Newcastle United and Chelsea are set to face off in Sunday’s Premier League encounter at St James’ Park.
This season’s Premier League campaign has fizzled out for the most part, with the title and the relegation places already settled.
However, the race for Europe remains hotly contested, and Newcastle vs Chelsea is a Champions League qualification six-pointer.
Chris Sutton has now predicted the game’s scoreline as he explained why Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca could find himself in “trouble” on Sunday.
Chris Sutton backs Newcastle to claim narrow win over Chelsea
Sutton noted how Chelsea are in better form than Newcastle, going into the game on the back of three league wins in a row.
However, the former Blues striker noted how Maresca likes his teams playing out from the back, which he thinks would be risky against the Magpies.
“It’s great to see two teams going head-to-head in this race for the top five,” Sutton wrote on BBC Sport.
“And Chelsea probably come into it in better form after getting a great result against Liverpool on Sunday.
“Enzo Maresca’s side have won their past three league games so they will be full of confidence ahead of this one, but it’s going to be tough for them to extend that run.
“We know Maresca is a stickler for playing out from the back, but doing that against Newcastle is asking for trouble.
“The Magpies will put them under serious pressure, because that’s what they do to teams at St James’ Park.
“Newcastle have got a very physical midfield which might be where the battle is won and lost, and of course Alexander Isak is such a threat too.
“Chelsea have got match-winners too, if Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke are firing, and my first thought was that there will be lots of goals in this game.
“With what’s at stake, though, it might be a little cagier than that. I think the BBC readers will go for a draw but I am going to stick my neck out and say Newcastle will edge it.”
Sutton concluded by predicting a 2-1 win for Newcastle, which would put them three points ahead of Chelsea.
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Newcastle vs Chelsea team news
Newcastle pair Fabian Schar and Kieran Trippier are expected to be fit to face Chelsea despite suffering cramp late on.
Joelinton is recovering well from the knee injury that was originally expected to rule him out for the rest of the season.
In addition, Anthony Gordon is back to full fitness after needing some time to recover from an issue picked up with England.
As for Chelsea, forward Marc Guiu is closing in on a return after three months out with a hamstring problem.
However, Blues defender Wesley Fofana is sidelined for the rest of the season.
