Chelsea vs Newcastle LIVE: Team news and line-ups ahead of Premier League clash

Chelsea vs Newcastle LIVE: Express Sport brings you the latest Premier League team news, updates and analysis from Stamford Bridge

CONTE COMPLAINS

11:55: Again…

Antonio Conte has suggested there is a fixture conspiracy against his Chelsea side.

I love a good conspiracy theory. Did you hear the one about The Beatles were a fake band staffed by a revolving cast of identical actors…

Anyway, Conte has previously complained about Chelsea’s fixture schedule in relation to matches with Manchester City, Watford and Liverpool following European games. 

“Now it’s very difficult to think this is a coincidence. This is the fourth time. I’m not stupid, if someone wants to joke with me I’m not the right person to joke with,” Conte said.

“Once it can happen. Twice it can happen. The third time, you start to be perplexed. In only 14 games it has happened four times.”

RAFA’S RECORD…

11:50: The statistics don’t make good reading for Rafa Benitez, who has a surprisingly terrible record against Chelsea.

The Spanish tactician has faced Chelsea on 12 occasions at Stamford Bridge with one win, four draws and seven defeats.

Hard to see anything other than another defeat today folks, but stranger things have happened – just look at that fella that Tweets from the White House…

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Dave: Diame will be a massive liability today – as usual. Fearing the worst!

Clarence: Best team today IMO. No Cahill, Luiz, Pedro, Willian. Drinkwater and Kante in the centre and Fabregas given a free role out wide so he doesn’t get exposed defensively.

Connor: Wondering whether I’ve wasted £6.99 on a NowTV sports pass after seeing Diame in the lineup. I’ve seen tractors with more on-field agility.

TEAM NEWS – NEWCASTLE

11:40: Rafa Benitez keeps faith in goalkeeper Karl Darlow on his return to Stamford Bridge.

DeAndre Yedlin, who had a bit of a shocker against West Brom on Tuesday, is replaced by Javier Manquillo. 

Dwight Gayle comes in up front as Joselu is dropped. *Toon fans celebrate wildly…*

Mohamed Diame comes in for Isaac Hayden, and there’s still no place for Jonjo Shelvey, who has to settle for a place on the bench.

TEAM NEWS – CHELSEA

11:35: Let’s start with the hosts. Antonio Conte has made four changes from the side who beat Swansea on Wednesday evening.

Eden Hazard, Danny Drinkwater, Victor Moses and Cesar Azpilicueta replace Gary Cahill, Davide Zappacosta, Pedro and Willian.

Interestingly Michy Batshuayi returns to the substitutes bench. having recovered from injury.

CHELSEA vs NEWCASTLE

11:30: And here’s today’s starting XI’s folks. Eden Hazard and Alvaro Morata both start today.

Chelsea XI: Courtois, Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger, Moses, Drinkwater, Fabregas, Kante, Alonso, Hazard, Morata.

Subs: Caballero, Pedro, Bakayoko, Zappacosta, Willian, Batshuayi, Cahill.

Newcastle XI: Darlow, Manquillo, Lejeune, Clark, Mbemba, Diame, Merino, Ritchie, Perez, Murphy, Gayle.

Subs: Elliot, Shelvey, Hayden, Aarons, Joselu, Yedlin, Mitrovic.

HAVE YOUR SAY

11:28: If you want to vent your frustrations, or discuss any issues in the world of football (within reason), then get in touch!

You can either comment at the bottom of the page or contact me via Twitter using the hashtag #ExpressSport.

HE’S BACK!

11:25: A fortnight after renewing his rivalry with Jose Mourinho, Rafael Benitez faces another reminder of his past as he takes his Newcastle side to Chelsea.

It will be his first game at Stamford Bridge since the his brief spell as interim manager there in 2013, which ended with triumph in the Europa League.

Despite that success, he could still get a mixed reception with tensions dating back to his time as Liverpool manager still prevalent.

It’s got all the makings of a very intriguing encounter.

MORNING

11:20: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of Chelsea vs Newcastle from Stamford Bridge.

I was going to introduce today’s blog by wishing you a very Happy Christmas, but it’s far too early for that, right?

I know, I’m a Scrooge…

Anyway, we’ve got a cracker (no Christmas pun intended) for you this morning as Rafa Benitez takes his struggling side to Stamford Bridge.

The Blues can move level with second-placed Manchester United with a victory, and heap the pressure on them ahead of this evening’s clash with Arsenal.

There’s plenty at stake, so let’s get the ball rolling!

CHELSEA vs NEWCASTLE – PREVIEW

Chelsea are again without defender David Luiz (knee). Forward Charly Musonda also has a knee problem. Striker Michy Batshuayi and the left-sided Kenedy have returned to training, but may not yet be in the squad.

Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez has no fresh injury problems. Defenders Paul Dummett (hamstring) and Jamaal Lascelles (foot) and winger Christian Atsu (groin) are closing in on returns, but will not feature.

Last five league matches: Chelsea W W W D W; Newcastle L L L L D

Top scorers (all competitions): Alvaro Morata (Chelsea) 9; Ciaran Clark, Joselu, Jamaal Lascelles & Aleksandar Mitrovic (Newcastle) 2

Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire)