Game Week 13 Predictions: Newcastle to beat Chelsea

Chelsea vs Newcastle: Premier League Match Preview and Predictions.

Newcastle must rise above their own fears to beat Chelsea at St. James's Park on Saturday. (Photo credit: GOAL)

 Newcastle vs. Chelsea

St. James’s Park

4:00pm

Chelsea heads into this game in better form than Newcastle, and that is a little strange considering how poor Chelsea’s season has been.

Back-to-back losses in the Champions League and on the domestic front have seen Newcastle struggle on the Premier League log, but they must get a grip and steady the ship; you don’t want to cede too many grounds to the rest of the teams, especially in a season as close as this one.

You can’t really tell where Chelsea are mentally; one moment you want to give them a chance after a fine result, and the next you’re questioning their mentality after going down badly right after a good result. You really can’t tell.

The game against Manchester City shows what Chelsea can do. The Blues were fearless; they gave it everything against the champions and came back twice to earn a big point. Now they must build on that on their trip to Tyneside.

Newcastle’s last win was the one they had to answer many questions about. It isn’t their fault that the officials gave a contentious goal, and it even makes the win sweeter, but they haven’t won a game since that win over Arsenal.

Newcastle is struggling on the injury front. Callum Wilson and Isak are both sweating on fitness, as is Sven Botman. Eddie Howe confirms that Fabian Schaar is fit, but Dan Burn will not feature for the Geordies again this calendar year.

Chelsea have their own injury problems, but they're easing up. Christian Nkunku is closer than ever, and Wesley Fofana is back in training. Mauricio Pochettino will be happy that his men returned from the break and are in one piece for the challenge ahead.

Eddie Howe will attack Chelsea at home; he will not sit back and hope on the counters. The game is expected to be an open one if Chelsea come out like they did against the champions; however, no two games are the same.

It’s a game that would mean everything to both sides; Chelsea has to move closer to the top while Newcastle can’t stray from the top six and even the top four by extension. Eddie Howe’s team has a game in midweek in the Champions League, and it’s a game they must win.

Chelsea will go as high as 8^th on the log depending on how other results go; it’s enough motivation for them to rise ahead of the packed festive fixtures. Both sides have reasons to go for this one, but Chelsea will need to bring their A game to win here.

Verdict: Newcastle to win