Chelsea are the form team ahead of facing Newcastle United in what could be a Champions League decider on Sunday.
That is the view of Chris Sutton, who is expecting plenty of goals between Newcastle United and Chelsea.
This is Newcastle’s biggest Premier League game of the season, with Champions League football very much on the line.
If the Magpies win at St James’ Park, they will be on the brink of Champions League qualification. Finishing in the top five would be a remarkable achievement, and it would make an unforgettable season even more impressive after winning the Carabao Cup.
Sutton predicts Newcastle United vs Chelsea
This is a seismic fixture, and one that Chris Sutton believes Newcastle United will narrowly win.
He has predicted Sunday’s game at St James’ Park for BBC Sport, with Sutton suggesting that Eddie Howe’s side will ‘edge it’.
“It’s great to see two teams going head-to-head in this race for the top five and Chelsea probably come into it in better form after getting a great result against Liverpool on Sunday,” he said.
“Yes, they were playing straight after Liverpool had won the title and the Reds had probably been celebrating all week, but they still had to put them away and they did that convincingly. It means Enzo Maresca’s side have won their past three league games so they will be full of confidence ahead of this one, but it’s going to be tough for them to extend that run.
“We know Maresca is a stickler for playing out from the back, but doing that against Newcastle is asking for trouble. The Magpies will put them under serious pressure, because that’s what they do to teams at St James’ Park.
“Newcastle have got a very physical midfield which might be where the battle is won and lost, and of course Alexander Isak is such a threat too.
“Chelsea have got match-winners too, if Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke are firing, and my first thought was that there will be lots of goals in this game.
“With what’s at stake, though, it might be a little cagier than that. I think the BBC readers will go for a draw but I am going to stick my neck out and say Newcastle will edge it.”
Sutton’s prediction: Newcastle United 2 Chelsea 1
Newcastle can punish Chelsea again
As Sutton says, Enzo Maresca likes his Chelsea team to play out from the back.
If Maresca persists with this tactic, it could play into Newcastle’s hands.
The only concern is that Joelinton is unavailable. The Brazilian is a pressing machine, but will miss Sunday’s game due to a knee injury.
Joe Willock will likely start again in midfield, with the 25-year-old featuring in Geordie Boot Boys’ predicted Newcastle XI to face Chelsea.
