Chelsea vs Newcastle

29/12- While the third placed Chelsea are trying to keep up the pace with Arsenal and Manchester United at the top of the table, the 10^th placed Newcastle United are struggling to maintain their spot in the top half of the table, hence a good match can be expected this Saturday when Chelsea play hosts to the visiting Newcastle team. Both the clubs have been old rivals and there have been 28 encounters between them in the last 15 years, out of which 8 have drawn where as the Blues have won as many as 13 times. This suggests that if we go by history, Chelsea is the stronger side. Coming to the current form of the clubs, Chelsea are coming from a 4-4 draw against Aston Villa at home while Newcastle were beaten 0-1 in an away tie against Wigan.

 

While the home crowd would want them to create an impact with a win it seems to be quite difficult as the Blues would be playing without three of their first choice defenders as Carvalho, who has been injured from some time now was joined by Terry a couple of weeks ago and finally Ashley Cole has been suspended for this match. This will be a huge setback for Murinho’s side but the strikers would have to take up the challenge to score as many goals.

 

Newcastle on the other hand would like to revive their campaign as they have slipped to the 10^th position and are ahead just on the goal difference, they would at least want a point of this game in case they win it would be a great gift for the fans before new year though both like quite difficult in current form except for the case we can see Martins and Viduka breaking apart Chelsea’s depleted defense.

 

Prediction: 3-1, Chelsea win