LIVE: English Premier League returns – Newcastle v Chelsea

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NEWCASTLE 0 CHELSEA 0

Chelsea settle and start controlling matters in midfield in their ‘traditional’ neon coral strip. Not much of the ‘Blues’ on show today.

KICK-OFF: NEWCASTLE 0 CHELSEA 0

We are under way at St JAmes’ Park with Newcastle looking for early pressure. Corner-kick for their efforts. Chelsea mop up.

NEWCASTLE v CHELSEA

While a revamped Chelsea look genuine title contenders — they have won 11 straight in all competitions — perennial strugglers Newcastle will move up to seventh with a win. Stranger things have happened.

NEWCASTLE v CHELSEA

25 mins to kick-off now and Lampard knows what a big statement for his expensively recruited side. He has gambled big with the chequebook and he knows – flop and yor are gone, basically. All eyes on new boys Mendy in goals, Ziyech, Werner and Chilwell.

The locals in Dubai are certainly glad the EPL is back as they have been eagerly awaiting the return to business. “For all the international flavour of Dubai, it is the club football that attracts the fans,” says Craig Leader, manager of Crown & Lion, Byblos Barsha Heights. “We had some fans in for the internationals, but as they were mostly friendlies, there was an air of ‘When can we get back to the real stuff?’ We are here now and the safe-distancing table bookings show the guys don’t want to miss out on their games this weekend,”

NEWCASTLE v CHELSEA
Team news

Chelsea finished on a high with a 4-1 thumping of Sheffield United two weeks ago. Very similar team today as they have avoided any international injuries. Antonio Rudiger makes first start of the season.
Chelsea: Mendy, James, Zouma, Rudiger, Chilwell, Kovacic, Kante, Mount, Ziyech, Abraham, Werner.
Substitutes: Arrizabalaga, Christensen, Jorginho, Giroud, Hudson-Odoi, Azpilicueta, Emerson Palmieri.

NEWCASTLE v CHELSEA
Team news

Hosts up first. Callum Wilson will be a big miss as he is out injured. Ciaran Clark, Joelinton, Javier Manquillo and Isaac Hayden start.
Newcastle: Darlow, Manquillo, Fernandez, Lascelles, Clark, Lewis, Murphy, Hayden, S Longstaff, Saint-Maximin, Joelinton.
Substitutes: Schar, Carroll, Shelvey, Hendrick, Krafth, Almiron, Gillespie.

NEWCASTLE v CHELSEA

So first up is Chelsea against Newcastle. A win for Frank Lampard’s men will take them top … at least for a wee while as Aston Villa – this year’s surprise package – can usurp them with a win at Brighton. Then Spurs will have their say against Manchester City. It’s a wee Saturday summit merry-go-round.

It seems like ages since we had some good-old domestic footy to get our teeth into and plenty of title credentials will be tested this weekend. Maybe we got lucky with such a short summer break between the Champions League final and the start of the new season that this international break seemed so long. Anyways, we are here now.

Fixtures

Saturday
Newcastle v Chelsea, 4.30pm
Aston Villa v Brighton, 6pm
Tottenham v Manchester City, 9.30pm
Manchester United v West Brom, midnight
Sunday
Fulham v Everton, 4pm
Sheffield United v West Ham, 6pm
Leeds v Arsenal, 8.30pm
Liverpool v Leicester, 11.15pm
Monday
Burnley v Crystal Palace, 9.30pm
Wolves v Southampton, midnight

Arsenal were left reeling following national duty, with coronavirus, naughty trips to Dubai, kips in the airport and a puch-up to deal with before they even got back on the pitch. Mikel Arteta has his hands full. Read more on that here.

Welcome back. Enough of that international football nonsense (except for Scotland qualifying for the Euros). Let’s get back to business with a Premier League season that has thrown up many more questions than answers so far.

We were left with cliffhangers before players went off on international duty, coming back with injuries, COVID cases and a few scandals.