Team news: Botman back for Blues battle | OneFootball

The Dutch defender underwent surgery on a knee problem in March but, having made appearances from the bench in each of the Magpies' last two games, comes into the starting XI to face the Blues.

Anthony Gordon is also in from the start, with Kieran Trippier and Joe Willock coming out of the team which drew at Brighton last weekend. Trippier misses out with a calf injury while Willock has a knee complaint, although both are believed to be minor.

Meanwhile, Jamaal Lascelles is named among the substitutes. It's his first time in a matchday squad since he suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury against West Ham in March 2024.

Lascelles scored in this fixture last season, as Newcastle ran out 4-1 winners in November 2023. Gordon and Alexander Isak were also on target that day, alongside Joelinton who misses out through injury. The Magpies have won both of their home Premier League matches against Chelsea under Eddie Howe, and also beat the Blues on Tyneside in the Carabao Cup in October.

The two teams go into the match level on points, but with United in fourth and Chelsea a place below due to Howe's side scoring more goals.

Newcastle United: Nick Pope, Sven Botman, Fabian Schär, Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon, Harvey Barnes, Alexander Isak, Tino Livramento, Jacob Murphy, Dan Burn, Bruno Guimarães

Substitutes: Martin Dúbravka, John Ruddy, Jamaal Lascelles, Callum Wilson, Emil Krafth, William Osula, Sean Longstaff, Lewis Miley, Sean Neave