Newcastle vs Chelsea predictions: Magpies to further Champions League claims
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- Chelsea have won only one of their last nine away league games
- Alexander Isak has scored in five of his last six home appearances
- Recommended bet: Newcastle to win
The Premier League trophy is already Liverpool's and the relegation battle has been over for a few weeks now, but who qualifies for the Champions League is less cut and dried.
One of Manchester United or Tottenham will be joining the Reds at Europe's top table after reaching the Europa League final, and there are six other clubs aiming to book their place in next season's competition via a top-five finish.
Newcastle and Chelsea are two of the sides in the mix and their meeting at St James' Park on Sunday could have huge ramifications in the race for the Champions League.
Team news
Newcastle defenders Jamaal Lascelles and Lewis Hall will miss the remainder of the campaign and there is a chance that Joelinton, who picked up a knee injury last month, may do likewise.
Fabian Schar is also not certain to feature against Chelsea so Sven Botman could partner Dan Burn at the heart of the Magpies' defence.
Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca rested a host of his first-team regulars for the second leg of the Blues' Conference League semi-final with Djugardens, so the likes of Cole Palmer, Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo should all return to the visitors' starting line-up on Tyneside.
The stats
Newcastle have won seven of their last nine league and cup matches, losing at only Aston Villa in that time.
The Toon have been especially potent on home soil this season, winning 11 of their 17 league matches at St James' Park.
That includes each of their last five on Tyneside, where the Magpies have scored 12 goals and conceded only once in their last three league outings.
Chelsea were 2-1 winners of October's reverse fixture but they were beaten 2-0 at Newcastle in the League Cup only three days later and their win at Fulham in their last away games is their sole Premier League success on the road in nine attempts.
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Prediction
Newcastle and Chelsea could both be playing Champions League football next season but the Magpies can edge closer to that goal on Sunday.
Eddie Howe's hosts have been ruthless at St James' Park in recent months, winning 11 of their last 14 home fixtures, and they have already beaten Chelsea on Tyneside this season in the League Cup, a competition they went on to win.
With in-form Swedish talisman Alexander Isak continuing to lead the way - he has scored in five of Newcastle's last six home games - the Toon Army could be celebrating a huge win this weekend.
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