BBC Sport pundit on Newcastle United – On the money now with three games remaining? | OneFootball

Some interesting comments from this BBC Sport pundit on Newcastle United.

Chris Sutton speaking ahead of Sunday’s match.

Newcastle United facing Chelsea at St James’ Park with a 12pm kick-off.

The Newcastle United players knowing they will end the weekend third in the table if getting the win.

With only two games left to play after today, Newcastle United would be in an incredibly strong position with regards to trying to get Champions League football next season.

Chris Sutton talking to BBC Sport – 9 May 2025:

“It’s great to see two teams going head-to-head in this race for the top five and Chelsea probably come into it in better form after getting a great result against Liverpool on Sunday.

“Yes, they were playing straight after Liverpool had won the title and the Reds had probably been celebrating all week, but they still had to put them away and they did that convincingly.

“It means 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.

“Prediction: Newcastle 2 Chelsea 1”

So is the BBC Sport pundit on the money here?

I can’t disagree with much of what he has to say, if anything.

As Chris Sutton says, Chelsea chancing it if repeatedly trying to play out from the back. They got caught out in the League Cup match at St James’ Park in October, leading to Isak’s goal and on other occasions Chelsea also nearly paying the price in that one.

Before Maresca came in, it was a very similar story last season, as United smashed Chelsea 4-1 in the Premier League at SJP. The away side caught out playing out from the back.

The BBC Sport pundit fails to mention that when it comes to form, Newcastle have won their last five home PL games and scored 18 goals in them. Sutton also missing out the fact that Arne Slot made six outfield changes last Sunday at Stamford Bridge.

For me, it is a match where I think if Newcastle play well then they win, unless suffering seriously bad luck.

Chelsea have only won one PL away game the past five months.

With the help of their high press, United can take this.