Chelsea face Newcastle United away from home on Saturday afternoon at a ground that has not always brought happy memories for Mauricio Pochettino.
The heaviest Premier League defeat Pochettino has ever suffered came at St James’ Park. On the final day of the 2015/16 season, Pochettino’s Tottenham Hotspur were eviscerated 5-1 by a Newcastle side that was reduced to ten men and already relegated.
A seething Pochettino described it as his “worst day as a manager” and accused his players of being “on holiday”.
Here’s the lineup of engaged individuals that Pochettino may field on Saturday to avoid another nadir.
GK: Robert Sanchez – While at Brighton, Sanchez formed a strong bond with goalkeeping coach Ben Roberts, explaining: “I would say he has helped me mentally as much as he has technically.” Now the pair are reunited at Chelsea.
RB: Reece James – Newcastle are the only Premier League team to have conceded more than one Reece James goal.
CB: Axel Disasi – It was Disasi’s tackle that stopped Amine Harit from going to the World Cup with Morocco before the Frenchman then benefitted from an injury withdrawal to join France’s squad.
CB: Thiago Silva – Became the fourth-oldest Premier League goalscorer with his header against Manchester City last time out. If Silva finds the net again in 2024, he will move onto the podium above Ryan Giggs.
LB: Marc Cucurella – “He’s not quick, he’s not strong,” Cucurella’s manager at Eibar, Jose Luis Mendilibar admitted. “All those things we measure with all those machines we have, he doesn’t register on any of them; you would never sign him. But he’s a footballer.”
CM: Moises Caicedo – The youngest of ten siblings with 25 nephews knows his way around a crowded room, which should serve him well while navigating the halls cluttered by Chelsea’s bloated squad.
CM: Enzo Fernandez – The only Premier League defeat away from home which Chelsea have suffered this season was not aided by Fernandez’s penalty miss against West Ham United. Luckily, a new spot-taker has since arrived.
AM: Conor Gallagher – Chelsea’s leader for chances created, tackles, interceptions and recoveries provides a bit of everything.
RW: Cole Palmer – Boasting six direct goal involvements (four scored, two created) over his last five Premier League appearances, Palmer is in a rich vein of form.
ST: Nicolas Jackson – ‘The Senegalese Neymar’ – as he was dubbed during his teenage years – judges the Brazilian winger, Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka to be his greatest idols.
LW: Raheem Sterling – Since the Premier League started recording this data in 2006, Sterling has won more top-flight penalties than any other player in the competition (25).
