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
70 mins: GOAL! Watford 2 - 0 Crystal Palace - Holebas
Holebas makes it two for Watford. He gets the ball on the left hand side of the box, the Watford strikers pile into the box and Holebas whips it in. Is it a cross? Is it a shot? No-one can tell but the ball beats everyone and finishes in the bottom corner of the net.
75 mins: Watford 2 - 0 Crystal Palace
Palace could consider themselves a little unlucky here, they were the dominant side in the first half but have been timid since the break, a goal for them would make things interesting but Watford have been brilliant in this second half and have scored two fantastic goals
77 mins: GOAL! Watford 2 - 1 Crystal Palace - Zaha
What did I say? Zaha gets one back for Palace he combines with Meyer on the left and nutmegs the keeper to score
82 mins: Watford 2 - 1 Crystal Palace
Watford win a corner, Holebas delivers it but the resulting header is sent wide
85 mins: Watford 2 - 1 Crystal Palace
Palace win a free kick in a good area but Deeney clears the ball for Watford, Sema claims it and holds it up well winning a free kick for the home side
88 mins: Watford 2 - 1 Crystal Palace
Watford tried to keep the ball in the corner but Holebas lets it go out for a goal kick, it's booted long and Zaha wins a corner. It's played short and the ball comes into the box Sorloth jumps high but can't quite reach the ball to head it towards goal.
90 mins: Watford 2 - 1 Crystal Palace
5 minutes added time, and Palace get another goal kick
90+2 mins: Watford 2 - 1 Crystal Palace
Watford take the ball into the corner but Palace win a throw in, Watford press high and Sema wins a corner for the hosts.
90+3 mins: Watford 2 - 1 Crystal Palace
Watford try to keep the ball in the corner but Palace get a goal kick, Watford win it back though and we're down to the dying embers of this game
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