It's something of a bogey ground for the Blues this weekend as we travel to Newcastle, and our preview of the game starts with a look at our record at St James' Park and all the other notable facts and figures...
Chelsea have lost five and drawn one of our last seven trips to St James’ Park in the Premier League.
We have only won once there in just under nine years, which was in August 2018. A penalty from Eden Hazard and a late DeAndre Yedlin own goal secured a 2-1 victory.
Chelsea have only lost more Premier League games away to Liverpool (15) and Arsenal (13) than against Newcastle (12).
Biggest league win for each team
Chelsea 6-0 Newcastle - 1980/81, Division TwoNewcastle 5-0 Chelsea - 1974/75, Division One
Chelsea’s biggest win at St James’ Park is 6-1 in 1960/61
Last season’s corresponding match
NEWCASTLE UNITED 1 CHELSEA 0Premier League, St James’ Park, 18.01.20, 5.30pm
Newcastle (5-4-1) Dubravka; Krafth (S Longstaff 70), Fernandez, Lascelles (c), Clark, Willems (Ritchie 12); Almiron, Hayden, Shelvey (M Longstaff 84), Saint-Maximin; JoelintonUnused subs Darlow, Schar, Lejeune, AtsuBooked Hayden 55Scorer Hayden 90+4Head coach Steve Bruce
Chelsea (4-3-3) Arrizabalaga; James (Emerson 75), Christensen, Rudiger, Azpilicueta (c); Kante, Jorginho, Mount (Barkley 67); Hudson-Odoi, Abraham (Batshuayi 79), WillianUnused subs Caballero, Zouma, Kovacic, PedroInjured Loftus-Cheek, Pulisic, AlonsoBooked Emerson 83Head coach Frank Lampard
Referee Chris KavanaghAttendance 52,217
Chelsea stats
The Blues are the Premier League’s top scorers with 20 goals, closely followed by Tottenham 19 and Aston Villa, Leicester and Liverpool on 18.
Frank Lampard’s side are looking to extend our unbeaten run to nine games since we were eliminated on penalties to Tottenham in the Carabao Cup. Our only defeat in 90 minutes this season (13 games) was against Liverpool when we played the last 50 minutes with 10 men.
Since the Liverpool game we are unbeaten in six Premier League matches (three wins, three draws), with only Tottenham on a longer current run in the competition (seven). The Blues have netted at least three goals in five of those six games.
The Blues are hoping to keep three consecutive away clean sheets in the Premier League for the first time since September/October 2018.
Chelsea will be aiming to start a Premier League season undefeated in our opening five away games for the first time since 2018/19 (also five).
Timo Werner has scored seven goals in his last six appearances (four Chelsea, two Germany). The last Chelsea player to score in five consecutive Chelsea appearances in all competitions was Didier Drogba in November 2009.
Chelsea Premier League goalscorers 2020/21
Werner 4, Jorginho 3 (3 pens), Zouma 3, Abraham 2, Chilwell 2, Havertz 1, Hudson-Odoi 1, James 1, Mount 1, Thiago Silva 1, Ziyech 1
Milestones
If selected, Olivier Giroud will make his 50th start for Chelsea in all competitions.
Newcastle stats
Last seasonPremier League: 13thFA Cup: Quarter-finalsLeague Cup: Second roundTop scorer all competitions: Miguel Almiron 8Top scorer in the Premier League: Jonjo Shelvey 6
This season’s Premier League statsMost appearances: Five on 8Most goals: Wilson 6, Hendrick 1, Murphy 1, Saint-Maximin 1Most assists: Almiron 1, Hendrick 1, Saint-Maximin 1, Wilson 1Most clean sheets: Darlow 1
Newcastle are 13th with 11 points from eight games, and seven points off the top.
The Magpies have won two and lost four of their past six home Premier League fixtures, conceding 15 goals in the process.
Their four games at St James’ Park this season have seen two wins against Burnley (3-1) and Everton (2-1) and two defeats to Brighton (0-3) and Man Utd (1-4).
Newcastle have named the same starting XI in their last two league games and the same back five in the last three.
Newcastle have conceded a goal in seven consecutive league games which is their longest run without a Premier League clean sheet since December 2017 (11).
No side has had fewer shots in the Premier League this season than Newcastle (64).
Eight of Newcastle’s 10 league goals have been scored in the second half.
Following their 2-1 victory against Everton, Newcastle will be aiming to win consecutive league games at St James’ Park for the first time since December 2019.
The Magpies have kept two clean sheets in their last 16 Premier League games.
Callum Wilson has scored six goals in his eight Premier League appearances for Newcastle – two thirds of the clubs’ total.
Only Leicester (19) and Fulham (18) have received more yellow cards in the Premier League this term than Newcastle (17).
Steve Bruce’s managerial record against Chelsea
Won 3Drawn 5Lost 19
Newcastle's Premier League goalscorers 2020/21
Wilson 6 (3 pens), Hendrick 1, Murphy 1, Saint-Maximin 1, own goal 1
Newcastle’s last Premier League game
Friday 6 NovemberSouthampton 2 Newcastle 0Team 5-3-2: Darlow; Murphy (Joelinton 79), Schar, Lascelles (c), Fernandez, Lewis; S Longstaff, Hendrick (M Longstaff 61), Almiron; Wilson (Carroll 78), Saint-MaximinBooked: Fernandez, S Longstaff
Newcastle’s summer moves
InRyan Fraser - BournemouthMark Gillespie - MotherwellJeff Hendrick - BurnleyJamal Lewis - NorwichCallum Wilson - Bournemouth
OutRobert Elliott - ReleasedFlorian Lejeune - Alaves, loanYoshinori Muto - Eibar, loan
Discipline
There are no suspensions.
In the Premier League, five yellow cards received before 19 league fixtures have been played will result in a one-match suspension in the competition.
Premier League bookings list
Newcastle: Lewis 3, Joelinton 2, Hayden 2, Shelvey 2, Almiron 1, Fernandez 1, Krafth 1, Lascelles 1, S Longstaff 1, Manquillo 1, Murphy 1, Wilson 1.
Chelsea: Alonso 1, Azpilicueta 1, Chilwell 1, Christensen 1, Havertz 1, James 1, Kante 1.
Referee and VAR
Referee: Craig PawsonVAR: Simon Hooper
Craig Pawson was the official for our opening-day victory at Brighton. That was is only Blues game so far in 2020.
How and when to watch Frank Lampard's pre-match press conference