MATCH FACTS
Newcastle kick-off the weekend's top-flight action live on Sky Sports on Saturday lunchtime at Chelsea - where they have won just one of their 22 Premier League fixtures.
Can they win against the odds this time around? That could depend on who comes out on top in the midfield battle.
Cesc Fabregas has become a mainstay of Antonio Conte's team this season having been very much a bit-part player during the title-winning campaign. The Spaniard has started 11 of their 14 Premier League games this term having only started 13 in the whole of last season. He has played 973 minutes in the league this season - at the same stage last season, he had played just 177.
Head-to-head
Chelsea have only lost one of their last 22 top-flight home games against Newcastle (W15, D6).
Newcastle's only away victory against Chelsea in the Premier League came in May 2012, with the Magpies winning 2-0 thanks to a brace by Papiss Cisse.
Antonio Conte's side have kept four clean sheets in their last five top-flight games, conceding just once - at Liverpool.
Chelsea have dropped eight points at home in the league this season, two more than in their title-winning 2016-17 campaign.
The Blues have scored a league-high eight headed goals in the Premier League this term.
Willian scored in both fixtures the last time these sides met in the 2015-16 campaign; Newcastle are one of four clubs he's scored home and away against in the Premier League (along with Everton, Southampton and Stoke).
The Magpies have won just one of their last 18 Premier League away games (D4, L13).
Home and away, they have just one victory in nine top-flight matches (D3, L5).
If Newcastle lose, it will be their 70th Premier League defeat in London - which would be a joint-high with Everton.
Rafael Benitez has only won one of 12 competitive games as an opposition manager at Stamford Bridge, all with Liverpool (D4, L7). The solitary win came on 26 October 2008 through a Jose Bosingwa own goal.