The eye-catching change is the one at goalkeeper, where Kepa Arrizabalaga continues in place of Edouard Mendy after keeping a clean sheet on his first appearance under Tuchel, as we beat Barnsley 1-0 on Thursday.

The man who scored the decisive goal in that match, Tammy Abraham, also keeps his place, leading the line supported by Timo Werner and Mason Mount, as Olivier Giroud drops to the bench.

The other changes to the line-up come at wing-back, as Callum Hudson-Odoi and Marcos Alonso return to the starting XI in the Premier League, with Reece James and Ben Chilwell making way.

The central midfield partnership of Mateo Kovacic and Jorginho continues, after both sat out that FA Cup tie, as does the defensive trio of Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen and captain Cesar Azpilicueta, with Thiago Silva still out through injury.

Newcastle make four changes themselves from the side which beat Southampton 3-2, as Dwight Gayle replaces Callum Wilson up front and captain Jamal Lascelles returns alonside Ciaran Clark as an all new centre-back pairing. Fellow defender Emil Krath is the other returning player, as Isaac Hayden moves into midfield with Jeff Hendrick suspended after being sent off in that win.

Chelsea (3-4-2-1): Kepa; Azpilicueta (c), Christensen, Rudiger; Hudson-Odoi, Jorginho, Kovacic, Alonso; Mount, Werner; Abraham

Substitutes: Mendy, Zouma, James, Emerson, Chilwell, Kante, Ziyech, Pulisic, Giroud

Newcastle United (4-2-3-1): Darlow; Krafth, Clark, Lascelles (c), Lewis; Shelvey, Hayden; Willock, Almiron, Saint-Maximin; Gayle

Subsitutes: Dubravka, Dummett, M Longstaff, Ritchie, Fraser, Murphy, S Longstaff, Carroll, Joelinton

Referee: Peter Bankes

Stats recap

Newcastle have won one of their last 26 away league games against Chelsea (seven draws, 18 defeats), winning 2-0 under Alan Pardew in May 2012.

Against no other side have Chelsea won more Premier League matches at home than we have against Newcastle (18 – as many as against Tottenham).

Having won the reverse fixture 2-0 at St James’ Park in November with a Federico Fernandez own-goal and a second-half strike from Tammy Abraham, we are looking to complete the league double over Newcastle for the first time since 2018/19.