Super Sunday comes to an end at Newcastle as Rafa Benitez takes on former club Chelsea. Tom Carnduff looks at the betting.
Recommended bets
1pt Marcos Alonso to score anytime at 11/2
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Newcastle v Chelsea (St. James' Park, Sunday, 1600 BST, Sky Sports Premier League)
It's a meeting of two sides with contrasting starts to the season as Newcastle welcome Chelsea in Super Sunday's final game.
Any concerns raised about Chelsea following their Community Shield defeat to Manchester City have seemingly been answered by wins over Huddersfield and Arsenal, although they could consider themselves lucky they didn't throw away a 2-0 lead completely against the Gunners, with the visitors having a number of opportunities to score.
Newcastle gained their first point of the campaign in a 0-0 draw at Cardiff, although could have wrapped up all three had they not had a last-minute penalty saved.
They've already faced one 'top-six' side, and that resulted in a 2-1 defeat at home to Tottenham.
Chelsea are the odds-on 4/6 favourites here, with Maurizio Sarri's men more than equipped to wrap up a third victory in as many games.
History is on Newcastle's side though, with the Blues unable to gain victory in their last five visits to St. James' Park.
Toon will be looking to that history as inspiration if they are to extend that run to seven.
Betting guide
Score prediction: Newcastle 1-3 Chelsea (Sky Bet odds: 12/1)
Best bet: Marcos Alonso at 11/2
The left-back already has one goal and one assist to his name this season, and he is a player who is capable of causing plenty of problems going forward. Not only can he strike from open play, his impact on set-pieces means that this is a goalscorer worth looking at.
Alternative: Chelsea to win and over 2.5 goals in the match at 13/8
Chelsea are fancied here as they look to compound Newcastle's slow start to the season. The Blues have demonstrated already that they are a side capable of finding the net with six goals in their first two games. They'll look to exploit Newcastle's defence and add to that tally here, and it could be worth backing a Chelsea win with three or more goals in the match.
Opta facts
- Newcastle United have won four of their last five home Premier League matches against Chelsea (D1), winning 3-0 on the final day of the 2017-18 campaign.
- Chelsea have lost 11 away Premier League games against Newcastle United, only losing more against Arsenal (12) and Liverpool (13).
- This will be 11th time a Newcastle vs Chelsea fixture has been played on a Sunday in the Premier League – Newcastle have only lost once (W4 D5) previously, a 5-0 drubbing in November 2003 at Stamford Bridge.
- Newcastle United have won their three home Premier League games on Sunday in 2018 (against Man Utd, Arsenal and Chelsea) while Chelsea have lost all three of theirs away from home (against Man Utd, Man City and Newcastle).
- After losing five successive home Premier League games between November and December 2017, Newcastle United have lost just two of their last 10 at St. James’ Park in the competition (W5 D3 L2), though both defeats have arrived in the last three fixtures there.
- Chelsea have won four of their last five away Premier League contests, losing the other versus Newcastle in this exact fixture in May.
- Maurizio Sarri could become the fifth Chelsea manager to win his opening three Premier League games in charge of the club after Antonio Conte, Carlo Ancelotti, Guus Hiddink and Jose Mourinho.
- Rafa Benitez has currently won 49 of his 106 matches as manager of Newcastle United in all competitions (excl. shootouts).
- Eden Hazard has been directly involved in 110 Premier League goals (69 goals, 41 assists) – only Frank Lampard (237) and Didier Drogba (159) have had a hand in more goals for Chelsea in the competition
- Seven of Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata’s 12 Premier League goals have been assisted by Spanish compratiot Cesar Azpilicueta (58.3%). The only player to have a higher share of his Premier League goals assisted by a single player is Ken Monkou (min. 10 goals), with 60% of his 10 Premier League goals assisted by Matt Le Tissier.
Odds correct at 1740 BST (24/08/18)
