Chelsea vs Newcastle Predictions

• Chelsea have only been beaten three times across their last 23 Premier League games
• The Blues have lost just once in 29 Premier League home matches against Newcastle
• Newcastle have scored in six of their previous seven top-flight away fixtures

Blues to protect impressive record

Chelsea have made a strong start to life under Enzo Maresca, with their only two league defeats this season coming against Manchester City on the opening weekend and away to Liverpool.

Maresca has built on the impressive end to last season the Blues enjoyed under his predecessor Mauricio Pochettino, as Chelsea have only lost three of their last 23 league games and those defeats came against the current top three in the division – Liverpool, City and Arsenal.

That will give Chelsea, who also beat Panathinaikos in the Conference League during the week, plenty of confidence heading into Sunday’s clash with Newcastle, as will their imperious home record against the Magpies in the Premier League, as they have only lost one of the previous 29 such meetings between the sides at Stamford Bridge.

Magpies struggling but can still score

Newcastle head into this game sitting just two points behind Chelsea in the standings, but they have failed to win any of their last four league fixtures.

Scoring goals has also been an issue for Eddie Howe’s side – they have notched just eight in as many league games – but they have netted in six of their last seven top-flight road fixtures and should be offered opportunities against Chelsea’s less than rock solid defence.

The Blues have gone five games without a clean-sheet in all competitions and are yet to record a league shutout at Stamford Bridge this season. With Newcastle having also scored on their last three visits to the venue, goals at both ends should be on the cards.

Chelsea won last season’s corresponding fixture 3-2 – with Newcastle’s second goal coming late on – and given the Magpies’ goalscoring prowess has dropped since then, a 3-1 home success could prove a more likely outcome.

Jackson in red-hot form

Nicolas Jackson scored Chelsea’s opening goal of that 3-2 success in March and he has been in red-hot form over recent months, finding the back of the net nine times and providing a further four assists across his last 13 league appearances.

The Senegal international has established himself as Maresca’s go-to striker in the Premier League and he should be refreshed for this game after sitting out the midweek trip to Panathinaikos.

Jackson is a man in form and he could be celebrating his sixth league goal of the season on Sunday.