Newcastle vs Chelsea – as it happened: Blues make it three out of three
All the latest from St James' Park
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Your support makes all the difference.Chelsea come into their game in the North East as one of few unbeaten teams in the Premier League from the first two games.
New head coach Maurizio Sarri has lifted the mood at the club and has achieved instant results, scoring three goals each in their victories over Huddersfield and Arsenal. Alvaro Morata opened his account for the season in last weekend’s London derby, but the former Napoli manager will hope they are tighter at the back when they travel to St James’ after they initially threw away a two-goal advantage.
Rafa Benítez’s Newcastle side picked up their first point of the season last weekend against Cardiff, but the Spaniard will be disappointed not to be heading into the fixture against his former club on the back of a win after Kenedy missed an injury-time penalty. The Magpies have been assigned a tough start to the season at home, having already welcomed Spurs, who left victorious on the opening weekend, to St James’ Park this season.
We will have all the latest from St James' Park:
Preview
When time does it start?
Newcastle United vs Chelsea kicks off at 4PM (BST).
Where can I watch it?
The match will be shown live on Sky Sports’ Premier League and Main Event channels from 3:30PM Sky Sports subscribers can also stream the game online via the SkyGo app.
It’s a big game for…
DeAndre Yedlin: The 25-year-old was not risked by Benitez against Cardiff after suffering a knee injury against his former club Spurs. The Magpies are in somewhat of a right-back crisis currently after Javier Manquillo was forced off through injury against Cardiff and his replacement Isaac Hayden saw red later on. The USA international will face one of his sternest test this season when he comes up against Eden Hazard and Pedro, who were both impressive against Arsenal.
Stat…
4: Newcastle have won four of their last five league matches against Chelsea in St James’ Park. The run includes a 3-0 victory for the Magpies on the final day of last season.
Remember when…
Newcastle may have an excellent recent home record against Sunday’s opponents, but they have not beaten the FA Cup holders at Stamford Bridge since a double from Papiss Cisse secured a 2-0 victory for them in May 2012. Their miserable record in West London, which has seen them lose every game there since, includes a 5-1 hammering in February 2016 after the hosts scored three goals in the opening 17 minutes. However, the best goal of the game was undoubtedly Andros Townsend’s consolation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzzls8917s4
Player to watch…
Mateo Kovacic: Eden Hazard was credited as the player who turned the game back in Chelsea’s favour in last weekend’s 3-2 victory over Arsenal, but his Croatian teammate also had a huge role to play on his debut. The Real Madrid loanee made some crucial tackles and helped the hosts wrestle back control of the midfield before Alonso’s winner. A hostile environment will mean the former Inter Milan midfielder will have to be at his best to help out N’Golo Kante and Jorginho.
Past three-meetings…
Newcastle United 3 (Gayle, Pérez x2) Chelsea 0, Premier League, May 2018
Chelsea 3 (Batshuayi x2, Alonso) Newcastle United 0, FA Cup, January 2018
Chelsea 3 (Hazard x2, Morata) Newcastle United 1 (Gayle), Premier League, December 2017
Form guide…
Newcastle United: LD
Chelsea: WW
Odds…
Newcastle to win: 21/5
Chelsea to win: 4/6
Draw: 14/5
(Odds provided by 888 Sport)
Prediction...
Newcastle 1-2 Chelsea
45 mins: Watford 0 - 0 Crystal Palace
A scrappy few minutes after the corner was taken, the ball came in long and Janmaat brought it back into the box before being brought down but the ref waves it away, Palace break with Zaha who lays a ball to Townsend but Capoue makes a great challenge, Doucoure then recieves the ball near Palace's area and fires a strike that's blocked.
HALF TIME: Watford 0 - 0 Crystal Palace
Goalless at Vicarage Road going into the break, Watford lucky to still be in the game but Foster has made two great saves. They showed a bit more urgency towards the end of the half and Palace looked a little ropey.
It's still all to play for in the second half...
SECOND HALF: Watford 0 - 0 Crystal Palace
No changes at half time, but Watford start strongly, they win the ball in mid-field and Janmaat takes it out wide, he whips the ball into the area, Gray holds off the defenders to bring the ball down to Hughes whose shot is blocked by Hennessey
50 mins: Watford 0 - 0 Crystal Palace
Watford looking way more confident in this half, Deeney wins a header in the box and lays it off to Doucoure who takes a shot, it's blokced but falls to Pereyra and his follow up is sent over the bar
52 mins: GOAL! Watford 1 - 0 Crystal Palace - Pereyra
Capoue wins the ball in his own half with a good challenge and he runs it forward past three players before passing to Pereyra on the left side. He cuts back in and curls a right footed shot into the bottom corner!
57 mins: Watford 1 - 0 Crystal Palace
That goal could do damage to my fantasy team unless Sahko scores for Palace. The visitors looking a little sloppy in this half as Watford look stronger and more aggressive.
60 mins: Watford 1 - 0 Crystal Palace
Corner for Palace, Townsend whips it in buts it's long and wide
65 mins: Watford 1 - 0 Crystal Palace
Palace look to have found their feet in this second half, the put a string of easy passes together a through ball goes out of play, but the signs are better for Roy Hodgson's side
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