Chelsea v Newcastle: Barclays Premier League preview

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Chelsea team news
Chelsea have a doubt over midfielder Frank Lampard, who withdrew from England's squad for the friendly with Germany on Wednesday because of a rib injury, for tomorrow's Barclays Premier League clash with Newcastle.

Striker Didier Drogba starts a three-match ban but Chelsea hope to have Joe Cole (hamstring) and goalkeeper Petr Cech (calf) back in the squad for the match at Stamford Bridge.

Ashley Cole (foot), Alex (thigh), and Juliano Belletti (ankle) are also doubtful while Michael Essien and Franco Di Santo are definitely out. Centre-half Ricardo Carvalho is also likely to miss out with a knee problem.

Provisional squad: Cech, Cudicini, Bosingwa, Terry, Ivanovic, Bridge, Ballack, Lampard, A Cole, Alex, Belletti, Obi, Deco, Ferreira, Kalou, Malouda, Anelka, J Cole, Stoch, Mineiro.

Newcaslte team news
Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear faces a defensive headache ahead of tomorrow's trip to Chelsea in the Barclays Premier League.

Steven Taylor (abdominal muscle) is still out, leaving Kinnear to chose two central defenders from Fabricio Coloccini, Sebastien Bassong and Claudio Cacapa.

Danny Guthrie is likely to deputise for Joey Barton (knee) in central midfield. Striker Mark Viduka (Achilles) is back in training but is not yet ready to return, while Xisco (hamstring), Gonzalez (Achilles) and Alan Smith (foot) are still out.

Provisional squad : Given, Harper, Beye, Enrique, N'Zogbia, Bassong, Coloccini, Cacapa, Edgar, Butt, Guthrie, Duff, Gutierrez, Geremi, Ameobi, Owen, Martins, Carroll.

The New Football Pools pundits' predictions
John Barnes: Home win
Tony Cascarino: Home win
Graham Poll: Home win

Opta Match Facts
The Magpies have never beaten Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League.
Frank Lampard has scored six goals against Newcastle - his joint-most against a single club.
Magpies' players Damien Duff and Geremi were both in the Chelsea side that won back-to-back Premiership titles in 2005 and 2006.
The Magpies have kept just one clean sheet in their last 11 Premier League games and conceded two or more in nine of those.
Nicolas Anelka has scored eight goals in his last four league outings.
The Blues have conceded just eight goals in 15 home games in 2008 and never more than once in a match.
Chelsea have conceded just one goal in their last eight league matches.
At least one team has scored exactly two goals in each of Newcastle's last eight Premier League games.
Florent Malouda is joint-top of the assists chart, having set up five goals.
Newcastle have conceded six penalties this season - more than any other side.

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