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Here’s all the live action you can enjoy with us this weekend …
Thanks to Chris Greenhough and Nick Whitbread, who emailed me within seconds of each other to nominate Paul Warhurst – as both noted, a utility phenomenon in the Premier League and Championship Manager, where he could play pretty much anywhere.
“One memorable utility shift was Ryan Bertrand, moved up to left wing in the 2012 Champions League final, sitting in front of Ashley Cole to track Arjen Robben. I believe he’s still the only player to have made his Champions League debut in the final,” says Rob Hobson.
“Last weekend’s shambolic and shameful defeat at the dark place won’t be forgotten about any time soon, so there is added pressure to get a result here,” writes Newcastle fan Chris Paraskevas.
“We’ve been waiting for a semblance of consistency from this team but too often it has been one step forward followed by two steps back. As much as there have been injuries, isn’t that to be expected of ‘big’ clubs playing in all the ‘big’ competitions?
“There’s a noticeable leadership vacuum on the pitch right now and Bruno cannot be expected to constantly lift the team off the canvas and drive us on. Some of the big players ought to look at the example set by Lewis Miley: quietly consistent, adaptable and always calm under pressure.”
One interesting trend this season – partly caused by injuries – has been the revival of utility players. Like Dominik Szoboszlai, Lewis Miley is dropping in to right-back from midfield effectively, while Reece James has moved the other way for Chelsea. At Manchester City, Pep Guardiola – who was shifting players around before it was cool – has settled on Nico O’Reilly and Matheus Nunes as his starting full-backs. Anyone I’m missing? And who are your favourite everymen from down the years?
Those Newcastle injuries: today Howe is without Burn, Livramento, Sven Botman, Dan Burn, Kieran Trippier, Emil Krafth, Jamaal Lascelles, William Osula and Nick Pope. No Premier League team has more players out at present, but there are more than 130 players nursing some kind of issue, according to Premier Injuries. It’s almost like they play too many games, or something.
Eddie Howe talks to TNT Sports: “We want lots of goalmouth action, there’s no better feeling than when you look like scoring goals. We want to pay the fans back for all their support, and the horrible feeling we gave them against Sunderland.”
As for Chelsea, there’s just one change from the team that beat Everton in the league last weekend – with Moises Caicedo replacing Enzo Fernández in midfield. Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho, who came off the bench to earn Carabao Cup victory in Cardiff, both start today.
Newcastle make three changes from the defeat to Sunderland, with two Jacobs coming in – Ramsey in midfield and Murphy on the right wing. Anthony Elanga drops to the bench, while Lewis Miley slots in at right-back, as he did against Fulham in the League Cup, where he popped up with the winning goal. Tino Livramento and Dan Burn have both joined Eddie Howe’s long injury list, but Lewis Hall is fit to start today.
Team news
Newcastle United (4-3-3): Ramsdale; Miley, Thiaw, Schar, Hall; Guimarães, Tonali, Ramsey; Jacob Murphy, Woltemade, Gordon.
Subs: Ruddy, Joelinton, Wissa, Barnes, Elanga, Willock, Alex Murphy, Shahar, Neave.
Chelsea (4-2-3-1): Sánchez; Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; James, Caicedo; Pedro Neto, Palmer, Garnacho; João Pedro.
Subs: Jorgensen, Adarabioyo, Badiashile, Fernandez, Santos, Hato, Acheampong, Guiu, Buonanotte.
Referee: Andrew Madley. VAR: Peter Bankes.
Assistants: Adrian Holmes, Craig Taylor.
Preamble
Two teams, and two head coaches, on similar paths converge at St James’ Park this afternoon. Newcastle and Chelsea both earned Carabao Cup wins in midweek that partially papered over their recent troubles – but Eddie Howe and Enzo Maresca have both struggled to build any real momentum so far this season.
Newcastle are 12th in the league, but only six points behind today’s opponents, who sit fourth. In the last month, they have beaten Manchester City at home, run riot at Everton, slipped up twice in the Champions League (where they also sit 12th) and served up a miserably meek performance in the derby defeat to Sunderland.
Chelsea’s form has been slightly better – save for a defeat to Atalanta that leaves them just behind Newcastle in the European standings. Just like their hosts, though, they are prone to tepid displays whenever a hot streak is threatened. Maresca’s recent comments have only served to turn up the heat, making him more vulnerable on those bad days.
A little pressure, then, on both dugouts as we head into the fabled busy festive period. It could make for a very watchable game. Kick-off is at 12.30pm (GMT).
