Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino is hoping to avoid his 11th league defeat when his side take on Newcastle in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge tonight. At the beginning of the season, these clubs had Champions League ambitions but in reality, they would both now settle for Europa League football.
Chelsea have managed just 10 league wins from 26 games and have a goal difference of plus one. Newcastle are four points better and a place better than Chelsea but there is no hiding from the fact that Eddie Howe has struggled to build on from last season's top-four finish.
Injuries have slowed their sharpness and the loss of massive summer signing Sandro Tonali hasn't helped, especially at a time when they needed both numbers and quality. Chelsea have had their own injury issues, eight players including captain Reece James and defender Wesley Fofana will miss this game.
Fofana will be lucky to play again this season while James is hoping to make the final run of games. But at a club like Chelsea, there is little room for sentiments and Pochettino will be hoping to give Chelsea fans something to cheer about tonight.
The absence of European football has afforded both teams a whole week to prepare for this game. The Magpies have conceded 29 away league goals this season, only Sheffield United have a worse record.
So with that in mind, Mauricio Pochettino has reverted to his usual 4-3-3 system and named this team for the game.
1. Djordje Petrovic
He's now Chelsea's undisputed number one.
2. Malo Gusto
One of Chelsea's best performers.
3. Trevor Chalobah
Playing well.
4. Axel Disasi
Chelsea's "Mr Consistent".