Chelsea vs Newcastle LIVE: Express Sport brings you the latest Premier League team news, updates and analysis from Stamford Bridge

CHELSEA vs NEWCASTLE

12:25: Quick reminder of those starting XI’s folks. Oh, and the referee is Kevin Friend, if anyone cares…

Chelsea XI: Courtois, Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger, Moses, Drinkwater, Fabregas, Kante, Alonso, Hazard, Morata.

Subs: Caballero, Pedro, Bakayoko, Zappacosta, Willian, Batshuayi, Cahill.

Newcastle XI: Darlow, Manquillo, Lejeune, Clark, Mbemba, Diame, Merino, Ritchie, Perez, Murphy, Gayle.

Subs: Elliot, Shelvey, Hayden, Aarons, Joselu, Yedlin, Mitrovic.

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Edit: For the first time I have no complains against Conte first XI. Rudi in, Cahill out, Zappa out, Moses back in.

Timmy: Are Chelsea even playing anyone today, cos I swear Sky Sports haven’t even mentioned Newcastle in the last 40 minutes!

Buck: Thought Darlow did enough at WBA to earn another game, Mitro not starting shouldn't surprise me but it does and Diame really??

CONTE: I WON'T CHANGE

12:15: Chelsea head coach Antonio Conte intends to accept a Football Association charge of misconduct following his dismissal against Swansea on Wednesday.

The Italian was sent to the stands by referee Neil Swarbrick towards the end of the first half of Chelsea's 1-0 victory after furiously protesting the award of a Swansea goal-kick.

Conte said: "I think it's right to accept and to pay the fine. I want to respect this decision and also to pay this fine."

Conte, though, insists he will not be changing his animated touchline behaviour.

"For what? For this? No," he said.

HAVE YOUR SAY

12:10: If you want to vent your frustrations, or discuss any issues in the world of football (within reason), then get in touch!

You can either comment at the bottom of the page or contact me via Twitter using the hashtag #ExpressSport.

STAT BOX

*Newcastle have failed to win 17 of their last 18 matches on the road in the top division.

*Antonio Conte's Chelsea have dropped eight points at Stamford Bridge this season, two more the entire 2016-17 campaign at home when they lifted the league title.

*Newcastle ended a four-match losing streak by coming from two goals down to claim a point at West Bromwich Albion in mid-week.

*Chelsea have not lost to Newcastle at home since a 2-0 league defeat in May 2012.

*Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez returns to Stamford Bridge for the first time since leading Chelsea to a Europa League title and a third-placed league finish as interim-manager in 2013.

MY STAY COULD HAVE BEEN LONGER…

12:00: Rafael Benitez returns to Chelsea still wondering what might have been after being handed a mission to "save" the club.

The Newcastle boss will do so firmly believing he would have stayed longer than the six months he had at Stamford Bridge had it not been for a vocal minority among the Blues' support.

Benitez was drafted in by owner Roman Abramovich to replace Roberto di Matteo in November 2012 after the Italian had guided the club to Champions League glory, only to falter the following season.

But despite winning the Europa League and finishing third in the Premier League, Benitez was on his way out in the following May and replaced by Jose Mourinho.

The Spaniard, who was never happy with the "interim" title he was given, said: "All the feedback that I had from the professionals and the board was very positive. They couldn't manage with what happened with some fans. Most fans realised the best way was to stay calm and let us do our job. We achieved what they were expecting.

"In the end, they had to decide and decided they had to change. Initially, he brought me to save the team and to achieve what we did achieve. Afterwards, they thought they had to change and they did."

CONTE COMPLAINS

11:55: Again…

Antonio Conte has suggested there is a fixture conspiracy against his Chelsea side.

I love a good conspiracy theory. Did you hear the one about The Beatles were a fake band staffed by a revolving cast of identical actors…

Anyway, Conte has previously complained about Chelsea's fixture schedule in relation to matches with Manchester City, Watford and Liverpool following European games. 

"Now it's very difficult to think this is a coincidence. This is the fourth time. I'm not stupid, if someone wants to joke with me I'm not the right person to joke with," Conte said.

"Once it can happen. Twice it can happen. The third time, you start to be perplexed. In only 14 games it has happened four times.”

RAFA’S RECORD…

11:50: The statistics don’t make good reading for Rafa Benitez, who has a surprisingly terrible record against Chelsea.

The Spanish tactician has faced Chelsea on 12 occasions at Stamford Bridge with one win, four draws and seven defeats.

Hard to see anything other than another defeat today folks, but stranger things have happened - just look at that fella that Tweets from the White House…

TWITTER ROUND-UP

Dave: Diame will be a massive liability today - as usual. Fearing the worst!

Clarence: Best team today IMO. No Cahill, Luiz, Pedro, Willian. Drinkwater and Kante in the centre and Fabregas given a free role out wide so he doesn't get exposed defensively.

Connor: Wondering whether I've wasted £6.99 on a NowTV sports pass after seeing Diame in the lineup. I've seen tractors with more on-field agility.

TEAM NEWS - NEWCASTLE

11:40: Rafa Benitez keeps faith in goalkeeper Karl Darlow on his return to Stamford Bridge.

DeAndre Yedlin, who had a bit of a shocker against West Brom on Tuesday, is replaced by Javier Manquillo. 

Dwight Gayle comes in up front as Joselu is dropped. *Toon fans celebrate wildly…*

Mohamed Diame comes in for Isaac Hayden, and there’s still no place for Jonjo Shelvey, who has to settle for a place on the bench.

TEAM NEWS - CHELSEA

11:35: Let’s start with the hosts. Antonio Conte has made four changes from the side who beat Swansea on Wednesday evening.

Eden Hazard, Danny Drinkwater, Victor Moses and Cesar Azpilicueta replace Gary Cahill, Davide Zappacosta, Pedro and Willian.

Interestingly Michy Batshuayi returns to the substitutes bench. having recovered from injury.

CHELSEA vs NEWCASTLE

11:30: And here’s today’s starting XI’s folks. Eden Hazard and Alvaro Morata both start today.

Chelsea XI: Courtois, Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rudiger, Moses, Drinkwater, Fabregas, Kante, Alonso, Hazard, Morata.

Subs: Caballero, Pedro, Bakayoko, Zappacosta, Willian, Batshuayi, Cahill.

Newcastle XI: Darlow, Manquillo, Lejeune, Clark, Mbemba, Diame, Merino, Ritchie, Perez, Murphy, Gayle.

Subs: Elliot, Shelvey, Hayden, Aarons, Joselu, Yedlin, Mitrovic.

HAVE YOUR SAY

11:28: If you want to vent your frustrations, or discuss any issues in the world of football (within reason), then get in touch!

You can either comment at the bottom of the page or contact me via Twitter using the hashtag #ExpressSport.

HE’S BACK!

11:25: A fortnight after renewing his rivalry with Jose Mourinho, Rafael Benitez faces another reminder of his past as he takes his Newcastle side to Chelsea.

It will be his first game at Stamford Bridge since the his brief spell as interim manager there in 2013, which ended with triumph in the Europa League.

Despite that success, he could still get a mixed reception with tensions dating back to his time as Liverpool manager still prevalent.

It’s got all the makings of a very intriguing encounter.

MORNING

11:20: Welcome to our LIVE coverage of Chelsea vs Newcastle from Stamford Bridge.

I was going to introduce today’s blog by wishing you a very Happy Christmas, but it’s far too early for that, right?

I know, I’m a Scrooge…

Anyway, we’ve got a cracker (no Christmas pun intended) for you this morning as Rafa Benitez takes his struggling side to Stamford Bridge.

The Blues can move level with second-placed Manchester United with a victory, and heap the pressure on them ahead of this evening’s clash with Arsenal.

There's plenty at stake, so let's get the ball rolling!

CHELSEA vs NEWCASTLE - PREVIEW

Chelsea are again without defender David Luiz (knee). Forward Charly Musonda also has a knee problem. Striker Michy Batshuayi and the left-sided Kenedy have returned to training, but may not yet be in the squad.

Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez has no fresh injury problems. Defenders Paul Dummett (hamstring) and Jamaal Lascelles (foot) and winger Christian Atsu (groin) are closing in on returns, but will not feature.

Last five league matches: Chelsea W W W D W; Newcastle L L L L D

Top scorers (all competitions): Alvaro Morata (Chelsea) 9; Ciaran Clark, Joselu, Jamaal Lascelles & Aleksandar Mitrovic (Newcastle) 2

Referee: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire)