The Premier League weekend concludes at Stamford Bridge on Monday evening when Chelsea play host to Newcastle United in the Monday Night Football, which this week pits two mid-table teams against each other.
It will be interesting to see how these two go about their work in this match as neither are where they want to be in the Premier League table this term, but both have important FA Cup quarter final dates at the weekend which might be considered more important.
Where to watch
The match will be shown live and in full on the Monday Night Football programme which begins on the Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League channel at 6.30pm. Kick off in the capital is at 8pm.
Chelsea
There were many who naturally assumed that Chelsea couldn’t put together a worse campaign than they did last season. With another insane spending spree carried out in the summer, to go with two failed ones in the transfer windows which preceded it, surely they had to have a coherent and competent squad in place for this term. There have been few signs of it though and they begin this match in the bottom half of the table, which given their spend is simply not good enough.
We are late enough in the season that they aren’t going to achieve anything in the Premier League so you could forgive them for turning their attention to the cup game at the weekend, especially having already suffered heartache in a cup final this season. Their route into Europe and silverware this term lies solely with that competition now, so Mauricio Pochettino’s team sheet for this one will be interesting to see, as will the approach that they take.
Newcastle United
After finishing in the top four last season and with Saudi funding behind them, many expected Newcastle United to kick on and if not become title challengers this term, to cement themselves in the top four, but that hasn’t really happened either. They have had a large injury crisis at various times this season which hasn’t helped them but I think most would have expected them to be higher than tenth in the table heading into the final quarter of the campaign.
There have been signs since the turn of the year that the Magpies are getting back on track and their win over Wolves last week certainly looks good on paper, although there is a bit of a concern that Wolves packed that in a little earlier than usual in light of their own injury concerns and FA Cup ambitions. Nevertheless, Newcastle’s only defeat in their last six matches has been away to an Arsenal side who look rampant at the minute.
Special Offer
Sign up for a Boylesports account and bet £10 to get up to £20 in free bets! Perfect offer for the Premier League! Click the image below for this great offer! New accounts only. 18+ T&Cs apply. Gamble Aware.
Team News
Chelsea are going to be without defenders Levi Colwill and Ben Chilwell for this match and there is a chance that Conor Gallagher won’t make it either as he is ill. They join the likes of Christopher Nkunku on the sidelines.
Newcastle United will be without their captain Kieran Trippier for this match as he has a calf issue. Lewis Hall is unavailable to play against his parent club so Tino Livramento will be at full-back. Callum Wilson is also out for the visitors.
Betting
When I saw the odds for this match I was very surprised to see Chelsea at odds on. I don’t think I could take Chelsea at odds on against anyone in the league right now, especially if their focus is skewed a little towards the FA Cup at the weekend. Newcastle United had their tough spell in December and early January but their last three defeats were to the top three in the table and Chelsea are nothing close to as good as they are.
Newcastle have shown signs of getting back to their better form recently. That is no surprise because their players are starting to return, especially in the attacking areas, and I just couldn’t trust this Chelsea defence as far as I could throw it. I also suspect they play when they want to and I don’t see a home game against Newcastle as a game that they want to play. You can get odds against on the visitors on the +0.5 Asian handicap lines which is effectively odds against on a draw or an away win. Newcastle walloped Chelsea in the reverse fixture and would have won the Carabao Cup tie between the two but for a monumental mistake from Trippier, who won’t be around to repeat that here. I think Newcastle on that line makes sense to me.
Tips
Back Newcastle United (+0.5AH) to beat Chelsea for a 3/10 stake at 2.06 with Bet365
