Chelsea

This week Chris Sutton takes on Jessica McHale and Olivia Chomczuk, stars of football drama Jamie Johnson, in the latest round of Premier League predictions.

Sutton's prediction: 1-0

The Gunners looked like a side who had an identity - while the Blues didn't appear to have a clear idea of what they would do when they came forward, or link up well at all.

Newcastle will stay in the top four whatever happens in this game, and they must be delighted with their recent results that have put them there, as well as the way they have been playing.

I think we will see more of the same here. I don't expect this to be a high-scoring game, but I am backing the Magpies to make it five league wins in a row.

Jessica's prediction: 2-2

Newcastle have been decent recently, and this should be a really good game.

Olivia's prediction: 1-2

Newcastle are going well and this will be close - but Chelsea to edge it.

Find out how Sutton, Jessica and Olivia think the rest of the weekend will go and cast your vote here

Image source, Getty Images

World Cup-bound Newcastle striker Callum Wilson is a doubt because of the illness that prompted his substitution at half-time at Southamptonlast weekend.

Winger Ryan Fraser, an unused substitute in the past three Premier League games, could miss out with a calf problem.

Chelsea's Jorginho should overcome a foot injury in time to play at St James' Park.

Fellow midfielders N'Golo Kante and Carney Chukwuemeka remain out, as do goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga and defender Wesley Fofana.

Who do you think will start for the Magpies?

Predict Graham Potter's Chelsea line-up

Image source, PA Media

Graham Potter says the "washing-machine schedule" of games has made it tough to find consistency as he reflects on his first two months at Chelsea.

Saturday's match at Newcastle will be their 13th fixture since Saturday, 1 October - and, after no win in four Premier League games, Potter admits it's been a challenge to find stability.

"It's not easy to pinpoint a simple solution," he said. "But we've been in the washing machine of games with the turnaround and we need to find some time to reflect.

"We have had some good performances but also lost Reece [James], who is a key player for us and we suffered in the first 20 minutes against Brighton and that's knocked us back a bit.

"Finding the balance of recovering from the Champions League to the Premier League while managing injuries, load and injury prevention. Rotation is ultimately the enemy of stability but it's been necessary in this period."

The Chelsea boss accepts, though, that his team need to improve and will be using Saturday's game, and the break that follows, to implement changes.

"I think we can do better, we can function better," he said. "That's where my focus is. It's always a process and we want to be on an upward curve."

Joe Bradshaw, BBC Sport

Graham Potter has been speaking to the media before Chelsea’s game at Newcastle United on Saturday.

Here are the key lines from the Blues boss' news conference:

• He is delighted for Conor Gallagher, who was selected in Gareth Southgate’s England World Cup squad: "It’s a fantastic honour for him and it’s a nice story. He’s come through the club, been out on loan and worked really hard."

• Potter said he understands Reece James’ frustrations after he and Ben Chilwell were ruled out of the tournament because of injury: "It’s natural to be disappointed. Reece did everything he could to give himself a chance and fell a little short. But they’re strong characters and they will be fine."

• The break for the World Cup will be useful for taking stock: "I think we’ve only got three or four players left. We’ve played 13 games in six weeks, eight away from home and it’s been incredibly intense. We will use that time to rejuvenate, recover, reflect and improve."

• Midfielder Jorginho is back in training and in contention for the match at St James' Park, but Potter confirmed no other players have returned from injury.

• On opponents Newcastle, who are third in the league: "It’s a reflection of the job done by Eddie [Howe]. He’s improved the players that were there, done some really good recruitment and galvanised the team. We’ve got a really tough game but we want to get three points."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences here

Bayern Munich's France defender Benjamin Pavard, 26, is open to playing in a different country next season. He was linked with Chelsea during the summer transfer window. (L'Equipe - in French), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Borussia Dortmund are confident they can keep 19-year-old England midfielder Jude Bellingham beyond the end of the current season, despite interest from several major clubs including Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United. (90min), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Newcastle: Pete Davey, LoadedMag NUFC, external

Newcastle are flying high, playing high-intensity football and we are loving it. We are clearly one of the best-performing teams in the league to date and fully deserve the plaudits coming our way. But can we maintain it?

Over the course of the season, I believe we can but will that be enough for Champions League football? I'm not so sure, although that would be an outstanding achievement.

Chelsea have had an indifferent start under Graham Potter, with some mixed results. History suggests they are a certainty for the top four but I don't think it's a given with question marks already surrounding Potter and his players after their poor performances.

Will Newcastle finish ahead of Chelsea? I believe so. However, I think both will just miss out on the Champions League, finishing fifth and sixth.

Chelsea: Ross Mooring, Chelsea Fancast, external

There's no doubt Chelsea have been on a difficult run recently, losing at Brighton and then to Arsenal at home on Sunday after a very poor display.

However, the Blues are a team missing multiple players - Reece James, N'Golo Kante and now Ben Chilwell - along with other fitness issues across the squad.

They are also a team that dominated AC Milan home and away in the Champions League only last month.

Newcastle, Eddie Howe and his players certainly deserve a tonne of credit for what they've achieved this season, and they have outperformed Chelsea so far.

But if Chelsea's first-choice XI arrives back from the World Cup intact, it will not be too long before we see the Blues return to the top four.

Check out the rest of this weekend's Premier League debates here

Image source, Reuters

Gareth Southgate says Conor Gallagher’s attitude and mentality has earned him a place in the England squad for Qatar.

After thriving at Crystal Palace last season, Gallagher broke into the England squad in the summer but found himself returning to the England Under-21s after going back to Chelsea.

The utility man remained in Southgate’s thoughts, however, and the England boss said he was really impressed with Gallagher’s response to that disappointment.

“We were really pleased with how he responded to being left out of our squad and going with the U21s,” said Southgate.

“He performed really well and his mentality was excellent. It is a great example of if you approach it that way, there is always a route back with us and he has managed to achieve that straight away.”

Southgate also praised Gallagher’s specific qualities, which he believes England will need at times during the World Cup.

“He’s fantastic at pressing the ball,” he said. “There are going to be moments in these games where we need certain attributes and we feel he could be that sort of player.

“He has an impact in games and has a goal threat.”

Follow reaction to Southgate's squad announcement here

Gareth Southgate has named his England squad for the World Cup in Qatar.

In all, 10 Premier League clubs contribute players who make up the group.

Follow reaction to the announcement and hear from Southgate at 14:15 GMT

• Newcastle have lost three of their past four Premier League home games against Chelsea.

• Chelsea have won seven of their past eight Premier League games against Newcastle, including the past four in a row without conceding.

• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been involved in nine goals in nine appearances against Newcastle in all competitions, scoring six and assisting three. Against no side has he been involved in more goals in English football.

• Only Kevin de Bruyne (45) and Andreas Pereira (34) have created more chances for team-mates in the Premier League this season than Newcastle's Kieran Trippier (32).

Image source, Getty Images

Graham Potter says Wednesday's Carabao Cup defeat by Manchester City was "a step forward" despite the disappointing result.

The result means Chelsea have won just two of their last seven games in all competitions.

Potter said: "I thought there were quite a few positives. Obviously we are disappointed with the result but in terms of how we played, we created some good chances and there was a better structure and a better performance level.

"The team looked closer to what we want it to look like. The boys had great courage and they tried against a top team.

"Their keeper got the man of the match I think, which tells a bit of the story. But overall I think it was a step forward for us."

Chelsea are interested in signing Atletico Madrid's Uruguayan defender Jose Maria Gimenez, 27. (SportWitness, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Alistair Magowan, BBC Sport football reporter

The World Cup break cannot come soon enough for Chelsea manager Graham Potter, but he will hope to get back to winning ways against Manchester City and Newcastle before his players jet off to Qatar.

Most managers like to have pre-season under their belts with the players before they tackle the campaign ahead. In some ways, Potter is fortunate that he now has time to bed down his methods, even if many players will be away at the World Cup. The break will also give time for Reece James, Ben Chilwell and N'Golo Kante to recover from injury.

The Chelsea players have had a lot to deal with over the past eight months, including the former owner being sanctioned, restrictions being placed on the club, new owners taking over and then Thomas Tuchel being replaced by Potter. The former Brighton boss was not the dream they were sold when they joined the club in the summer, and some look confused by what is going on regarding tactics and selections.

Nowhere has that been more apparent than with Raheem Sterling. Recruited by Tuchel as a leader for his young attack, he has not looked at home since moving from Manchester City, even if he is the club's top scorer this season.

Perhaps a break with England, where he has often delivered under pressure, could be good to restore the forward's confidence. And if Potter gets time to further implement his philosophy, rather than experimenting in matches, perhaps Chelsea can enjoy a revival in the second half of the season. Once again, they look in need of a re-set. 

Kalvin Phillips will return to the Manchester City squad for their Carabao Cup third-round tie against Chelsea.

The midfielder has been absent since having shoulder surgery in September, but manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed he will be among the City substitutes at Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.

Joao Cancelo is suspended after he was sent off against Fulham on Saturday, while Kyle Walker remains unavailable.

For Chelsea, midfielder Jorginho is a doubt after picking up a foot injury.

Blues manager Graham Potter is still without defenders Reece James and Ben Chilwell, as well as midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka.

Edouard Mendy will continue in goal as Kepa Arrizabalaga recovers from a plantar fascia tear.

Who do you think will start for City?

Predict Potter's Chelsea line-up

Image source, Reece James

Reece James has taken to social media to state he felt he "truly believed" he could help England at the World Cup having worked to overcome injury.

The 22-year-old sustained a knee injury against AC Milan on 11 October.

James said he was "willing" to take the risk of playing at the World Cup but appreciates his inclusion may have been a risk for England too.

England manager Gareth Southgate has told injured Chelsea defender Reece James he will not be in his 26-man World Cup squad, which will be announced on Thursday. (Athletic - subscription required), external

Meanwhile, the Blues have had several meetings with Palmeiras' 16-year-old Brazilian striker Endrick, but face competition from Real Madrid and Paris St-Germain. (Evening Standard), external

Want more gossip and transfer news? Read Wednesday's full column