Newcastle v Chelsea predictions: Magpies can send out statement of intent

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Newcastle v Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Main Event & Premier League, 5.30pm Saturday

Best bet

Newcastle
1pt 27-20 bet365

Team news

Newcastle
Alexander Isak, Ryan Fraser, Emil Krafth, Matt Ritchie and Paul Dummett are out for the Magpies, who could make a late call on Callum Wilson, who has been suffering from illness.

Chelsea
N'Golo Kante, Wesley Fofana, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Ben Chilwell, Carney Chukwuemeka and Reece James are out for the Blues. Jorginho is a doubt.

Match preview

Pep Guardiola believes Newcastle are in the mix for the Premier League title this season and the Magpies can emphasise how far they have come under Eddie Howe when they host Chelsea under the lights on Saturday evening.

Howe took charge of Newcastle just over a year ago and was named manager of the month for October, in which they picked up five wins and one draw, which came on the road at Manchester United.

That streak has propelled the Magpies into the top four and they have been cut to a best-priced 7-4 to make the Champions League places this season.

It remains to be seen whether they have the fuel in the tank to maintain their strong start after the winter World Cup break but their current form suggests they can sign off with a win over the Blues.

The ongoing absence of summer signing Alexander Isak is not ideal, while Callum Wilson, who was selected in Gareth Southgate's England squad this week, might not be at his sharpest if he starts after struggling with illness this week.

But Newcastle have shown they have an array of game-changers in their line-up from October's player of the month Miguel Almiron to Bruno Guimaraes and it should not take much to fluster Chelsea.

The Londoners made a perfect start to life under Graham Potter, who began his tenure with a nine-game unbeaten run in all competitions.

But that streak was snapped by a 4-1 defeat away to his former club Brighton and Chelsea have also lost each of their last two domestic fixtures - 1-0 to Arsenal in the Premier League and 2-0 to Manchester City in the EFL Cup third round.

Even before that defeat to Brighton, they looked vulnerable at the back in contests with Aston Villa and Brentford in October and there have been calls from the more impatient segments of the Chelsea fanbase to axe Potter.

The likelier approach from the Blues will be reinvestment in the squad in the January transfer window but for now they are struggling and St James' Park is not an ideal place to go when things are not going well.

Newcastle are unbeaten from their seven home fixtures in this season's Premier League, conceding only five times in the process, and the return of the reborn Joelinton in midfield is another string to their bow.

They represent decent value to win this one at odds-against.