Newcastle face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon.
Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer has told betting company Coral that the Toon can produce a shock result by knocking Premier League champions Chelsea out of the FA Cup on Sunday afternoon.
Rafa Benitez takes his side to Stamford Bridge after knocking League Two leaders Luton Town out of the FA Cup in the third round with a 3-1 win, thanks to a Jonjo Shelvey strike and a brace from Spaniard Ayoze Perez.
Chelsea, however, limped into the next round of the competition after drawing with Norwich 0-0 and then 1-1 in the replay, requiring penalties to knock the Championship side out.
Shearer, who was an FA Cup finalist with Newcastle in 1998 and 1999 but failed to win the trophy, reckons if Chelsea play similarly to the performances against Norwich, then Benitez’s side have an opportunity.
“I think Sunday is an opportunity,” Shearer said. “I watched the replay of Chelsea against Norwich at Stamford Bridge, and Chelsea were slightly fortunate, they got through on penalties and it perhaps should have been different.
“If that Chelsea turns up, the Chelsea that weren’t good enough to beat Norwich over two games in open play, then Newcastle will have an opportunity. It was refreshing that Rafa played a strong team in the previous round.
“Hopefully he will play a strong team again, but if Chelsea play a full strength team and they’re at it 100 per cent, then it will be a very tough for Newcastle.”
Chelsea and Newcastle have already met at Stamford Bridge this season, with the Blues coming from behind to beat the Toon 3-1 thanks to an Eden Hazard brace and an Alvaro Morata goal, cancelling out Dwight Gayle’s opener.
However, with Chelsea winning just one of their last seven league and cup outings, Newcastle could go into the game with a positive frame of mind as they look to book their place in the hat for the fifth round of the FA Cup.
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