Newcastle v Chelsea: Premier League predictions, free football betting tips & TV

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

Where to watch

BT Sport 1, 12.30pm Saturday

Best bet

Newcastle or draw double chance
1pt 13-8 bet365, Betway

Team news

Newcastle
Callum Wilson and Miguel Almiron are doubts while Jonjo Shelvey and Ryan Fraser are out.

Chelsea
Kai Havertz could return but Christian Pulisic and Thiago Silva are unlikely to feature. Ben Chilwell will be assessed after international duty.

Match preview

Frank Lampard has warned his Chelsea players to expect "a very difficult game" against Newcastle although bookmakers expect a regulation three points for the Blues.

Lampard's men are the leading scorers in the Premier League, having struck three or more times in six of their eight league games this season, and they brushed aside Krasnodar 4-0 and Rennes 3-0 in the Champions League shortly before the international break.

However, Chelsea may not be at their fluent best when they reconvene for a 12.30pm kick-off after the internationals and Newcastle are worth backing to frustrate their visitors.

They did exactly that in this fixture last season when Chelsea had 70 per cent of possession but managed only four attempts on target before Isaac Hayden pinched the points for the Magpies with an injury-time winner.

The Blues needed a 73rd-minute goal from Marcos Alonso to break down Newcastle at Stamford Bridge in October 2019 and Steve Bruce will hope his side can take advantage of any fatigue felt by Chelsea's globetrotting internationals.

Newcastle may be without top scorer Callum Wilson, who sustained a hamstring injury in the 2-0 defeat at Southampton last time out.

Before that setback, the Magpies had made a solid start to the season, winning at West Ham on the opening weekend, claiming home victories over Burnley and in-form Everton, and holding Tottenham and Wolves to 1-1 draws on the road.

Chelsea's summer recruitment drive has undoubtedly improved the squad and they have shortened to 15-2 to win the Premier League this season.

Timo Werner is warming to his task with seven goals in his last seven games in all competitions, Mason Mount impressed on England duty, Hakim Ziyech has dazzled on the wing in recent fixtures, and Kai Havertz should be available after completing a period of self-isolation.

But Lampard is well aware that his side are not the finished article. They conceded 54 league goals last season, comfortably the worst defensive record in the top ten, and are still prone to spectacular lapses at the back.

Chelsea had to battle back from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 at struggling West Brom and blew 2-0 and 3-2 leads at home to Southampton.

Newcastle must respect Chelsea's undoubted attacking quality while also testing a defence missing experienced Brazil centre-back Thiago Silva and they are worth backing to strike the right balance.

Key stat

Ten of Chelsea's last 11 away league games have featured over 2.5 goals.

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