{"id":27175,"date":"2025-12-20T07:54:36","date_gmt":"2025-12-20T11:54:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/newcastle-vs-chelsea-faces-off-in-crucial-boxing-day-battle-eddie-howes-injury-crisis-could-derail-redemption-hopes\/"},"modified":"2025-12-20T07:54:36","modified_gmt":"2025-12-20T11:54:36","slug":"96661-newcastle-vs-chelsea-faces-off-in-crucial-boxing-day-battle-as-eddie-howe-s-magp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/96661-newcastle-vs-chelsea-faces-off-in-crucial-boxing-day-battle-as-eddie-howe-s-magp\/","title":{"rendered":"Newcastle vs Chelsea faces off in crucial Boxing Day battle, Eddie Howe’s injury crisis could derail redemption hopes"},"content":{"rendered":"

Newcastle vs Chelsea<\/b> faces off in a crucial Boxing Day<\/b> battle Saturday at St James’ Park<\/b> as Eddie Howe’s Magpies seek redemption. Newcastle sit in 12th place after a disappointing Tyne-Wear derby defeat<\/b>, while Chelsea cling to the final Champions League spot despite recent inconsistency. Both clubs qualified for the Carabao Cup semifinals<\/b> this week but must refocus their Premier League ambitions.<\/p>\n

\n

\ud83d\udd25 Quick Facts<\/h3>\n
    \n
  • Kickoff: 12:30pm GMT<\/b> (7:30am ET\/4:30am PT) on Saturday, December 20, 2025<\/li>\n
  • Venue: St James’ Park<\/b>, Newcastle, England with capacity crowd expected<\/li>\n
  • Newcastle have won their last 4 home meetings<\/b> against Chelsea since 2023<\/li>\n
  • Head-to-head: Chelsea lead 81-58 all-time with Newcastle winning last May’s encounter 2-0<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n

    Newcastle’s Injury Crisis Tests Defensive Resolve<\/h2>\n

    Eddie Howe’s squad faces a defensive disaster heading into Saturday’s crucial fixture. Tino Livramento<\/b>, Dan Burn<\/b>, Emil Krafth<\/b>, Sven Botman<\/b>, and Kieran Trippier<\/b> are all absent from the backline, forcing Newcastle to shuffle their formation. Goalkeeper Nick Pope<\/b> is touch-and-go to return between the sticks after recent injury concerns.<\/p>\n

    The positive news arrives with Yoane Wissa’s<\/b> return to form after scoring his first goal midweek in the Carabao Cup. Wissa’s availability provides a crucial attacking outlet for Howe’s side, which desperately needs offensive firepower to compensate for defensive vulnerabilities. William Osula<\/b> remains sidelined, but the squad retains attacking threats through Anthony Gordon<\/b>, Alexander Isak<\/b>, and creativity from midfield.<\/p>\n

    Howe acknowledged the injury situation represents a crossroads moment<\/b> for Newcastle’s season. Despite the defensive setbacks, the Magpies’ impressive home record against Chelsea offers hope they can grind out a result against a similarly struggling opponent.<\/p>\n

    Chelsea’s Inconsistency Masks Strong Recruitment<\/h2>\n

    Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea side enters Saturday battle having won only one of their last four Premier League matches<\/b>, slipping from early season title conversation into a fight for top-four survival. Est\u00eav\u00e3o<\/b> remains sidelined with a muscle injury, while Levi Colwill<\/b> and Rom\u00e9o Lavia<\/b> continue rehabilitation. Mykhailo Mudryk<\/b> faces suspension, dealing Chelsea another blow to squad depth.<\/p>\n

    The Blues did rotate heavily in Tuesday’s Carabao Cup tie against Cardiff, suggesting Maresca will restore his core lineup for this fixture. Mois\u00e9s Caicedo’s<\/b> return from suspension adds steel to midfield, while attacking threats from Cole Palmer<\/b>, Alejandro Garnacho<\/b>, and Neto<\/b> provide scoring prowess. Eddie Howe praised Chelsea’s recruitment strategy<\/b>, acknowledging their investments should benefit the club long-term despite current form struggles.<\/p>\n

    Chelsea’s predicament stems partly from fixture congestion and squad rotation decisions, but Maresca faces mounting pressure to stabilize results before the winter window closes.<\/p>\n

    Key Matchup Factors and Recent Form Analysis<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Factor<\/td>\nNewcastle<\/td>\nChelsea<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    League Position<\/td>\n12th place<\/b><\/td>\n4th place (final CL spot)<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Last 5 Matches<\/td>\nW-L-W-D-W (Mixed form)<\/td>\nW-D-D-L-W (Inconsistent)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Home Record (This Season)<\/td>\nStrong historically<\/td>\nLost 4 straight away here<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Head-to-Head (Last 5)<\/td>\n2 wins<\/b><\/td>\n3 wins<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

    Newcastle’s recent performance shows vulnerability after the derby defeat to Sunderland<\/b> exposed tactical limitations. The squad bounced back with a 2-1 win over Fulham<\/b> in the Carabao Cup, suggesting resilience under pressure. Chelsea’s inconsistency continues to perplex observers, especially after their 2-0 triumph over Everton<\/b> offered hope of stabilization.<\/p>\n

    The tactical battle will center on Newcastle’s ability to maintain shape defensively while exploiting Chelsea’s uncertain transition defense. Eddie Howe’s 4-2-3-1 formation relies heavily on Bruno Guimar\u00e3es<\/b> and Sandro Tonali<\/b> to shield a patchwork defensive line. Chelsea’s 4-2-3-1 under Maresca features Caicedo<\/b> and Fern\u00e1ndez<\/b> in midfield, providing defensive solidity that could counter Newcastle’s attacking ambitions.<\/p>\n

    Historical Context and Carabao Cup Implications<\/h2>\n

    Newcastle’s dominance at St James’ Park<\/b> against Chelsea represents one of the season’s most fascinating storylines. The Magpies won their last four consecutive home encounters against the Blues, dating back to 2023<\/b>. That home fortress advantage contradicts Chelsea’s superior head-to-head record across all competitions where the Blues lead 81-58.<\/p>\n

    Both clubs occupy the Carabao Cup semifinals, with the possibility of meeting at Wembley<\/b> for the final creating additional intrigue. Neither manager can afford distractions despite the cup competition, as league positioning determines European qualification and financial rewards. Newcastle’s EFL Cup semifinal victory<\/b> over Fulham midweek provided a psychological boost that could translate to Premier League form.<\/p>\n

    The fixture carries significant implications for Eddie Howe’s job security following mounting pressure and results scrutiny. A positive response against a top-four rival would silence critics and demonstrate character within a squad battling injuries and confidence issues surrounding the recent derby loss.<\/p>\n

    Can Newcastle’s Home Form Overcome Chelsea’s Championship Quality?<\/h2>\n

    This question encapsulates Saturday’s central narrative\u2014can Newcastle’s fortress mentality at St James’ Park<\/b> neutralize Chelsea’s attacking talent and superior squad depth? Historical precedent favors Newcastle, yet current circumstances suggest Chelsea’s investment in players like Cole Palmer<\/b> and Garnacho<\/b> provides firepower capable of breaching even the most confident home defense.<\/p>\n

    Eddie Howe’s squad must execute a disciplined defensive gameplan despite personnel shortages, relying on intensity and organization<\/b> rather than individual brilliance. Conversely, Maresca cannot afford another away defeat if Chelsea hope to maintain their fragile Champions League positioning. The manager faces legitimate criticism for squad rotation and tactical inconsistency that has undermined an otherwise talented group.<\/p>\n

    Newcastle will look to exploit set-piece opportunities<\/b> and quick transitions through the flanks where injured defenders create gaps. Chelsea should target Newcastle’s midfield overload<\/b> through Palmer’s creative passing and Garnacho’s pace. The outcome likely depends on whether Newcastle’s organization withstands Chelsea’s superior individual talent and technical ability on Saturday afternoon at St James’ Park<\/b>.<\/p>\n

    Sources<\/h3>\n
      \n
    • Sports Illustrated<\/b> – Newcastle vs Chelsea preview with injury updates and team predictions<\/li>\n
    • Chelsea Football Club Official<\/b> – Match previews, confirmed lineups, and historical context<\/li>\n
    • Newcastle United Official<\/b> – Team news, fixture details, and injury bulletins<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":27174,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"schema_org_data":"{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Eddie Howe\",\"image\":\"https:\/\/image.tmdb.org\/t\/p\/w500\/1Hp42NabsRXtpqSuUtIeMMvJkfq.jpg\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.themoviedb.org\/person\/2968039\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Tino Livramento\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Dan Burn\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.themoviedb.org\/person\/5824990\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Emil Krafth\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Sven Botman\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.themoviedb.org\/person\/3866531\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Kieran Trippier\",\"image\":\"https:\/\/image.tmdb.org\/t\/p\/w500\/2m49kXjsLAktjET4fBKFN0mjvAR.jpg\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.themoviedb.org\/person\/2717161\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Nick Pope\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.themoviedb.org\/person\/3326252\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Yoane Wissa\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"William Osula\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Anthony Gordon\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.themoviedb.org\/person\/3060510\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Alexander Isaksson\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.themoviedb.org\/person\/2058130\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Bruno Guimar\u00e3es\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.themoviedb.org\/person\/1772255\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Sandro Tonali\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Enzo Maresca\",\"image\":\"https:\/\/image.tmdb.org\/t\/p\/w500\/ztfFaE0xj6VK3X4QD2XAgv6xOt8.jpg\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.themoviedb.org\/person\/4891934\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Est\u00eav\u00e3o Ucceli\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.themoviedb.org\/person\/3937011\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Levi Colwill\",\"image\":\"https:\/\/image.tmdb.org\/t\/p\/w500\/oLZoQAAXKbyBiFEeEQTyZ8Ogu66.jpg\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.themoviedb.org\/person\/4176139\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Rom\u00e9o Lavia\",\"image\":\"https:\/\/image.tmdb.org\/t\/p\/w500\/yzm2mLDuIM9cyTQ3Tu2qv5kTd9a.jpg\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.themoviedb.org\/person\/4235861\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Mykhailo Mudryk\",\"image\":\"https:\/\/image.tmdb.org\/t\/p\/w500\/30F13sn27vP9yMn1aq1ylWpKfjq.jpg\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.themoviedb.org\/person\/3970351\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Mois\u00e9s Caicedo\",\"image\":\"https:\/\/image.tmdb.org\/t\/p\/w500\/9OtKJMCT1U8hKJlswvcEwOrsfMu.jpg\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.themoviedb.org\/person\/3819848\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Cole Palmer\",\"image\":\"https:\/\/image.tmdb.org\/t\/p\/w500\/iM9SXavihUehJ5GOaCCyxbA6mip.jpg\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.themoviedb.org\/person\/4739022\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Alejandro Garnacho\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.themoviedb.org\/person\/5144818\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Neto\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.themoviedb.org\/person\/4442929\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"Claudia Fern\u00e1ndez\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.themoviedb.org\/person\/1043756\"]},{\"@type\":\"Place\",\"name\":\"St James' Park\",\"description\":\"venue\"},{\"@type\":\"Place\",\"name\":\"Newcastle\",\"description\":\"city\"},{\"@type\":\"Place\",\"name\":\"England\",\"description\":\"country\"},{\"@type\":\"Place\",\"name\":\"Wembley\",\"description\":\"venue\"}]}","_extracted_celebrities":null,"_extracted_movies":"","_extracted_places":null,"_extracted_videos":"","_last_enrichment_date":"2025-12-20 07:55:28","footnotes":""},"categories":[188],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27175","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sport","generate-columns","tablet-grid-50","mobile-grid-100","grid-parent","grid-33"],"yoast_head":"\nNewcastle vs Chelsea faces off in crucial Boxing Day battle, Eddie Howe's injury crisis could derail redemption hopes<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/96661-newcastle-vs-chelsea-faces-off-in-crucial-boxing-day-battle-as-eddie-howe-s-magp\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Newcastle vs Chelsea faces off in crucial Boxing Day battle, Eddie Howe's injury crisis could derail redemption hopes\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"…\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/96661-newcastle-vs-chelsea-faces-off-in-crucial-boxing-day-battle-as-eddie-howe-s-magp\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Red94\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-12-20T11:54:36+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Michael Brown\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Michael Brown\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/96661-newcastle-vs-chelsea-faces-off-in-crucial-boxing-day-battle-as-eddie-howe-s-magp\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/96661-newcastle-vs-chelsea-faces-off-in-crucial-boxing-day-battle-as-eddie-howe-s-magp\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Michael Brown\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/58afe56b917c963c37d09aadbd8b892b\"},\"headline\":\"Newcastle vs Chelsea faces off in crucial Boxing Day battle, Eddie Howe’s injury crisis could derail redemption hopes\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-12-20T11:54:36+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/96661-newcastle-vs-chelsea-faces-off-in-crucial-boxing-day-battle-as-eddie-howe-s-magp\/\"},\"wordCount\":973,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/96661-newcastle-vs-chelsea-faces-off-in-crucial-boxing-day-battle-as-eddie-howe-s-magp\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/43250-newcastle-vs-chelsea-faces-off-in-crucial-boxing-day-battle-as-eddie-howe-s-magp.jpg-scaled.png\",\"articleSection\":[\"Sport\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/96661-newcastle-vs-chelsea-faces-off-in-crucial-boxing-day-battle-as-eddie-howe-s-magp\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/96661-newcastle-vs-chelsea-faces-off-in-crucial-boxing-day-battle-as-eddie-howe-s-magp\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/96661-newcastle-vs-chelsea-faces-off-in-crucial-boxing-day-battle-as-eddie-howe-s-magp\/\",\"name\":\"Newcastle vs Chelsea faces off in crucial Boxing Day battle, Eddie Howe's injury crisis could derail redemption hopes\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/96661-newcastle-vs-chelsea-faces-off-in-crucial-boxing-day-battle-as-eddie-howe-s-magp\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/96661-newcastle-vs-chelsea-faces-off-in-crucial-boxing-day-battle-as-eddie-howe-s-magp\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/43250-newcastle-vs-chelsea-faces-off-in-crucial-boxing-day-battle-as-eddie-howe-s-magp.jpg-scaled.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-12-20T11:54:36+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/96661-newcastle-vs-chelsea-faces-off-in-crucial-boxing-day-battle-as-eddie-howe-s-magp\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/96661-newcastle-vs-chelsea-faces-off-in-crucial-boxing-day-battle-as-eddie-howe-s-magp\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/96661-newcastle-vs-chelsea-faces-off-in-crucial-boxing-day-battle-as-eddie-howe-s-magp\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/43250-newcastle-vs-chelsea-faces-off-in-crucial-boxing-day-battle-as-eddie-howe-s-magp.jpg-scaled.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/43250-newcastle-vs-chelsea-faces-off-in-crucial-boxing-day-battle-as-eddie-howe-s-magp.jpg-scaled.png\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":678,\"caption\":\"Newcastle vs Chelsea faces off in crucial Boxing Day battle as Eddie Howe's Magpies seek redemption\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/96661-newcastle-vs-chelsea-faces-off-in-crucial-boxing-day-battle-as-eddie-howe-s-magp\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Entertainment\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/entertainment\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Newcastle vs Chelsea faces off in crucial Boxing Day battle, Eddie Howe’s injury crisis could derail redemption hopes\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/\",\"name\":\"Red94\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Red94\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Logo-Red94.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Logo-Red94.png\",\"width\":289,\"height\":90,\"caption\":\"Red94\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/58afe56b917c963c37d09aadbd8b892b\",\"name\":\"Michael Brown\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/wp-content\/plugins\/generateperf\/images\/icons\/avatar.svg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/wp-content\/plugins\/generateperf\/images\/icons\/avatar.svg\",\"caption\":\"Michael Brown\"},\"description\":\"Michael Brown is a seasoned sports journalist bringing years of experience covering professional athletics and sporting culture. With a keen eye for breaking stories and player dynamics, this veteran journalist delivers in-depth analysis and exclusive insights from the world's biggest sporting events. His passion for the game shines through in every story, keeping fans connected to the action both on and off the field.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/author\/michael-brown\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Newcastle vs Chelsea faces off in crucial Boxing Day battle, Eddie Howe's injury crisis could derail redemption hopes","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/96661-newcastle-vs-chelsea-faces-off-in-crucial-boxing-day-battle-as-eddie-howe-s-magp\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Newcastle vs Chelsea faces off in crucial Boxing Day battle, Eddie Howe's injury crisis could derail redemption hopes","og_description":"…","og_url":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/96661-newcastle-vs-chelsea-faces-off-in-crucial-boxing-day-battle-as-eddie-howe-s-magp\/","og_site_name":"Red94","article_published_time":"2025-12-20T11:54:36+00:00","author":"Michael Brown","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Michael Brown","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/96661-newcastle-vs-chelsea-faces-off-in-crucial-boxing-day-battle-as-eddie-howe-s-magp\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/96661-newcastle-vs-chelsea-faces-off-in-crucial-boxing-day-battle-as-eddie-howe-s-magp\/"},"author":{"name":"Michael Brown","@id":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/58afe56b917c963c37d09aadbd8b892b"},"headline":"Newcastle vs Chelsea faces off in crucial Boxing Day battle, Eddie Howe’s injury crisis could derail redemption hopes","datePublished":"2025-12-20T11:54:36+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/96661-newcastle-vs-chelsea-faces-off-in-crucial-boxing-day-battle-as-eddie-howe-s-magp\/"},"wordCount":973,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/96661-newcastle-vs-chelsea-faces-off-in-crucial-boxing-day-battle-as-eddie-howe-s-magp\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/43250-newcastle-vs-chelsea-faces-off-in-crucial-boxing-day-battle-as-eddie-howe-s-magp.jpg-scaled.png","articleSection":["Sport"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/96661-newcastle-vs-chelsea-faces-off-in-crucial-boxing-day-battle-as-eddie-howe-s-magp\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/96661-newcastle-vs-chelsea-faces-off-in-crucial-boxing-day-battle-as-eddie-howe-s-magp\/","url":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/96661-newcastle-vs-chelsea-faces-off-in-crucial-boxing-day-battle-as-eddie-howe-s-magp\/","name":"Newcastle vs Chelsea faces off in crucial Boxing Day battle, Eddie Howe's injury crisis could derail redemption hopes","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/96661-newcastle-vs-chelsea-faces-off-in-crucial-boxing-day-battle-as-eddie-howe-s-magp\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/96661-newcastle-vs-chelsea-faces-off-in-crucial-boxing-day-battle-as-eddie-howe-s-magp\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/43250-newcastle-vs-chelsea-faces-off-in-crucial-boxing-day-battle-as-eddie-howe-s-magp.jpg-scaled.png","datePublished":"2025-12-20T11:54:36+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/96661-newcastle-vs-chelsea-faces-off-in-crucial-boxing-day-battle-as-eddie-howe-s-magp\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/96661-newcastle-vs-chelsea-faces-off-in-crucial-boxing-day-battle-as-eddie-howe-s-magp\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/96661-newcastle-vs-chelsea-faces-off-in-crucial-boxing-day-battle-as-eddie-howe-s-magp\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/43250-newcastle-vs-chelsea-faces-off-in-crucial-boxing-day-battle-as-eddie-howe-s-magp.jpg-scaled.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/43250-newcastle-vs-chelsea-faces-off-in-crucial-boxing-day-battle-as-eddie-howe-s-magp.jpg-scaled.png","width":1200,"height":678,"caption":"Newcastle vs Chelsea faces off in crucial Boxing Day battle as Eddie Howe's Magpies seek redemption"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/96661-newcastle-vs-chelsea-faces-off-in-crucial-boxing-day-battle-as-eddie-howe-s-magp\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Entertainment","item":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/entertainment\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Newcastle vs Chelsea faces off in crucial Boxing Day battle, Eddie Howe’s injury crisis could derail redemption hopes"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/","name":"Red94","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/#organization","name":"Red94","url":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Logo-Red94.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Logo-Red94.png","width":289,"height":90,"caption":"Red94"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/58afe56b917c963c37d09aadbd8b892b","name":"Michael Brown","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/wp-content\/plugins\/generateperf\/images\/icons\/avatar.svg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/wp-content\/plugins\/generateperf\/images\/icons\/avatar.svg","caption":"Michael Brown"},"description":"Michael Brown is a seasoned sports journalist bringing years of experience covering professional athletics and sporting culture. With a keen eye for breaking stories and player dynamics, this veteran journalist delivers in-depth analysis and exclusive insights from the world's biggest sporting events. His passion for the game shines through in every story, keeping fans connected to the action both on and off the field.","url":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/author\/michael-brown\/"}]}},"views":44,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27175","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27175"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27175\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/27174"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27175"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27175"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.red94.net\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27175"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}