Chelsea vs Newcastle Predictions

• Both teams have scored in Chelsea’s last seven league games
• Newcastle have not kept a clean sheet in their last 14 matches
• Chelsea have won five of their last eight league outings

Blues have eyes firmly set on top four

Chelsea’s interest in the Champions League looks likely to end next week after a 5-2 first-leg defeat to Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, but they still have plenty to play for in the league and can boost their top-four prospects with a win over Newcastle.

Defensive errors contributed to their downfall in the French capital, but their only defeat in their last eight league outings came at Arsenal, where Pedro Neto’s red card led to them playing the final 20 minutes against the leaders with only ten men.

Manager Liam Rosenior will be disappointed that they were held to draws against Leeds and Burnley in their two most recent outings at Stamford Bridge, but a 4-1 win over Aston Villa was a big boost so they should be expected to kick on against Newcastle, who have claimed just three victories on their league travels this season.

Goal may be most Magpies muster

The Magpies are still fighting for a quarter-final spot in the Champions League after a 1-1 draw against Barcelona on Tuesday, when they were pegged back by a late Lamine Yamal penalty.

But while they have been able to go toe-to-toe with some of Europe’s leading lights this season, it has been a disappointing league campaign as they head to Stamford Bridge in 12th spot.

They will be confident they will be able to find the net against the Blues, who have kept just one clean sheet in their last 13 league outings, but two recent defeats at Manchester City and a 4-1 reverse at Liverpool on New Year’s Eve suggest they may not be able to get the job done against the top teams.

It looks set to be an entertaining encounter so take the home team to win a game in which both teams score, while correct-score enthusiasts are pointed to a 3-1 Chelsea win.

Pedro has his eye in

Joao Pedro looks Chelsea’s chief goal threat and those looking for an anytime-goalscorer interest are pointed towards the Brazilian forward.

He scored a hat-trick in the win at Villa Park and has clearly loved playing at Stamford Bridge recently, scoring in his last four league home outings against Crystal Palace, West Ham, Leeds and Burnley.