Steve McClaren
Pressure is growing on Steve McClaren as Newcastle United welcome Chelsea on Saturday  Getty

Chelsea are traveling to St James' Park to take on Newcastle United in the Premier League on Saturday 26 September.

Where to watch live

Kick-off is set for 5.30pm BST. Live coverage of the game is available on Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports 1 HD. Catch the highlights on Match of the Day at 10.20pm BST on BBC One.

Overview

Newcastle welcome Premier League champions Chelsea in a clash that is important to both sides in terms of momentum. The Magpies have had a shocking start to the season and are currently in 19<sup>th place, just above neighbours and rivals Sunderland.

Steve McClaren is under considerable amount of pressure to arrest the slump and a game against the Blues is not the ideal time to look for a reprieve.

Meanwhile, Chelsea are also only getting in gear after a poor start to the 2015/16 campaign. The reigning champions are in 15<sup>th place and are already eight points behind pace setters Manchester City. But a win over Arsenal last weekend will give them some confidence to make a come back in the league.

However, Jose Mourinho will be without star striker Diego Costa, who was handed a retrospective three-match ban for clashing with Laurent Koscielny. The Portuguese manager is still seething and has launched yet another attack on Arsene Wenger during his press conference ahead of their trip to Newcastle.

Chelsea have never beaten the Magpies at St James' Park under Mourinho, and there is no better time than this for the former Real Madrid manager to record his first win.

What managers say

Steve McClaren: "We sit players down after every game and if necessary we read the riot act, or if necessary congratulate them and build up confidence. Wednesday's game was no different. It's what we do. The key thing we have talked about is that we are going through change. Change is painful and hard some people do not like it. Everybody has been clamouring for change and that's why I'm here."

Jose Mourinho [on pressure]: "In this country only one manager is not under pressure, every other manager is under pressure. Manuel Pellegrini, Brendan Rodgers, Steve McClaren. We cannot lose matches, we cannot be below expectations."

Betting odds (888sport.com)

  • Newcastle United to win: 24/5
  • Draw: 41/13
  • Chelsea to win: 7/11

Team news

Newcastle United

  • Injured: Cisse (back), Haidara (knee), Taylor (hamstring), Dummett (hamstring), Riviere (knee)
  • Doubtful: N/A
  • Suspended: N/A

Possible XI: Krul, Janmaat, Mbemba, Coloccini, Haidara, Colback, Anita, Sissoko, Thauvin, Wijnaldum, Cisse.

Chelsea

  • Injured: Courtois (knee)
  • Doubtful: N/A
  • Suspended: Diego Costa

Possible XI: Begovic, Ivanovic, Cahill, Zouma, Azpilicueta, Matic, Fabregas, Pedro, Oscar, Hazard, Remy.

Chelsea FC Jose Mourinho