CHELSEA'S miserable season ends on Sunday with a home game against a Newcastle United side who have enjoyed the exact opposite campaign.
The hosts have already suffered the ignominy of a bottom half finish and they could end as low as 14th if they lose and results go against them.
It will surely be the last game for Frank Lampard, whose managerial stock continues to plummet. A 4-1 mauling at Manchester United on Thursday really summed their season up. Hundreds of millions were spent to seemingly make them worse and a rudderless ship is about the kindest you could say about them
Sunday will put Lampard out of his misery and they have a huge summer ahead.
The opposite is true of Newcastle. Although they made heavy weather of getting the point they needed at home to Leicester City to secure Champions League football, they got the job done.
They have achieved this in the polar opposite way of Chelsea. Despite having a bigger financial pool to plunge into, they have resisted the temptation to throw money into a bottomless pit, have structure at the club and also, of course, employed the services of a good manager in Eddie Howe.
They could still overtake Manchester United into third if they won and United drew or lost, so they have an incentive.
How the bookies view it
Despite Chelsea having home advantage, they are 19/10 outsiders with bet365, with Newcastle favourites at 11/8 with Paddy Power.
The draw is 13/5 with William Hill.
Recent head to heads
Newcastle beat Chelsea 1-0 at St James' Park back in November, although the Geordies have a poor record at Stamford Bridge.
They have lost their last ten visits there and failed to score in four out of their last five trips to west London.
Players to watch
Joao Felix can probably be one of the very few who can be reasonably content with this season at Chelsea. Since joining on loan from Atletico Madrid in January, his midweek goal at Old Trafford for his fifth in a struggling side which isn't a bad return. He is 14/5 to score anytime with UniBet.
Callum Wilson is enjoying a strong end to the season with eight goals in his last seven games. He is 13/8 to score anytimr with Paddy Power.
Anything else catch the eye?
Despite Newcastle's appalling record here, that was then and this is now and with Chelsea still having nine players injured and confidence surely at an all-time low, Newcastle have got to be backed here to put the tin lid on a miserable season for the Blues.
End of season games with next to nothing to play for often produce goals and Chelsea haven't kept a clean sheet in their last ten games.
Back Newcastle to score at least two here at 11/10 with William Hill.
This English Premier League match between Chelsea and Newcastle United will be played on May 28, 2023 and kick off at 16:30. Check below for our tipsters best Chelsea vs Newcastle United prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
