Mark Lawrenson verdict on Newcastle United with 15 days to go until the end of the season | OneFootball

Mark Lawrenson has been discussing Newcastle United.

Only 15 days to go until the final round of Premier League matches.

The former Liverpool defender speaking ahead of the match at St James’ Park.

Newcastle United having played forty five matches in total (all competitions) so far this season.

Twenty eight wins, six draws and eleven defeats.

Now set to face Chelsea on Sunday afternoon.

Mark Lawrenson speaking ahead of Newcastle v Chelsea:

“This is another huge game.

“And what a nice, easy, trip it will be for the Chelsea fans popping up to Newcastle for midday on a Sunday!

“Chelsea played on Thursday and changed everyone but, Newcastle, I just really like this team and how they go about it.

“Prediction: Newcastle 2 Chelsea 1”

I can’t really disagree with any of that analysis from Mark Lawrenson.

As he says, for their European semi-final stroll on Thursday, Chelsea changed everyone from the team that won 3-1 last weekend against Liverpool reserves, well everyone apart from Cucurella who played the first half in their Conference League match.

The media have been desperate to push a narrative that this is a Chelsea side coming into great form. Reality is though that they have won three from their last five Premier League games and apart from the win over a much weakened Liverpool side, the other two recent PL victories were a struggle to beat Everton 1-0 at home, plus a 2-1 away win at neighbours Fulham where Chelsea were behind until the 83rd minute.

Chelsea have failed to win in 11 of their last 19 Premier League matches and that late late victory at Fulham is their only PL away win since 8 December 2024.

Mark Lawrenson says he really like this Newcastle United team and “how they go about it”, well, how they have gone about it in recent times at St James’ Park in the Premier League is to to win their last five home PL matches and in the process, scoring 18 goals.

A massive match and here’s hoping Mark Lawrenson is proved correct about the result.

He is certainly correct about the kick-off time and whilst 3,000 or so Chelsea fans are inconvenienced, around 50,000 Newcastle United fans are as well, including thousands who travel great distances to see their team play at St James’ Park, many of them on a regular basis.