Confirmed Chelsea line-up (4-2-3-1) vs Newcastle, Palmer & Caicedo start

Chelsea take on Newcastle United in today's early Premier League kick-off from St James' Park.

The Blues are presently fourth in the league standings, but they have a slender two-point lead over multiple clubs below them.

The club face a testing challenge against the Magpies, and manager Enzo Maresca has made several changes to the XI.

Robert Sanchez starts in goal as usual for the Blues. He will be eyeing his ninth clean sheets of the Premier League campaign.

Malo Gusto and Marc Cucurella start in the full-back positions with Wesley Fofana partnering Trevoh Chalobah in central defence.

Reece James has been picked to partner Moises Caicedo in the centre of the park. The latter has returned from a three-game league ban.

In the final third, Pedro Neto and Alejandro Garnacho start on the wings. Cole Palmer has got the nod in the number 10 position.

Joao Pedro will lead the line for the London giants on Tyneside.

Confirmed Chelsea line-up (4-2-3-1) vs Newcastle: Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; James, Caicedo; Neto, Palmer, Garnacho; Pedro.