Hello and welcome to **football.london** 's matchday blog for Newcastle United vs Chelsea. It's an enormous Premier League meeting this afternoon in the battle for a top five finish.
[Manchester City's surprise 0-0 draw with Southampton on Saturday has opened the door for both of these teams.](https://www.football.london/chelsea-fc/news/chelsea-loanee-gives-enzo-marescas-31615142) A winner would end the weekend in third and could be just a point off second-place Arsenal if they are beaten by Liverpool in the late kick off.
It is all to play for here with Newcastle starting the day ahead of Chelsea by virtue of goals scored. Both sides are tied for points (63) after 35 matches and also have +21 goal difference.
Aston Villa overcame Bournemouth on Saturday night to keep up their hopes of gatecrashing in. Nottingham Forest are in action at 2:15pm today so will know the result of Newcastle vs Chelsea by the time they start.
[It is all set up for a grandstand finish and Enzo Maresca has described this as one of Chelsea's three remaining cup finals.](https://www.football.london/chelsea-fc/news/chelsea-wipe-out-newcastle-champions-31605137) They also have a fourth actual final to play in the Conference League later this month as well.
**_We'll have all the updates from St James' Park as it happens. For full buildup, live text commentary, reaction, and analysis, scroll down in the live blog below..._**
09:25Tom Coley
This will no doubt change throughout the day but for now, here is how the Premier League race for a top five finish looks.
Arsenal - 67 points (+33), played 35
Manchester City - 65 points (+24), played 36
Newcastle United - 63 points (+21), played 35
**Chelsea - 63 points (+21), played 35\***
Aston Villa - 63 points (+7), played 36
Nottingham Forest - 61 points (+12), played 35
\*Below Newcastle on goals scored
09:16Tom Coley
What a huge day this is for Chelsea, Enzo Maresca, and Newcastle United.
The top five hangs in the balance right now but after Manchester City's draw to Southampton yesterday, the whole thing is up in the air.
Chelsea know this is probably the hardest of their remaining three fixtures. Would they take a point with Manchester United to come?
We've got full match buildup, team news, live updates, analysis, and more to come.