsea with a wealth of options, Newcastle bereft of ideas. CHE 2 0 NEW
billyelliott
Roar Guru
86' Foul by Janmaat on Hazard. Chelsea are in cruise control now. CHE 2 0 NEW
billyelliott
Roar Guru
83' Another change for Chelsea. This time it is the Costa who scored the second goal replaced by Remy. A good shift by the Spaniard. Newcastle make a change. Sissoko replaced by Riviere. CHE 2 0 NEW
billyelliott
Roar Guru
82' Man City are 1-1 with Everton, so if the games stay the same, Chelsea will be two points clear at the end of this one. Newcastle still pushing but Chelsea just suffocating them for space. CHE 2 0 NEW
billyelliott
Roar Guru
81' Inside the final ten minutes at Stamford Bridge. Can't see Newcastle coming back in this one, can see some more Chelsea goals though. Ameobi with a needless challenge deep in Chelsea's half. CHE 2 0 NEW
billyelliott
Roar Guru
79' Costa with a shot that has Krul beaten but Coloccini slides in and sends it over the bar. Costa has been great this second half and the goal opened up for him there after a great ball through. Nothing comes of the corner. CHE 2 0 NEW
billyelliott
Roar Guru
77' Another foul by Newcastle. This time Luis gives away a free kick. Change for Chelsea. Oscar is withdrawn and replaced by Ramires. CHE 2 0 NEW
billyelliott
Roar Guru
77' Ameobi stands up WIllian and then Ivanovic, gets a great ball in but doesn't have the support in the box. Ameobi is class. CHE 2 0 NEW
billyelliott
Roar Guru
76' Chelsea dominating possession in this half and looking to turn the screws. A long ball played in by Luis, a poor option perhaps and Krul collects easily. CHE 2 0 NEW
billyelliott
Roar Guru
74' Hazard goes past Colback and wins Chelsea a corner. Fabregas' corner and Ameobi is first to it. Newcastle with the throw. CHE 2 0 NEW
billyelliott
Roar Guru
73' Another foul on Cabella. He's looked good today and Chelsea seem to have targeted him. Newcastle looking to build something here. But Cabella leaves it short for Sissoko and Chelsea are away again. CHE 2 0 NEW
billyelliott
Roar Guru
72' Zouma brings the ball forward, lays it off to Fabregas, who plays in Hazard. Chelsea slow the ball again. Stretching Newcastle, left and right. Waiting for the space to open. A loose ball and Krul clears for Newcastle. CHE 2 0 NEW
billyelliott
Roar Guru
71' Matic poleaxes Cabella and earns a deserved yellow card. Coloccini with the free kick from the centre circle, it's pumped forward but comes to nothing. CHE 2 0 NEW