One of three all Premier League EFL Cup quarter-final ties takes place at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday evening, as Chelsea host last year's beaten finalists Newcastle United.
The Blues strolled past Blackburn Rovers 2-0 to set up a last-eight date with the Magpies, who exacted revenge over current holders Manchester United with a merciless 3-0 beating.
Match preview
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Slowly but surely rebuilding the walls of the Stamford Bridge castle, Chelsea managed to spread a sprinkle of festive cheer on the Blues faithful during the weekend's visit of Sheffield United, where Mauricio Pochettino's men sought to banish the demons of defeats to Everton and Manchester United.
While the West London titans took a little while to penetrate the sturdy Blades backline, Cole Palmer broke the visitors' resistance with 54 minutes on the clock before turning provider for Nicolas Jackson to score what may prove to be the easiest goal he will ever tap in for the Blues, who rose to 10th spot in the table with that triumph.
Results on Sunday could potentially bump Pochettino's men back into the bottom half of the standings, but dismal thoughts of mid-table mediocrity will be consigned to the back of Chelsea minds on Tuesday, as the Blues endeavour to prolong their near-unblemished run in the EFL Cup.
Enjoying the luxury of playing all three ties on home soil so far, Chelsea have seen off AFC Wimbledon, Brighton & Hove Albion and Blackburn in the English capital to make it this far, condemning the latter to a fourth-round exit thanks to Benoit Badiashile and Raheem Sterling's efforts either side of the break.
Chelsea can also take confidence from the fact that each of their last four EFL Cup quarter-final ties have ended with the Blues triumphing, and not since an extra-time loss to Sunderland in 2013-14 have the hosts - who have scored at least twice in every game during their four-match unbeaten run at home - been eliminated at this stage of proceedings.
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With the infirmary overflowing and morale levels dangerously low in the wake of their heartbreaking exit from European football, Newcastle United may have entered Saturday's clash with Fulham with a hint of apprehension given the Cottagers' fearsome attacking prowess of the past few weeks.
However, after Raul Jimenez was rightfully dismissed for clattering into Sean Longstaff's face high off the ground, the Magpies found their groove, as 17-year-old protege Lewis Miley opened his professional goalscoring account before Miguel Almiron and Dan Burn also got in on the act.
A straightforward success over Marco Silva's 10 men was the ideal tonic to a miserable three-game losing run for Eddie Howe's troops, who will fear no foe in the EFL Cup after already eliminating both Manchester giants, crushing the reigning Red Devils 3-0 at Old Trafford in round four.
By virtue of avenging last season's Wembley disappointment, Newcastle will vie for a spot in the semi-finals of the EFL Cup for just the seventh time since the turn of the millennium, but they had been beaten in seven successive quarter-final ties before collecting their runners-up medals last year.
Next on Howe's agenda is snapping the Magpies' alarming five-game winless run away from St James' Park - four of which have ended in defeat - but they are reuniting with Chelsea only a few weeks on from their 4-1 dismantling of Pochettino's mid-table charges in the North East, stretching their unbeaten run versus the Blues to three games in emphatic style.
Team News
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Chelsea fans finally witnessed a glimpse of Christopher Nkunku in the Stamford Bridge dugout at the weekend, as the French attacker took his place on the bench after recovering from his troublesome knee injury, and a long-awaited debut may now be on the cards this week.
However, none of Wesley Fofana (knee), Carney Chukwuemeka (knee), Trevoh Chalobah (thigh), Lesley Ugochukwu (unspecified), Ben Chilwell (hamstring), Reece James (hamstring), Marc Cucurella (ankle), Robert Sanchez (knee) or Romeo Lavia (ankle) will be involved for the hosts, but Noni Madueke (muscle) is back in full training.
Pochettino's bold decision to drop Enzo Fernandez to the bench paid dividends at the weekend, but the Argentine should now be one of a handful of names considered for recall, alongside Armando Broja and the fit-again Malo Gusto.
While Chelsea did not add any more injury victims to their lengthy list over the weekend, Newcastle's perpetual fitness woes continue to torment Howe and co, as both Joelinton and Fabian Schar were substituted with muscular issues in the first half of the beating of Fulham.
Schar is believed to have tweaked a gluteal muscle, and Howe fears that Joelinton has suffered a hamstring strain, as the pair join Sandro Tonali (suspended), Nick Pope (shoulder), Jacob Murphy (shoulder), Matt Targett (thigh), Javi Manquillo (groin), Elliot Anderson (back), Joe Willock (calf) and Harvey Barnes (ankle) on the injury list.
Kieran Trippier (unspecified) and Alexander Isak (groin) will also require further assessment ahead of the quarter-final, where Chelsea-owned Lewis Hall has been cleared to face his parent club.
Chelsea possible starting lineup:
Petrovic; Gusto, Disasi, Badiashile, Maatsen; Caicedo, Fernandez; Sterling, Gallagher, Palmer; Broja
Newcastle United possible starting lineup:
Dubravka; Krafth, Lascelles, Botman, Burn; Miley, Guimaraes, Longstaff; Ritchie, Wilson, Almiron
We say: Chelsea 2-1 Newcastle United
With Chelsea rediscovering their golden touch at Stamford Bridge while Newcastle flatter to deceive away from home, the stage is ostensibly set for Pochettino's men to crush the Magpies' dreams of silverware once more, in spite of the visitors' noteworthy pair of victories so far.
There should be no repeat of the 4-1 horror show from last month for Chelsea, who can capitalise on Newcastle's fatigue and growing injury crisis to move one step closer to EFL Cup glory.
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