- Newcastle have won three of the last four games vs. Chelsea
- Chelsea have conceded 2 goals in their last 8 games, have best defensive record in PL
- The Blues are unbeaten in their last 9 PL games
Chelsea welcome Newcastle United to Stamford Bridge on Saturday (Watch live on USA at 10am ET, online via NBC Sports Live Extra) as the Blues aim to keep the heat up on league leaders Arsenal two points ahead of them.
Jose Mourinhoโs side come into the match off the back of a tremendous 1-0 away win at Manchester City, while Newcastle have been in poor form with just one win from their last six matches.
Throw into the mix that they lost their best player Yohan Cabaye on deadline day and then director of football Joe Kinnear resigned earlier this week, then on top of that the Magpies were hammered 3-0 at home in the Tyne-Wear derby against Sunderland. It has not been a pleasant seven days in Newcastle for fans, players and staff at the club.
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So a trip down to London to face Chelsea and Mourinhoโs unbeaten home run in charge of the Blues isnโt what the doctor ordered. Plus Chelsea will be out for revenge, after they lost 2-0 earlier in the season at St. Jamesโ Park.
The Blues have been looking incredibly solid of late, with just two goals scored against them in their last eight matches. Mourinho has the likes of Willian, Oscar and Eden Hazard playing out of their skin and thereโs a real determination and work ethic present throughout this Chelsea team as they hunt down Arsenal. Despite all that, Mourinho has quashed talk of Chelsea winning the title, but many believe thatโs just mind games.
In team news, Fernando Torres is still missing for the Blues, while Cheick Tiote, Loic Remy, Papiss Cisse and Yoan Gouffran are all missing for Newcastle.
What theyโre saying
Jose Mourinho on Chelseaโs title hopes: โJust because we won against Man City, now people are changing their opinion. But, I know where we are, I know that we are good and working well and playing well, but we are going step by step. Let us enjoy the moment, the moment is good. We all like very much to be there, to be close to them. Thatโs good, but no more than that. Everything I say is mind games, everything I do is mind games, everything is mind games. The only thing that is not mind games is the results. Thatโs not mind games.โ
Alan Pardew on Newcastleโs tough stretch ahead: โItโs an important period because we have got two really tough games โ I think everybody would appreciate that โ but we really do need to put a performance on the pitch that contains enthusiasm, desire and a real purpose, and thatโs what we are going to do.โ
Prediction
It is hard to see this going any other way than a home win for Chelsea, as the Blues have been so good in recent weeks. Mourinhoโs men are solid and just donโt look like conceding, while Newcastle have failed to scored in five of their last six games. Chelsea have that extra bit of quality and havenโt lost in 72 games at home in the PL under Mourinho. Big home win at Stamford Bridge this Saturday.
