Newcastle United have found their lifeline, but they are far from safe and need to keep winning if they hope to avoid relegation. The Magpies are currently in a three-way tie for 15th place in the table, yet they are just two points north of the drop. This week, they travel to London to take on Chelsea, and any result will be met by raucous cheers from the Magpies fans. Chelsea are in fourth place in the table with 44 points, and they are looking to maintain their spot in the Champions League.
Don't miss the English Premier League action from Stamford Bridge in London at 12 30 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 12, 2019. Catch every moment of the match live on NBC.
English Premier League Betting at BookMaker.eu
Chelsea -414
Newcastle United +1176
Draw +495
Over/Under 2.5 and 3
Odds Analysis
It was a wild one when these teams met in late August. There were no goals until the final 15 minutes, and then the game broke open. Chelsea picked up an Eden Hazard goal from a penalty kick, but Newcastle’s Joselu equalized in the 83rd minute. It looked like the Magpies would pick up a point despite having just 18 percent of the possession, but a late DeAndre Yedlin own goal gave the Blues the win.
Chelsea have been up and down over the past month in Premier League play. They were the first team to beat Manchester City, blanking the Citizens 2-0, but they suffered losses at home to Leicester City and on the road against Wolves. They drew to nil with Southampton in their last Premier League match prior to this one.
The Magpies were stuck in the relegation zone for most of September and October, but Newcastle pulled their way out of the bottom three in November. They won three straight matches against Watford, Bournemouth, and Burnley, and they picked up results against Everton, Huddersfield Town, Watford, and Fulham in December.
Key Injuries
Marco van Ginkel is a long-term injury for the side of Chelsea, and the Blues may be without Ruben Loftus-Cheek for quite some time too. Loftus-Cheek has been hampered with a back issue, and the training staff feels that rest may be the best answer. Alvaro Morata is doubtful to play here due to a hamstring injury, but Cesc Fabregas is expected to recover enough from cramps in his calf to play.
Yoshinori Moto will be out until at least next week due to his duties at the Asian Cup. Jonjo Shelvey is out for an undetermined period of time with a thigh injury, while Karl Darlow is out for the next few weeks with an elbow injury. Federico Fernandez and Mohamed Diame are both questionable to play here, and Ki Sung-Yeung is doubtful due to a hamstring strain.
Player to Watch
N’Golo Kante is the best defensive midfielder in the Premier League. However, he has had some difficulty adjusting to his new role in Chelsea’s offense. Maurizio Sarri has the French national playing more forward than he is used to and is counting on him to help the attack. Thus far, the returns have been mixed. Sarri is hoping that his gamble pays off, and he will continue to improve in the role here.
Prop Bet of the Game – Chelsea To Win To Nil -125
Newcastle have not been very good on the attack this year. The Magpies have just 15 goals in 21 matches, and that’s good news for Chelsea. They have strengthened in defense as of late, and Kepa has played well in goal. That should lead to three points for the Blues.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
I’d be surprised if this didn’t end in three points for Chelsea. Though the Magpies form has improved, they have had a hard time against the top teams in the Premier League.
English Premier League Odds: Chelsea 2, Newcastle United 0
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