Premier League - Newcastle vs Chelsea: Magpies host Blues in crucial clash
by Thobelani Moyo | by Thobelani Moyo
Newcastle United: Magpies aiming for the European football spots
It's without a shadow of doubt that Newcastle United have endured a difficult season in the Premier League, but surely now the pressure is starting to tone down for head coach Eddie Howe.
The 47-year-old has seen his team win three of their last five league games heading into this clash. A 1-0 away defeat to Sunderland on Sunday in a derby clash marked their first loss in four games.
That didn't derail the Magpies from securing a hard-fought win against Fulham in the Carabao Cup quarter-final. Yoane Wissa opened the scoring for his side in the tenth minute, and that was also his first goal for the team, while Lewis Miley scored the winner in the dying embers of the game.
With three games remaining in the Premier League before the year concludes, they might have a chance to break their way into the top five. Currently, they occupy 12th place in the league standings with 22 points to their name in 16 games.
Chelsea: No margin of error for the Blues
Indeed, Chelsea are having a great run in the current 2025-26 Premier League season, but recent unfavorable results have seen them fall out of the top three in the standings.
However, they still have the chance to conclude the year inside the top three. If things go accordingly, securing the top spot can be possible given that results elsewhere go their way.
The Blues are in fourth place in the league standings with 28 points to their name from 16 games. Caution must be exercised, considering they have maintained a two-point cushion over three teams below them. Can Enzo Maresca's men secure a win in this crucial clash? Find out what our experts have to say in our Newcastle vs Chelsea prediction for more insights.
Enzo Maresca's men should be in high spirits heading into this clash, having won two consecutive matches across all competitions. They defeated Everton 2-0 at home in the league before seeing off the threat of Cardiff City in the Carabao Cup quarter-final, winning 3-1 on the road.
Head-to-Head: Who has the edge?
Newcastle United and Chelsea have crossed paths in the Premier League 60 times, and the latter have the edge in this fixture.
Enzo Maresca's men have won 31 times compared to Newcastle's 16. 13 of those matches ended in a draw. They've won two of their last three matches, with their most recent fixture ending in a 2-0 away defeat.
Newcastle United vs. Chelsea's last five results:
- Newcastle United 2-0 Chelsea
- Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle United
- Chelsea 3-2 Newcastle United
- Newcastle United 4-1 Chelsea
- Chelsea 1-1 Newcastle United
Players to watch
Bruno Guimaraes has been putting up impressive performances for Newcastle United this season. He has been directly involved in seven goal involvements and is the joint top goalscorer for his club along with Nick Woltemade. In the previous season, the Brazilian international scored the winning goal against Chelsea at home late in the game, and hopes to do so again.
Pedro Neto has been a breath of fresh air at Stamford Bridge this season. The 25-year-old is the club's top goalscorer with five goals to his name. In fact, he has been involved in eight goal involvements.
Match Details
- Date and Time: 20 December 2025, 13:30 (BST)
- Venue: St. James' Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, England
- Referee: Andrew Madley.
