Following one of the performances of the season, Chelsea welcome a Newcastle United side that have had their number of late to Stamford Bridge this weekend.

Jose Mourinho's shrewd tactics and a goal from Branislav Ivanovic at the Etihad Stadium on Monday helped them end Manchester City's 100% home record this season.

However, Newcastle have beaten Chelsea in three of the last four meetings between the sides, including a 2-0 victory at St James' Park in November, courtesy of goals from Loic Remy and Yoan Gouffran.

It will be a much different Magpies side that faces them on Saturday, though, with both the aforementioned Frenchman and the now-departed Yohan Cabaye not available to Alan Pardew, who will be looking for a response from his players following the 3-0 Tyne-Wear derby defeat to Sunderland.

Luuk de Jong, the only January arrival brought in by Joe Kinnear, who quit his role as Newcastle director of football this week, may be handed his first start due to the shortage of forward options.

Captain Cheick Tiote (hamstring), Fabricio Collocini (knee) and Papiss Cisse [back] are also out, which means that Pardew may only field five men who started the Chelsea shock at St James' Park.

Mourinho has far fewer selection issues, but is likely to recall Oscar to form a more attacking midfield. Considering Nemanja Matic's seamless return to English football with a man-of-the-match display against City, it may be David Luiz that drops out, with Ramires shifted back to the centre.

Fernando Torres and Marco van Ginkel are Chelsea's only senior absentees. January signing Mohamed Salah could make his Blues debut off a bench which will probably include Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole.

Recent form

Chelsea: WDWWWW

Newcastle: LDWLLL

Possible starting lineups

Chelsea: Cech; Ivanovic, Cahill, Terry, Azpilicueta; Matic, Ramires; Willian, Oscar, Hazard; Eto'o

Newcastle: Krul; Debuchy, Williamson, Taylor, Santon; Ben Arfa, Anita, Sissoko, Marveaux; De Jong, Ameobi

Sports Mole says: 3-0