EPL: Chelsea v Newcastle United preview

Chelsea v Newcastle United preview

Chelsea will look to extend their unbeaten league run to seven games when they entertain Newcastle in Saturday's early kick off.

The defending champions have collected 16 points from their last six fixtures, a run that has seen them move up to third, with Antonio Conte's men winning their last three games at Stamford Bridge.

The manager was sent to the stands during Wednesday's 1-0 win over Swansea but Conte won't face a touchline ban, despite being charged with misconduct by the Football Association.

Chelsea are expected to recall both Cesar Azpilicueta and Eden Hazard, who were on the bench in midweek. The Blues though are expected to once again be without injured duo David Luiz and Michy Batshuayi.

Newcastle in contrast, have only won one of their last nine Premier League fixtures although they ended a run of four straight defeats with a draw at West Brom on Tuesday night.

The Magpies have only won one of their last seven on the road - at Swansea in September - and have lost all of their last four visits to the Bridge, including a 5-1 defeat on their last clash in February 2016.

Rafa Benitez, who will return to his former club, is once again hampered by injuries with Jamaal Lascelles, Christian Atsu and Paul Dummett all expected to remain on the sidelines. Jonjo Shelvey, Aleksandar Mitrovic and Dwight Gayle started on the bench at the Hawthorns and are pushing for starts.