Michael Emons
BBC Sport at Stamford Bridge

On the pitch, this promises to be a great match between two in-form teams.

Chelsea, third in the Premier League, have only lost two of their last 23 games in all competitions - the Carabao Cup final penalty shootout defeat by Liverpool and the 1-0 away reversal at Manchester City.

Newcastle, meanwhile, have been transformed under Eddie Howe - and the £80m he was able to spend in the January transfer window.

Without a league win and with only six points from 12 matches when he replaced the sacked Steve Bruce, Howe began with five defeats in his first eight matches in all competitions, including a home humiliation, losing 1-0 to third tier Cambridge United in the FA Cup third round.

But it’s been a great turnaround since then and they’re unbeaten in eight league games, with six wins - including the last three - to take them up to 14th.

However, Chelsea’s push for the top four and Newcastle pulling clear of the relegation zone are mere side points today with this the first game at Stamford Bridge since sanctions were placed on the Blues’ Russian owner Roman Abramovich, leaving Chelsea’s entire existence in doubt.

Newcastle United

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe doesn't believe the uncertainty surrounding Chelsea's future will impact the club on the pitch.

"I don't think it will have any bearing on Chelsea and how they play," he said.

"We can't change our preparation in any way. I'll be watching Chelsea historically and trying to build a game plan to try to go there and win.

"I don't expect anything on the pitch to be any different."

John Murray
BBC Football Correspondent at Stamford Bridge on BBC Radio 5 Live

Extraordinary times for Chelsea Football Club.

This is the first match that has been played here at Chelsea since the invasion of Ukraine. The atmosphere outside seems subdued.

I walked past the merchandise door, the lights were on but no one was inside.

I’ve got a match programme which is unusual because they are not on general sale, they have been produced. They cannot be bought from the normal stalls as they would be, they might be available to those in hospitality without having to pay.

It is a strange feeling.

Arsenal's leading goalscorer Emile Smith Rowe, who tested positive for Covid-19 last week, is available after a two-match absence.

Takehiro Tomiyasu remains a doubt because of a calf injury.

Leicester's Ricardo Pereira, who has been out with a hamstring injury, and Papy Mendy could be involved.

Jamie Vardy is out with a knee problem but James Maddison and James Justin returned from injury lay-offs during Thursday's win over Rennes.

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at Stamford Bridge

Image source, BBC Sport

One of the current restrictions on Chelsea is that their club shops have to close, so the main superstore remains empty, despite stickers in the window advertising a 50% sale and advertising a job vacancy.

But there’s nothing stopping the street vendors selling Chelsea merchandise - and if you look closely you can even find books about Roman Abramovich still on sale.

Image source, BBC Sport

Hear from Arsenal's Gabriel Martinelli on The Football News Show, plus BBC reporter Nesta McGregor discusses manager Mikel Arteta's faith in his young players.

BBC Radio 5 Live

Board member of the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust Dan Silver has been speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live about the Trusts' hopes for Chelsea's future: "This is one of the most important moments in our history moving forward.

"We’ve got an opportunity for Chelsea and the bigger picture of football to impress upon new owners that the Tracey Crouch idea [on fan ownership] is fantastic.

"It will stop the Burys, the Derbys and the Macclesfields from happening again.

"We want to make sure all they key Chelsea heritage stays – the badge, Stamford Bridge.

"The most important thing we are focused on at the minute is making sure we have a Chelsea football team moving forward. There’s generation of supporters, it’s a mini-community.

"We are going to be very vocal."

West Ham make two changes from the side that lost at Liverpool in their last league outing.

The injured Jarrod Bowen is replaced by Said Benrahma, while Nikola Vlasic drops out the squad as captain Declan Rice returns to the midfield.

West Ham XI: Fabianski, Cresswell, Zouma, Dawson, Benrahma, Soucek, Johnson, Rice, Lanzini, Fornals, Antonio

Subs: Areola, Yarmolenko, Noble, Diop, Fredericks, Masuaku, Kral, Echezolachuku Oko-Flex, Perkins

Steven Gerrard has named an unchanged Aston Villa side from their recent victory over Leeds.

The influential Philippe Coutinho retains his place in the number 10 role, behind strikers Ollie Watkins and Danny Ings.

Aston Villa XI: Martínez, Cash, Chambers, Mings, Digne, McGinn, Douglas Luiz, J Ramsey, Coutinho, Ings, Watkins

Subs: Olsen, Konsa, Sanson, Buendía, Traore, Young, Bailey, Chukwuemeka, Iroegbunam

Everton manager Frank Lampard makes three changes following the 5-0 defeat by Tottenham on Monday.

Demarai Gray starts after recovering from a hip injury, while Ben Godfrey also returns for the Toffees. Vitalii Mykolenko also starts, with Michael Keane and Allan dropping to the bench. Dominic Calvert-Lewin doesn't make the squad.

Everton XI: Pickford, Kenny, Holgate, Richarlison, Gray, Doucoure, Mykolenko, Godfrey, Coleman, Gordon, van de Beek

Wolves boss Bruno Lage also makes three changes from the 4-0 win over Norwich last time out.

Marcal, Max Kilman and Leander Dendoncker all start, with Willy Boly, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Daniel Podence dropping to the bench.

Wolves XI: Sa, Marcal, Neves, Jiminez, Coady, Jonny, Kilman, Hee-Chan, Saiss, Moutinho, Dendoncker

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has made two changes following the Saints' 2-1 defeat by Newcastle United.

Tino Livramento, who is not in the squad, is replaced by Romain Perraud in defence, while Will Smallbone comes in for the benched Armando Broja.

Southampton XI: Forster, Walker-Peters, Bednarek, Salisu, Perraud, Armstrong, Ward-Prowse, Smallbone, Romeu, Elyounoussi, Adams.

Image source, .

There are three changes for Watford after their 4-0 loss to Wolves.

Roy Hodgson hands starts to Christian Kabasele, Joao Pedro and Juraj Kucka.

Craig Cathcart, Tom Cleverley and Josh King drop to the bench.

Watford XI: Foster, Femenia, Kabasele, Samir, Kamara, Sissoko, Louza, Kucka, Pedro, Dennis, Hernandez.

Image source, .

Patrick Bamford makes his first start since September for Leeds for their crucial relegation clash with Norwich at Elland Road.

The striker came off the bench in the loss to Aston Villa last-time out but is in the first XI after recovering from his long injury lay off.

It is one of three changes with Diego Llorente and Mateusz Klich also in.

Leeds XI: Meslier, Ayling, Llorente, Stuijk, Dalas, Forshaw, Klich, Raphinha, Rodrigo, James, Bamford.

Image source, BBC Sport

There's also three changes for Norwich from their 3-1 loss to Chelsea in their previous outing.

Ben Gibson, Lukas Rupp and Milot Rashica all start.

Norwich XI: Krul, Aarons, Gibson, Kabak, Williams, Rupp, McLean, Lees-Melou, Sargent, Pukki, Rashica.

Image source, BBC Sport

Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has made four changes to the team from their 3-1 win over Norwich.

Thiago Silva, Mateo Kovacic and Saul all drop to the bench while Cesar Azpilicueta isn't in the squad.

In comes N'Golo Kante, Antonio Rudiger, Hakim Ziyech and Malang Sarr.

Chelsea XI: Mendy, Rudiger, Christensen, Jorginho, Kante, Werner, Chalobah, Mount, Ziyech, Havertz, Sarr.

Image source, BBC Sport

There are also four changes to the Newcastle side from their 2-1 win over Southampton.

Emil Krafth and Ryan Fraser drop to the bench, while Jonjo Shelvey and Joe Willock are not in the squad.

Miguel Almiron, Sean Longstaff, Javier Manquillo and Jamaal Lascelles return.

Newcastle XI: Dubravka, Schar, Lascelles, Targett, Manquillo, Wood, Murphy, Almiron, Burn, Longstaff, Guimaraes.

Image source, BBC Sport

Chelsea are unbeaten in nine league matches at home since a 1-0 loss against Manchester City in September (W4, D5).

They have won four Premier League games in a row too. The only slight is that they have kept just two clean sheets in those nine home wins.

Newcastle are in good form too. They are on a nine-game unbeaten run in the Premier League (W6, D3).

Only Liverpool have picked up more top-flight points in 2022 than the 20 by Newcastle prior to the weekend.

BBC Radio 5 Live

The Independent’s chief football reporter Miguel Delaney was speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live on Chelsea’s future: "The invasion two weeks ago changed the world and football, as the world’s most popular pursuit, is changing with it.

"I think it’s very hard to predict exactly how this is going to go.

"The hope is that Chelsea are not a cautionary tale and people will look back at this as a moment where Chelsea aren’t surrounded by uncomfortable questions about their owners or connections to world events like this and instead they are about Chelsea and their community."

Steven Pienaar
Former Everton midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

There’s so many players with a lot of quality but I think Everton bought players for the sake of buying them.

It is hard to see how they are in the place they are with players who have so much quality. It is shocking to see them fighting at the bottom of the table.

If they play like they did against Spurs, it’s going to be very hard.

Southampton are unbeaten in six Premier League games with Watford, winning the last three in a row.

Saints have only lost two of the 13 Premier League meetings (W6, D5).

Watford have won just one of their last nine away games against Southampton in the top flight (D2, L6).

Norwich City

A defeat would ensure they become the first club to have three separate Premier League losing streaks of six games or more within a season.

Curtis Davies
Derby defender on BBC Radio 5 Live

If Norwich are to win today it makes the relegation fight even tighter.

If you can’t beat the teams around you, you deserve to be relegated.

Jesse Marsch has made Leeds a bit more solid but they are lacking that attacking flare now. They need to let the reigns off a bit more today.

Everton have lost just one of their past 10 home league games against Wolves (W6, D3), a 3-1 defeat in February 2019.

Wolves can complete the league double over Everton for the first time since 1973.

Alex Iwobi has scored a career-best three Premier League goals against Wolves, with all three coming in his past four appearances against them.

Raul Jimenez has scored in all five Premier League appearances against Everton.

Image source, Getty Images

Mark Lawrenson
BBC football expert

This is another game where the crowd are going to play a massive part - if the home fans can get Goodison Park rocking like we know it can be, then of course it will spur the Everton players on.

They will need all the help they can get, too. I think Frank Lampard's side will win but it will be a nervy afternoon for them because of their problems at the back.

It doesn't matter what kind of performance Everton produce, they just need a win. They are not getting dragged into the relegation mix - they are already part of it.

Prediction: 1-0

Lawro's full predictions v rapper ArrDee.