Newcastle United

Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, speaking to Sky Sports after their win over Chelsea: "I think our defensive mentality was key. We were really good off the ball today, in every respect. We rode our luck at times in the second half, but with the amount of times we've been hurt this season I thought we deserved it.

"It was an excellent goal and we were very much in the game. It was a great pass from Tino [Livramento] to slip in Joe Willock and very unselfish from Joe to pick out Anthony [Gordon].

"It's our first clean sheet in a long time. It's been a difficult spell for us. We've defended really well at times. We know it's in there, it's just about bringing it all together.

"When you make changes from the outside, there's maybe more noise than there should be. I thought Nick Woltemade was excellent. Jacob Murphy was outstanding.

"When you have players with the experience of Joelinton and Dan Burn to bring on, it's huge."

On upcoming games against Barcelona and Sunderland: "We have two huge games to finish off this week – mouth-watering for us. We can go [to Barcelona] in good spirits after today."

You can also listen to Howe speaking to Radio Newcastle on BBC Sounds

Did you know?

• Aaron Ramsdale became the first player to win at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea in the Premier League with three different clubs (Newcastle, Arsenal and Bournemouth).

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Chelsea's performance

What did you make of Newcastle's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Rob Sanchez is preferred as Chelsea's goalkeeper, having been left out against Paris St-Germain and Aston Villa in the past week.

Previously first-choice Filip Jorgensen does not make the matchday squad.

Meanwhile, Alejandro Garnacho is drafted in as the second change from the side that lost 5–2 at Paris St-Germain, replacing Pedro Neto, who has been given an additional game ban for the manner in which he left the field after being sent off against Arsenal.

Chelsea XI: Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Chalobah, Cucurella; Caicedo, James; Palmer, Fernandez, Garnacho; Joao Pedro.

Subs: Sharman-Lowe, Adarabioyo, Delap, Guiu, Hato, Lavia, Andrey Santos, Badiashile, Sarr.

Tino Livramento starts against former club Chelsea as Newcastle United make six changes for the trip to Stamford Bridge.

Livramento has not lined up from the off since suffering a hamstring injury back in January, but he is fit enough to start this evening.

Sven Botman, Joe Willock, Nick Woltemade, Jacob Murphy and Anthony Gordon have also been recalled as head coach Eddie Howe freshens up his side following the 1-1 draw against Barcelona in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League tie on Tuesday night.

Sandro Tonali misses out altogether through illness.

Newcastle XI: Ramsdale, Livramento, Thiaw, Botman, Hall, Willock, Woltemade, Ramsey, Murphy, Gordon, Barnes

Subs: Pope, Ruddy, Trippier, Joelinton, Wissa, Osula, Elanga, Burn, A.Murphy

There are five games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Burnley v Bournemouth - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Sunderland v Brighton - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

• Arsenal v Everton (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Chelsea v Newcastle (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• West Ham v Man City (20:00)

Kick-offs 15:00 unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Sunderland v Brighton" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Arsenal v Everton", for instance.

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

Ciaran Kelly
Newcastle United reporter

Image source, Irish Football Association provided photograph

There will be pride in Belfast when Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe faces Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior for the first time.

The pair may be English, but they came through the coaching pathway at the Irish Football Association (IFA).

So you can be sure Sean-Paul Murray, the IFA's head of coaching education, will be among those watching on from afar on Saturday.

"It's a headline-grabber when you see people of that level come up and face each other," he said before Saturday's game at Stamford Bridge. "It's wonderful."

The IFA's coaching courses have grown in popularity over the years, mainly through word of mouth, and Ruben Amorim, Gary O'Neil and Ricardo Carvalho are among those who have come through the system.

Howe had actually been recommended the pathway by long-serving assistant Jason Tindall, who also spent time in Northern Ireland.

He certainly left an impression on fellow pro licence candidate Roddy Collins.

"He was steady Eddie," the former Carlisle United boss said of their time together in 2011. "He was precise and strong-minded, and simplified everything on the course.

"He was never one to stand out and give an opinion. He was calm, very likeable, honest and very respectful to everyone.

"We had one assignment where we had to prepare a draft pre-season. Everyone was coming up with these big, mad ideas with coloured pencils, but Eddie just had one straight line of stuff. It was brilliant. I've used it ever since."

Rosenior was still playing for Hull City at the time.

But the former defender went on to do his coaching badges with the IFA, culminating in his Uefa Pro Licence in 2018.

Murray remembered how the future Chelsea manager "just had something about him".

"Liam was always very methodical, very articulate and calm," he added.

"We will bring in people who will talk a lot about psychology and emotional intelligence, and some of their ideas and views around it are a little bit left field, but that's deliberate from our end.

"Some of the candidates were like, 'I've thought about it and I don't like it' - whereas Liam gave it a bit of time to see how that would work for him in his world.

"No matter who it was he was speaking to, it was: 'How can this help me?' He was always so curious to be better."

Matt Jones
BBC Sport journalist

After late heartbreak in the Champions League for both Chelsea and Newcastle United, each side will be looking to bounce back when they meet in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge on Saturday (17:30 GMT).

Chelsea competed well for long spells against Paris St-Germain, only for a late capitulation to cost them three goals. They have a 5-2 deficit to overcome in the second leg next week back in London.

Newcastle were hit by a sucker punch at home to Barcelona in their own last-16 first leg. Having been the better side for much of the contest, an 86th-minute strike from Harvey Barnes was cancelled out by Lamine Yamal's penalty deep into injury time.

Joao Pedro and Fernandez cover up Chelsea defensive concerns

Head coach Liam Rosenior may still be struggling to find a balance at the back for Chelsea, but he has been able to get the best out of a number of attacking players - Joao Pedro especially.

While former head coach Enzo Maresca used the Brazilian in different ways, under Rosenior his focus has clearly shifted towards being at the point of the attack.

Under the new boss he is averaging more shots per game - up to 3.17 from 1.92 - and creating fewer chances as a result - 0.62, down from 1.32. He is also making more runs in behind the opposition defence and is coming short for the ball less often.

The end result has been a huge uplift in his goalscoring threat.

Chelsea also have one of the most productive midfielders in European football on their books in Enzo Fernandez.

Since the start of last season, only Bruno Fernandes (59) has more goal involvements among midfielders for Premier League clubs in all competitions than the Blues star. Fernandez was superb in Paris, grabbing a goal and an assist in a losing cause.

Chelsea need all the goals they can get as there are big problems at the back.

Rosenior is yet to name the same defence in any of his games in charge at Chelsea and they have kept only three clean sheets from his 16 games.

No forward momentum for Newcastle

At times this season there have been sections of the Newcastle team that have worked well. But in the final third they remain a puzzle.

Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa have both struggled since big-money moves in the summer. Eddie Howe handed an opportunity to William Osula to lead the line against Barcelona despite his inexperience, and at times he has opted against fielding a striker at all.

The search for a formula that works is no surprise given the respective performances of the players. The trio have made a total of 44 appearances between them this calendar year and have only six goal contributions to show for it - three goals and three assists.

It has been a running theme for Newcastle throughout the season. Of all the teams in the Premier League in 2025-26, their percentage of goals from forwards is the lowest in the division, with just a third of their 42 goals coming from attackers.

Even some of their best technical midfielders have struggled to find the back of the net. Sandro Tonali has had 28 shots without scoring in 2025-26, more than any other player in the league.

Stamford Bridge has not been a happy hunting ground for Newcastle in recent years either. They have lost 11 and drawn one of their past 12 games there since a 2-0 win in 2012.

Chelsea's recent record against Newcastle at Stamford Bridge is really good - they have won 11 of their 12 league games there since 2012, and drew the other one.

I just wonder how deflated Liam Rosenior's side will be after being pumped in Paris on Wednesday night - Paris St-Germain's fifth goal felt like a real hammer blow.

This game finished 2-2 earlier in the season when Nick Woltemade put Newcastle 2-0 up, before Chelsea fought back in the second half.

Newcastle will be hoping Anthony Gordon is back at 100% after his illness that meant he was only a substitute against Barcelona on Tuesday.

But even if Gordon does start, I am still pretty confident Chelsea will win this one.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Ciaran Kelly
Newcastle United reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Eddie Howe and assistant Jason Tindall have spent more time with each other than with their own wives.

So it was rather fitting that the Newcastle United head coach likened the pair to a "married couple".

"I won't tell you who does what," he smiled on Friday. "But that's probably the best way of describing us."

From tasting defeat at Darlington in their first game, in 2009, to taking on Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League, Howe and Tindall have been together on the touchline for the best part of two decades.

There have been plenty of heated discussions in the pair's shared office over the years.

"JT is not the type of assistant manager who is just going to nod his head and agree with everything Ed says," says friend, ex-coaching colleague and former team-mate Steve Fletcher.

"It's not so much that he disagrees, but he gives him a different opinion."

Aside from a brief break, when Tindall stepped up to manage Bournemouth, following Howe's departure in 2020, they have been side by side on the touchline for a staggering 766 competitive games.

Such is the trust Howe has in Tindall and his staff that when the Newcastle head coach was hospitalised with pneumonia less than a year ago he made the conscious decision to give them full responsibility.

"It's over to you," he told Tindall.

Tindall did not just have to step up on the training ground alongside fellow assistant Graeme Jones – he suddenly found himself thrust in front of journalists at news conferences.

• Read: Tindall - the most misunderstood man in football

Some outsiders may have expected Tindall to make outlandish headline-grabbing statements but again, contrary to the persona, the softly-spoken Londoner was anything but box office.

Tindall, Jones and the rest of Howe's staff were instead focused on maintaining standards behind the scenes, imploring the players to put in performances that would make the head coach proud.

Newcastle won their next two games impressively, hammering Manchester United and Crystal Palace by a combined scoreline of 9-1.

They were well-beaten in Tindall's final match in interim charge, against Aston Villa, but Howe's side were still on track to qualify for the Champions League by the time the head coach returned to the dugout for the run-in.

It showcased the value of Tindall, Jones, first-team coaches Stephen Purches and Simon Weatherstone, and Howe's wider staff.

This has been a more challenging domestic season for Newcastle, who are languishing in 12th place in the table, after fighting on multiple fronts.

But Tindall was among those namechecked by Lewis Hall as the left-back discussed the defensive strides he had made on the eve of keeping Barcelona talisman Lamine Yamal quiet from open play earlier this week.

"He's been a massive help," he added.

Sean Byrne
BBC Sport journalist

Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge (kick-off 17:30 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Howe confirmed Newcastle will have the same squad available as they did in their 1-1 draw against Barcelona on Tuesday.

• On if any of the currently injured players will be returning: "No, I don't think so."

• Anthony Gordon trained on Thursday and "feels better" after not making the starting line up against Barcelona due to an illness.

• On Gordon only coming on as a substitute in midweek, which was questioned by the likes of Alan Shearer and Roy Keane, Howe said: "I have to clear up something with Gordon, he absolutely was willing to play against Barcelona. I know there are a lot of comments, it was my decision not to start him based on the fact he was ill that morning and hadn't attended training. He was prepared to play."

• Discussing Gordon's personality, Howe added: "He wants to win everything, he's a real competitor. He's got that streak to him that I think all top players need where he's very single-minded, very focused on his development and his game. I can only speak really glowingly of him this year. It hasn't been a straightforward season for him. He's had a lot of challenges, as every player does. But I think he's probably in the best moment that he's been this season currently. He's playing really well."

• On how his players are feeling after conceding a last minute equaliser to Barcelona in the first leg: "The lads are pretty good. They become used to positive responses to difficult moments. I think when they look back, they appreciate how well the team performed. We have to take that good stuff into the next game."

• On facing Chelsea: "There's mental challenges for this game. A lot of the focus will be on the Barcelona game, rightly so, but this game is a very tough one. They're a dangerous team, one of the toughest away games we'll have. Big job to get the players ready."

• On Joelinton: "He's a huge player. When he plays like he has the last few games, we're a different team because of it. He's an outstanding player, and I think he's a player that really lifts the team when he's in a good place."

Hit play above to hear more from Howe or listen on BBC Sounds here

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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Former Magpies defender Steve Howey has spoken to BBC Radio Newcastle about William Osula and how the forward can use his pace to trouble opponents.

Hit play below to hear more or listen on BBC Sounds here

Newcastle have stepped up their interest in Monaco's 22-year-old Senegal midfielder Lamine Camara in recent months. (The I - subscription required), external

Cologne's Germany Under-21 winger Said El Mala, 19, is also on the Magpies' radar. (Mail+ - subscription required), external

Kieran Trippier, 35, could yet receive a new contract at St James' Park as Arsenal continue to court fellow full-back Tino Livramento. (Football Insider), external

Finally, Sandro Tonali is on Manchester United's shortlist of possible midfield targets. (Sun), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha thinks both his former club and Chelsea face too much of an uphill battle to progress in the Champions League.

Both face three-goal deficits going into home legs, with Onuoha stating: "While they will have the belief they can do it, I think the margins are far too big. So while the game is still on for all the English sides, the margin of error is tiny for some of them now."

Their defeats come during a week in which English sides have struggled in Europe, with no wins recorded across six ties.

BBC Sport's Phil McNulty said we have seen "24 hours in which the Premier League's self-styled reputation as the best in the world suffered heavy damage".

"The Premier League's power was supposedly emphasised by having six teams in the last 16 following the league stage, but this was something of a cold shower hosed on talk of its supremacy," McNulty wrote.

All six English teams have now been given a lower predicted chance of reaching the last eight by Opta than before the last-16 first legs.

Arsenal remain favourites to progress, while Liverpool stay second favourites despite trailing by a goal after the first leg.

Arsenal will consider a bid for Newcastle and England full-back Tino Livramento this summer, with the 23-year-old yet to show willingness to extend his contract beyond 2028. (Telegraph - subscription required)., external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Gabby Logan presents highlights of the first-leg ties from the Champions League round of 16. Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea, Manchester City and Newcastle are the six Premier League clubs in action alongside 15-time winners Real Madrid, current holders Paris Saint-Germain and surprise package Bodo/Glimt

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Real Madrid 3-0 Man City

• Leverkusen 1-1 Arsenal

• Galatasaray 1-0 Liverpool

• Newcastle 1-1 Barcelona

• Atletico Madrid 5-2 Tottenham

Image source, Getty Images

Newcastle winger Harvey Barnes says he and his team-mates have the self-belief they need to get a result in the second leg of their Champions League last 16 tie at the Nou Camp.

Barnes gave the Magpies the lead in the first leg at St James' Park on Tuesday before Lamine Yamal earned a draw for the visitors by converting a last-minute penalty.

"I thought we played really well," Barnes told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"We controlled their dangerous players really well, and limited their chances.

"We looked dangerous when we got the ball, created some good chances ourselves. You really felt like we had real control and the self-belief to win the game.

"It was disappointing to concede so late on.

"But halfway through the tie we're level and it's all to play for - so we can't look at the negatives too much."

As well as their performance on Tuesday, Barnes takes heart from the 2-1 league phase defeat by Barcelona in September.

"We took a lot of positives from the first game against Barcelona, we felt we had some big chances we didn't take," Barnes said.

"It's going to be a different game away from home but why not?

"We're a team that have got self belief, some quality players, and we know that if we set a gameplan and go and produce it to the top of our game, we can take most teams on."

Listen to his interview below or on BBC Sounds

Ciaran Kelly
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Newcastle will certainly take heart from how they competed against Barcelona when they face the five-time winners in the return fixture next week.

Eddie Howe had challenged his players to seize the moment and follow in the footsteps of the team who famously defeated the La Liga leaders in 1997.

The whole side were on the cusp of doing just that after refusing to show Barcelona undue respect, and defending resolutely for so long.

Few typified that effort quite like the fearless Lewis Hall.

Full-backs far more experienced than the 21-year-old have had nightmares up against Lamine Yamal.

But Hall said he was "really looking forward" to testing himself against the Spaniard on the eve of this game - and he meant those words.

It is rather telling that Lamine Yamal was restricted to just one effort from open play, a shot from a tight angle in the first half, which Aaron Ramsdale palmed on to the side netting.

No wonder Howe hailed Hall's performance as "outstanding".

The same could be said for so many of Newcastle's players on a quiet night for Ramsdale, who only faced two shots on target.

Barcelona had triumphed at St James' Park in the opening game of the league phase, back in September, but they found this knockout tie an altogether different challenge.

Manager Hansi Flick was the first to acknowledge that - even after his side scored a late equaliser.

"With the ball we didn't make a good game," he said. "We lost too many balls.

"Easy mistakes and this is what Newcastle normally wants. When they get the ball, they transition.

"What they make is good. They have a lot of dynamic, very fast players."

Read more analysis of Newcastle's draw with Barcelona here

We asked for your thoughts after Tuesday's Champions League game between Newcastle and Barcelona.

Here are some of your comments:

Jack: There isn't one Newcastle fan leaving St James' park tonight without a hoarse throat - mine's on fire. We can absolutely get something over in Spain, Yamal shouldn't be playing that game though! The referee had an absolute stinker! HOWAY THE LADS.

Lee: Absolute gut punch at the end, all Gordon had to do was hold on to the ball and try and run it in the corner, our game management - once again - comes back to haunt us.

Davey: To a man the Newcastle players did themselves proud. We can talk about game management, should we have gone defensive, should we have gone for a second goal, all week. But either way we went up against one of Europe's giants and they just snatched a draw. Another Eddie Howe masterclass! It's all to play for in the second leg!

Kris: Newcastle were great value today and looked threatening throughout however…the ending summed up the frailties of the team and game management reared its head again. We can beat them in the second leg and should not fear them.

Si: Another game with a lack of cutting edge and taking our chances. We're playing good football, and seem to have a good understanding of how to play as a team. It's that final ball, that top level touch and thinking in the final third we're missing. I would have probably taken a draw before the game, but after seeing the way we played feels like we missed the opportunity to go there one or two up.

Paul: Very good performance but to make it great we have to manage the game to the last second. Keep the ball, keep it up the pitch, walk it into their corner like Shearer used to do. If Barca didn't have the ball they couldn't score. We gave them the ball. Still in with a chance, but on worse odds than it should be.

Larry: Absolutely brilliant performance by the lads, with an out and out striker could have won easily. One mistake, not seeing the game out and settling on1-0, bring on the second leg.

Farhan: Fantastic but boy, do we miss Isak. Could have been three or four by half time.

BBC Newcastle commentator Matthew Raisbeck says the Magpies' last-minute draw against Barcelona was "cruel", but says that "many would have accepted" the 1-1 result before the game.

Former Newcastle defender John Anderson says Eddie Howe's men are still in the game, but he expects that they won't play in the same way and will be "more cautious" at the Nou Camp next week.

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