Newcastle to prove the Big Six is now a Big Seven
Newcastle United are riding on the crest of a wave at present and next in the firing line at St. James' Park are Chelsea early on Saturday evening in the Premier League. The Toon Army have only lost once all season and could move nine points ahead of Graham Potter's visitors with a win to sign off the last game before the break for the World Cup. Read our preview here:
It's time to Burn
Eddie Howe's men came through a dramatic EFL Cup penalty shoot-out during midweek against Crystal Palace to keep alive hopes of a first trophy on Tyneside for generations, and their chances are increasing of a place in the UEFA Champions League as they are currently the best of the rest behind Arsenal and Manchester City. Part of their rise has been built upon the joint meanest defence in the division, with the standard four in front of shoot-out hero Nick Pope becoming a very cohesive unit. Though the signing of Dan Burn was never going to be one to excite the vast home support under the new owners when it was made in January, he has been a very important part of turning a farce into a fierce last line on the left flank as a more conservative anchor to Kieran Trippier's forays forward. Miguel Almirón has seven goals in his last seven starts and is in the form of his life. He'll be looking for more, as will Callum Wilson, who will be celebrating a slightly surprising call-up to the England squad in Qatar.
Mount a case for the defence
Potter is already starting to come under a bit of pressure from fans, having presided over three defeats in the last four matches amidst some very unconvincing collective and individual performances from key players. The sole win in that sequence was over Dinamo Zagreb in the UEFA Champions League, which sees the Blues come up against Borussia Dortmund in the last 16. Domestically, they are down in seventh (albeit with a game in hand) and out of the EFL Cup after losing 2-0 to Manchester City. Whilst exiting what most supporters would consider an irrelevancy isn't normally a cause for concern, it becomes one when taken in light of other results. Mason Mount has been conspicuous in the current bad spell, failing to make a meaningful contribution for a month. He is far from alone, however - Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang also hasn't scored in that same period, Raheem Sterling's strikes have dried up, and a back four missing three of its likely first choice players is starting to ship goals in a big way. Kepa Arrizabalaga's injury seems to have precipitated that flurry, with Édouard Mendy looking less assured behind the defence.
Betting tip
Still longer than evens, the hosts can be backed at 2.25 to grab yet another win.
