Kick-off: 20.45
(live @ Sky Calcio 11)
Stamford Bridge


Chelsea FC
(6th)
v
Newcastle
United
(5th)



With both the FA Cup and European Cup on offer over the next few weeks, May 2012 could go down as one of the greatest months in Chelsea's history. So last weekend was the perfect moment for the Blues to register their biggest win of the season - a 6-1 drubbing of neighbours QPR. The win also confirmed a timely return to form for Fernando Torres, whose performance against Barcelona and hat-trick against QPR suggest Chelsea fans might finally see the goalscoring prowess that made club owner Roman Abramovich fork out £50m for the striker.
While the Chelsea number nine rediscovers his shooting boots, the Newcastle number nine appeared to lose his last weekend - after scoring in six consecutive league matches, Papiss Cisse drew a blank against Wigan, where his side crashed to a 4-0 defeat. Manager Alan Pardew will be hoping that loss - which followed a run of six straight wins - is merely a blip. If the Magpies do get back to winning ways at Stamford Bridge, they would be just a point behind third-placed Arsenal - and if Chelsea win the Champions League final later this month, only third will be good enough for a place in Europe's elite competition next season.


• Chelsea have not conceded a goal in the first half of their last 10 league matches, stretching back to the 2-0 defeat at Everton on February 11.
• Newcastle are the only Premier League team to have scored a higher proportion of their goals in the first half this season (51%).

David Luiz and Gary Cahill are out with hamstring injuries, although Chelsea are hopeful both will be fit for Saturday's FA Cup final. But Branislav Ivanovic returns from suspension and is likely to partner John Terry in defence.
Alan Pardew will need to check on the fitness of Danny Simpson after he picked up an ankle knock in the defeat at Wigan - James Perch and Ryan Taylor will be on standby to step in should he fail to make it. Gabriel Obertan and Sylvain Marveaux will travel to London after returning to training.
Possible starting XIs:
P Cech • J Bosingwa, B Ivanovic, J Terry, A Cole • J Obi Mikel, F Lampard • Ramires, JM Mata, S Kalou • F Torres
T Krul • D Simpson, M Williamson, F Coloccini, D Santon • C Tiotè, J Gutiérrez • H Ben Arfa, Y Cabaye, D Ba • P Cissè