It’s an early kickoff on Tyneside immediately, which signifies that this sport goes to start out in just some brief hours! So let’s get to it.
It’s fourth towards twelfth, however Newcastle away isn’t not a frightening proposition. And it’s simply the primary of many daunting propositions awaiting us this vacation season, with video games towards two of the top-three (Aston Villa and Manchester Metropolis) on faucet. We’re gonna want all of the festive spirit, after which some!
Commercial
Date / Time: Saturday, December 20, 2025, 12.30 GMT; 7:30am EST; 6pm ISTVenue: St James’ Park, Newcastle upon Tyne, EnglandReferee: Andy Madley (on pitch); Peter Bankes (VAR)Forecast: Cloudy and chilly
On TV: TNT Sports activities 1 (UK); USA, Universo (USA); Star Sports activities Choose HD1 (India); SuperSport Premier League (NGA); Streaming: discovery+ (UK); NBC Sports activities Dwell, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo (USA); JioHotstar (India); DStv Now (NGA)
Newcastle United group information: After an historic season final yr — a fifth place end (thus Champions League qualification) and their first main trophy in 56 years — this season has been a little bit of a letdown to date, with the Magpies struggling to place constant outcomes collectively: six wins, six defeats, 21 scored, 20 conceded. Nearly completely in stability, proper in the course of midtable.
Commercial
Clearly, the departure of striker Alexander Isak was at all times going to have a significant impact, although his replacements, Nick Woltemade and Yoanne Wissa (now absolutely match after a number of months out with a knee damage) are definitely harmful in their very own proper as effectively.
Supervisor Eddie Howe will definitely hope that his group can ship in assault, together with his defensive choices decreased because of accidents. Dan Burn, Sven Botman, Kieran Trippier, Ex-Chelsea prospect Tino Livramento, Emil Krafth, and Jamaal Lascelles are all out, whereas goalkeeper Nick Pope is uncertain. One other ex-Chelsea child, Lewis Corridor is going through a late health take a look at.
The Magpies have solely misplaced three video games at house this season — to Arsenal, Liverpool, and Barcelona.
View from the enemy:
Chelsea group information: It’s not usually that we play a group with a worse damage state of affairs than ours, however lately, we’ve really been doing fairly okay in that division. That mentioned, Estêvão misses out with some form of minor muscular damage whereas Levi Colwill, Liam Delap, Dário Essugo, and Roméo Lavia stay out as normal. Each Delap and Estêvão are anticipated to be again subsequent weekend.
Commercial
Enzo Maresca rotated closely for the League Cup quarterfinal midweek, which ought to hopefully reinvigorate a few of the drained legs within the squad (particularly Enzo Fernández).
There’s been plenty of noise across the group and particularly Maresca himself — current hypothesis about his future, each by way of his relationship with the board after which as regards to a possible Pep Guardiola exit at Manchester Metropolis — however the supervisor has assured us that he’s joyful as may be and everybody’s absolutely targeted on the soccer.
So let’s get to the soccer!
Beforehand: We’ve not received at St James’ Park since 2021 and our final two visits have each led to 2-0 defeats. Bah, humbug.