Newcastle and Chelsea will go head-to-head in the Premier League at St James’ Park on Sunday lunchtime with both sides battling for a place in next season’s Champions League.
Eddie Howe’s side were held to a 1-1 draw by Brighton in their last outing and currently sit in fourth place, while Enzo Maresca’s team beat newly-crowned champions Liverpool 3-1 at Stamford Bridge in the middle of wins over Djurgardens to reach the Europa Conference League final.
Both sides have got some injury concerns heading into the game which gives the managers some big decisions to make, and this is how GIVEMESPORT expect the teams to line up.
Newcastle Team News
Botman back in contention
The Magpies have a bit of a defensive crisis at the moment with Kieran Trippier and Fabian Schar doubtful, while Lewis Hall, Jamaal Lascelles and Matt Targett out for the rest of the campaign – but Sven Botman is now back in contention after recovering from knee surgery.
Influential midfielder Joelinton is unlikely to play again this season due to a knee issue, although there is hope he may return for the final game of the campaign.
|
Newcastle Injuries and Suspensions |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Player |
Injury |
Potential Return Date |
|
Kieran Trippier |
Thigh |
11/05/2025 |
|
Fabian Schar |
Thigh |
11/05/2025 |
|
Joelinton |
Knee |
25/05/2025 |
|
Matt Targett |
Hamstring |
02/06/2025 |
|
Jamaal Lascelles |
Knee |
02/06/2025 |
|
Lewis Hall |
Ankle |
07/07/2025 |
Howe Drops Team News Update
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Howe shared an update on his squad ahead of the game.
“We’ve got a couple of players we’re looking at and assessing – and we’ll see how they are from the weekend. But apart from that, we’re OK.
“We trained well this week, I’ve been pleased with the group, very focused on Sunday.
“I saw Joe[linton] yesterday for the first time in a while, as he’d been away… He’s been back in Barcelona for another injection. I think he’s feeling pretty good. Whether we see him before the end of the season, we’ll see.”
Newcastle Predicted XI
Gordon to start
- Newcastle Predicted XI: Pope; Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento; Tonali, Guimaraes, Willock; Gordon, Isak, Murphy.
- Newcastle Predicted Substitutes: Dubravka (GK), Botman (DEF), Krafth (DEF), Miley (MID), Longstaff (MID), Neave (MID), Barnes (FWD), Osula (FWD), Wilson (FWD).
After not starting since February, Gordon should get the nod in attack in his favourite left-wing role ahead of Harvey Barnes after his performance off the bench last week.
Outside of that the team is unlikely to change too much, meaning £170,000-a-week duo Sven Botman and Barnes are to be on the bench.
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Chelsea Team News
Guiu closing in on return
Chelsea are closing in on welcoming back young striker Marc Guiu from a hamstring injury, and he could be involved in the matchday squad for the first time in months.
Wesley Fofana and Mykhailo Mudryk are likely to be unavailable for the rest of the season, while there is still a doubt over the availability of Christopher Nkunku who has missed the last three games with a knock.
|
Chelsea Injuries and Suspensions |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Player |
Injury |
Potential Return Date |
|
Marc Guiu |
Hamstring |
08/05/2025 |
|
Omari Kellyman |
Hamstring |
01/06/2025 |
|
Christopher Nkunku |
Knock |
08/05/2025 |
|
Wesley Fofana |
Ineligible |
Unknown |
|
Mykhailo Mudryk |
Suspended |
Unknown |
Maresca Drops Team News Update
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Maresca shared an update on his squad ahead of the game.
“We will see. The first result against Djurgarden gave us the chance to rotate and protect players for the second leg. But we still have today and Saturday to prepare the game, then we will see.
‘It’s a 12pm kick-off and we played on Thursday night, so it’s not the ideal situation, but we need to play and we need to adapt immediately, prepare for the game in the best way, and hopefully continue our good moment.
‘We have two days and the players need to be focused on the Newcastle game because it’s the next one. For us, we have to think like it’s the last game of the season, give everything, and then we see at the end [of the game].’
Chelsea Predicted XI
Maresca to go unchanged
- Chelsea Predicted XI: Sanchez; Caicedo, Chalobah, Colwill, Cucurella; Fernandez, Lavia; Madueke, Palmer, Neto; Jackson.
- Chelsea Predicted Substitutes: Jorgensen (GK), Badiashile (DEF), Acheampong (DEF), Tosin (DEF), James (DEF), Gusto (DEF), Dewsbury-Hall (MID), Sancho (FWD), George (FWD).
Chelsea are coming into this game in good form and know that a win could be enough to seal Champions League football for next season, so Maresca is likely to go back to his strongest side after making lots of changes in midweek.
That should see £220,000-a-week duo Jadon Sancho and Tosin benched once again.
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