Today at St. James’ Park, two of the richest clubs in the Premier League will square off against each other as Newcastle United hosts Chelsea.
Newcastle is in third place after earning 27 points from its first 14 games, while Chelsea has dropped to seventh after a four-game losing streak in the league.
No Premier League team has a higher net spend since the contentious takeover of Newcastle last year than the Magpies. Chelsea came under new ownership just last May and splashed in excess of £250m on transfers last summer, a division-high.
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Newcastle has so far made greater use of their wealth and will undoubtedly finish in the top four on Christmas Day. Chelsea lags Newcastle by six points but has a game in hand on their future opponents.
On Saturday night, Newcastle will once again be without Paul Dummett, Emil Krafth, Ryan Fraser, Matt Ritchie, and Alexander Isak due to injury, and Callum Wilson is questionable due to illness.
For the EFL Cup match against Palace on Wednesday, Howe made a number of expected substitutions; however, for this game, players like Bruno Guimaraes, Kieran Trippier, Sven Botman, Miguel Almiron, Joe Willock, and Fabian Schar will all return to the starting lineup.
Joelinton was suspended for the league match against Southampton last weekend, but he is eligible for this game and is anticipated to replace Jacob Murphy in the last third of the pitch.
N’Golo Kante, Wesley Fofana, Ben Chilwell, and Reece James will all be out from Chelsea’s lineup at St. James’ Park once more.
Due to a foot ailment, Kepa Arrizabalaga is also unlikely to play, and Jorginho is also questionable because of the issue that kept him out of the EFL Cup match against Man City.
Raheem Sterling, Mason Mount, Kai Havertz, Thiago Silva, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are all expected to return, and Potter will make changes from the game on Wednesday.
For this game, Chelsea may switch to a back four, with Trevoh Chalobah perhaps starting with Thiago Silva in the centre and Cesar Azpilicueta moving to right back.
Newcastle Possible Line-up
Pope; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; S Longstaff, Guimaraes, Willock; Joelinton, Wilson, Almiron
Chelsea Possible Line-up
Mendy; Azpilicueta, Chalobah, T Silva, Cucurella; Loftus-Cheek, Kovacic; Sterling, Havertz, Mount; Aubameyang
Newcastle, England; St James’ Park as the venue
Date: November 12, a Saturday.
The game will begin at 17:30 GMT, 12:30 ET, and 09:30 PT.