This is the Chelsea team news ahead of their Premier League clash with Newcastle United in the early Saturday start time. This will dive into the most recent injury news, the recent starters in matches, and how the manager sets up tactically before offering a predicted lineup for this one. This will be a clash of ideologies when Eddie Howe’s blood and thunder pressing meets Enzo Maresca’s controlled possession setup.
Chelsea Team News & Predicted Lineup vs Newcastle
How Chelsea Have Lined Up Recently
Robert Sanchez starts in goal for most matches with Filip Jorgensen getting a rare run out against Cardiff in midweek. The back line has featured Marc Cucurella, Jorrel Hato, Benoit Badiashile, Tosin Adarabioyo, Josh Acheampong, Trevoh Chalobah, Wesley Fofana, and Malo Gusto in recent weeks. Reece James can and has played right back but in the past two weeks, he has played in the pivot as a midfielder in every appearance.
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The pivot usually sees Enzo Fernandez partner Moises Caicedo but fitness and suspensions have seen James and Andrey Santos come in as cover for that position. Jamie Gittens and Alejandro Garnacho battle it out for the starting left wing spot while Pedro Neto has the right side on lockdown with Estevao not getting many minutes recently and Tyrique George hooked early in midweek. Cole Palmer, Enzo, Facundo Bunoanotte and Joao Pedro have played through the middle as the attacking midfielder.
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Pedro has also played as the striker where Liam Delap is the preferred option. Marc Guiu got a run out in the Carabao Cup but doesn’t usually start.
Chelsea Recent Form & Tactics
Maresca sets up in a fluid 4-2-3-1 that adapts to opposition and game state. Depending on the starting pivot one player can push up into the attacking midfield half-spaces or will settle together allowing one of the full-backs to move forward. Sometimes we even see both full-backs interverting to offer passing options and passing lanes with this proving especially effective last week against Everton with the right-back on the day scoring one and assisting one.
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After a poor run that saw the Blues go winless in four, they have bounced back with back-to-back wins against the Toffees and Cardiff. They’ve immediately refound their scoring form, only being kept scoreless twice all term with defence still being up and down depending on personnel. A win here would make it a good three on the bounce for momentum going into a tough match with Aston Villa.
Chelsea Team News
There are as many as six absentees on PremierInjuries for this one. Delap and Estevao have been ruled out until at least the next fixture. Mykhailo Mudryk remains suspended indefinitely, Dario Essugo, Levi Colwill, and Romeo Lavia are all long-term absentees. Many of these have been issues the manager has gotten used to.
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For once, there’s a relatively fresh squad to pick from, a midweek match against a League 1 team allowed the coach to rest a number of his startes like James, Palmer, Fofana, Cucurella, and many others.
Chelsea Predicted Lineup for Newcastle Clash
GK – Rob Sanchez
LB – Marc Cucurella
CB – Wes Fofana
CB – Trevoh Chalobah
RB – Reece James
DM – Moises Caicedo
DM – Enzo Fernandez
W – Alejandro Garnacho
AM – Cole Palmer
W – Pedro Neto
ST – Joao Pedro
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