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NederlandChelsea will be looking to make it five wins in a row in all competitions when they continue their 2020-21 Premier League campaign at home to Newcastle United on Monday night.
The Blues have been impressive since Thomas Tuchel's appointment, moving up into fifth position in the Premier League table, while Newcastle have won two of their last three in England's top flight to ease any relegation fears.
Match preview
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Tuchel's reign started with a goalless draw at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers on January 27, but Chelsea have won each of their four matches since then, overcoming Burnley, Tottenham Hotspur and Sheffield United in the Premier League, conceding just one goal in the process.
The Blues have now moved into fifth position in the table, just one point behind fourth-placed Liverpool, although there is a strong possibility that the picture will have changed by the time that they take to the field on Monday, with the majority of the teams around them playing over the weekend.
Chelsea are now very much back in a top-four race, which seemed to be drifting away under Frank Lampard, and there is no question that Tuchel has made a positive impression since his arrival.
The capital giants also managed to book their spot in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup on Thursday evening as they recorded a 1-0 win over Championship outfit Barnsley, with Tammy Abraham on the scoresheet.
The Blues will face Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League tie on February 23 but will be looking to win their next two in the league at home to Newcastle and away to Southampton before ending February with a huge clash at home to Manchester United.
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Newcastle, meanwhile, have won seven, drawn four and lost 12 of their 23 Premier League matches this season to sit 16th in the table, 10 points clear of the relegation zone.
Only West Bromwich Albion (15) and Sheffield United (18) have lost more league games than the Magpies this term, and there was huge pressure on head coach Steve Bruce following the 2-1 loss at home to Leeds United on January 26.
Newcastle have picked up six points from the last available nine, though, overcoming Everton and Southampton either side of a defeat to Crystal Palace. Bruce's team are not safe as there is still a lot of football to be played, but the gap to the relegation zone is healthy taking everything into consideration.
The Magpies will be the underdogs heading into Monday's clash, but they have won two of their last six Premier League games against Chelsea, who were far from convincing against Barnsley on Thursday.
That said, the Blues have won each of their last eight home games with Newcastle in all competitions, including a 1-0 victory when they locked horns in the corresponding match during the 2019-20 campaign.
Chelsea Premier League form: WLDWWW
Chelsea form (all competitions): WDWWWW
Newcastle United Premier League form: LLLWLW
Team News
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Chelsea will definitely be without the services of experienced centre-back Thiago Silva due to a muscular problem, meaning that Andreas Christensen should feature in the middle of the back three.
Timo Werner was not risked against Barnsley due to a dead leg, but the Germany international is expected to be available for this game. Kai Havertz has also recently been missing due to a knock, and it is unclear whether the summer arrival will be passed fit for Monday night's contest.
The team is expected to have a similar look to the one that started against Sheffield United last weekend, with Mason Mount and Werner featuring in the wide areas, but there could be a spot through the middle for Abraham, with Olivier Giroud potentially dropping to the bench.
N'Golo Kante made his first start under Tuchel on Thursday, meanwhile, and the France international could now feature in a Premier League XI for the new boss.
As for Newcastle, leading scorer Callum Wilson is facing an extended period on the sidelines with a hamstring problem, while Fabian Schar and Javier Manquillo are also on the treatment table.
Jeff Hendrick is suspended due to the red card that he picked up against Southampton, and Jamaal Lascelles and Federico Fernandez are also huge doubts for the visitors due to fitness issues.
Allan Saint-Maximin and Miguel Almiron should both keep their spots in attacking areas for the Magpies, while Joelinton replaced Wilson off the bench against Southampton, and it seems likely that the Brazilian will get the nod over Andy Carroll in the final third of the field at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Mendy; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger; James, Jorginho, Kante, Chilwell; Mount, Abraham, Werner
Newcastle United possible starting lineup:
Darlow; Krafth, Clark, Dummett, Lewis; Hayden, Willock, Shelvey, Almiron; Joelinton, Saint-Maximin
We say: Chelsea 2-0 Newcastle United
The Blues have been much-improved under Tuchel and will be taking on a Newcastle side missing their leading scorer. Chelsea's home record this season is actually the third-best in the Premier League, and we fancy the capital giants to continue their strong form with a routine victory over Bruce's team.
