Newcastle vs Chelsea Prediction: Magpies to secure a huge three points

Newcastle United were left frustrated last week as they were held to a draw at Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League. The Magpies return to St James' Park on Sunday (12:00, TNT Sports 1) to face Chelsea, a direct rival in the race for the top five.

The Blues recorded an impressive victory over champions Liverpool last weekend and they have now won three matches on the spin in the top flight. Read on for my Newcastle vs Chelsea predictions, alongside the latest team news and match odds.

Football Odds

Team News

Newcastle are without the services of Jamaal Lascelles (fitness), Lewis Hall (ankle), Joelinton (knee), Matt Targett (hamstring) due to injury.

Sven Botman made an appearance from the bench at Brighton and Eddie How could be tempted to restore the Dutchman to the heart of the defence.

In Joelinton's absence, expect Joe Willock to continue alongside Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes in the middle of the park. Anthony Gordon should be pushing for a return to the left flank in place of Harvey Barnes, but the latter has been performing well there in recent weeks.

Top scorer Alexander Isak will continue to lead the line for the hosts, while Jacob Murphy, who has been having a fantastic season, is going to provide the width from the right.

Chelsea head to Tyneside without Wesley Fofana (hamstring), Omari Kellyman, Marc Guiu (both thigh), Aaron Anselmino (unspecified) and Mykhaylo Mudryk (suspended). Christopher Nkunku is also a doubt to feature with a problem of his own.

After an impressive performance against Liverpool a week ago, Enzo Maresca may consider deploying the same XI against Newcastle as his team guns for a fourth consecutive victory in the top flight.

This would leave the attacking quartet of Nicolas Jackson, Noni Madueke, Cole Palmer and Pedro Neto intact, along with the midfield partnership of Romeo Lavia and Enzo Fernandez.

The Blues and Newcastle are each on 63 points coming into this clash, so this game is massive for both of their seasons.

Newcastle vs Chelsea Odds

Newcastle have won their last five home games in the league and they are 6/5, which has an implied probability of 45.5%, to come away with the victory.

They drew in their latest appearance at Brighton, while Chelsea have drawn two of their previous five fixtures in the top flight. The stalemate is available at 11/4.

The Blues are 21/10 to collect the three points, having won three matches on the spin in the Premier League.

Over 3.5 goals has landed in three of Newcastle's past five contests in the league and it is marketed at 11/8 for Sunday.

Newcastle and both teams to score @ 12/5

This has all the makings to be a cracker on Tyneside with both clubs firmly in the race for the top five, hoping to return to the Uefa Champions League stage. Both teams are in good form coming into this.

Newcastle have won five in a row at St James' and Chelsea are on a run of three consecutive victories in the top flight. It's a game in which neither can really afford to lose given how tight the table is from third to seventh, as well as the fact that there are only three matches left to play in the Premier League.

The Magpies suffered a setback with a draw at Brighton, and Chelsea will look to capitalise on this. However, Newcastle have been going strongly at home and a packed-out crowd is sure to give them a boost in this crunch clash.

How many times have we seen in the last few years just how much a hostile St James' Park can aid Newcastle to victory? This is Newcastle's biggest game since their Carabao Cup final triumph over Liverpool. They rose to that occasion, and I fancy them to do so here.

I've boosted the odds by adding both teams to score because five of the hosts' last seven home games in the league have produced goals at both ends.

Alexander Isak anytime goalscorer @ 11/10

As Newcastle's top scorer, Isak will be looked to for inspiration throughout this contest. There has been plenty of talk about his future in recent months ahead of the summer but the Magpies are insisting that he is not for sale.

With 23 goals in the Premier League this term, you understand why Newcastle have no intention of parting from the Sweden international. Isak is not only a prolific goalscorer, but he is brilliant at bringing his teammates into play with his other attributes as a centre-forward.

I think he can have a huge impact in this contest, as he tends to deliver on the big occasion. The striker has scored three goals in his past four league appearances heading into the weekend, while he was also on the scoresheet in the reverse fixture at Stamford Bridge, even though his side lost 2-0 that day back in October.

Offers

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