Chelsea travel to face Newcastle in a pivotal Premier League clash this weekend but the fixture has been given a strange start time.
The rivals sit on the same points and goal difference heading into their meeting as the race for a place in the Champions League heats up.
Eddie Howe’s side occupy a top-four place on goals scored and missed the chance to stay clear of the Blues by drawing with Brighton last time out.
It leaves Cole Palmer and co breathing down their necks following their win over champions Liverpool, and they can leapfrog their opponents with another victory.
Both sides are also in close competition with Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa as they battle for a place among Europe’s elite, so this game is going to be a thriller.
Fans will be desperate to follow along, but they may be puzzled to see the match taking place in an unusual slot…
Why is Newcastle vs Chelsea at 12pm on a Sunday?
Newcastle vs Chelsea was handed a new kick-off time due to the Blues’ involvement in the Europa Conference League semi-finals.
Enzo Maresca’s side have their second leg against Djurgarden coming up on Thursday night, so it means they can’t play on the following Saturday.
And that is what caused a fixture change, with the switch being confirmed in April.
A Newcastle club statement said: “The Magpies face the Blues at St. James’ Park in a game that was initially scheduled for 12:30pm BST on Saturday, 10th May.
“But due to Chelsea’s participation in the Europa Conference League the preceding Thursday, that game on Tyneside will now be played on Sunday, 11th May, with kick-off set for 12pm BST.
“The match will still be broadcast live on TNT Sports.”
TNT Sports typically show the 12:30pm kick-off on a Saturday, but they are now making use of their alternate kick-off slot of 12pm on a Sunday.
It means fans will be treated to three games shown live on TV on Sunday afternoon in the UK this weekend.
Sky Sports will also broadcast Nottingham Forest vs Leicester and Liverpool vs Arsenal after Newcastle take on Chelsea.
Newcastle vs Chelsea: talkSPORT coverage
talkSPORT will have live and exclusive coverage of the game at St. James’ Park.
Reshmin Chowdhury will be your host while commentary comes from Sam Matterface and former England defender Danny Mills.
To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream.
You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.
talkSPORT.com will also keep you up to date with all the latest.
Newcastle vs Chelsea: What has been said?
Newcastle’s Dan Burn has labelled this huge game as a ‘cup final’.
Speaking on the Champions League race, Burn said: “As long as we’re picking up points and ticking over, that’s what you want.
“We’re always quite a positive group who believe what the gaffer is doing. We always feel like we’re mentally where we want to be.
“It is a cup final, really – it’s huge.
“I never really worry about us mentally going into those games, playing at home in front of the crowd, knowing they’ll be buzzing for it as well.”
