REUTERS/John Sibley
Three months on from their 3-0 hammering at St. James' Park in Antonio Conte's final Premier League game in charge, the Blues appear to be a side back on the rise.Replacing Conte with another Italian this summer, former Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri has Chelsea believing a return to the top four could be back on the cards.
They put three past Huddersfield on the opening weekend, followed by a dramatic 3-2 win against Arsenal last Saturday and the Blues will be looking to make it three wins on the bounce when they travel up the M1 on Sunday.While on paper a trip to St. James' Park should seem routine enough, Sarri's new side haven't won any of their last five matches in the North East, a run stemming back to 2011. It is always a tough task for Chelsea, last years Serie A Coach of the Year will also have a few headaches before his third game: