NEWCASTLE (Sporting Alert) — Chelsea named midfielder Juan Mata and David Luiz in its starting line-up for today’s English Barclays Premier League trip to Newcastle United.
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Manager Jose Mourinho said that he was impressed with a number of his players’ performance in the League Cup win over Arsenal in midweek and one of the standout performers, Mata, who has been starting on the bench in the EPL this season gets another chance to impress his boss.
The game also sees the return of striker Fernando Torres, with Samuel Eto’o on the bench and Demba Ba not in the squad.
Luiz starts ahead of Gary Cahill, while there were recalls for Oscar, John Terry, Eden Hazard, Petr Cech, Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard.
Meanwhile for Newcastle United, striker Shola Ameobi gets a starting place and will partner Loic Remy in the forward line, manager Alan Pardew has made three changes to his Newcastle United starting line-up that played against Manchester City.
Cheick Tiote continues to captain the team in the absence of center-back Fabricio Coloccini, while Yohan Cabaye, Moussa Sissoko and Yoan Gouffran all start as well.
Full-back Davide Santon has also been recalled to the starting team, while the injured Massadio Haidara misses out.
However, star forward Hatem Ben Arfa is only on the bench along with Papiss Cisse.
Newcastle v Chelsea
Newcastle: Krul, Debuchy, Williamson, Yanga-Mbiwa, Santon, Sissoko, Tiote, Cabaye, Gouffran, Shola Ameobi, Remy
Subs: Elliot, Tavernier, Anita, Obertan, Sammy Ameobi, Ben Arfa, Papiss Cisse.
Chelsea: Cech; Ivanovic, D Luiz, Terry (c), Cole; Ramires, Lampard; Mata, Oscar, Hazard; Torres.
Subs: Schwarzer, Cahill, Azpilicueta, Mikel, Schürrle, Willian, Eto’o.
