Chelsea will draw a close to the Premier League season with a trip to St James Park to face Newcastle United on Sunday afternoon.
The Blues have an outside chance of qualifying for the Champions League in fourth place, but not only will they have to get the right result against the Magpies, they’ll need a favour from Brighton against Liverpool too to leapfrog the Reds.
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In turn, it’s unlikely that they’ll secure it, but Antonio Conte will be desperate for his side to do their part at least and keep themselves in contention.
It could well be the last Chelsea line-up that he picks, with The Daily Star noting that the Italian tactician’s future at Stamford Bridge is under doubt amid ongoing speculation that he could leave.
Should that be the case, then he’s delivered the line-up that supporters wanted, based on the tweets below, as they shared their delight on social media, particularly with Emerson Palmieri and Ross Barkley featuring with both January signings struggling to establish themselves in the side.
It would be quite the parting gift if Conte is to leave should Chelsea seal the win and additionally secure Champions League football. The Blues faithful believe that he’s got it spot on in terms of making that happen with this line-up…
Chelsea team: Courtois; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Cahill (c); Moses, Barkley, Kante, Bakayoko, Emerson; Hazard, Giroud.
Subs: Caballero, Rudiger, Alonso, Fabregas, Willian, Pedro, Morata. #NEWCHE pic.twitter.com/WMXcsEQLBm
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) May 13, 2018
Barkley is actually alive, the scenes.
— BK (@CFCBrano) May 13, 2018
WALLAH FIRST TIME I AM ACTUALLY HAPPY WITH A LINE UP
— #ConteOUT (@AidenAzzar) May 13, 2018
EMERSONNNNNNNNNN
— koby (@cfckoby) May 13, 2018
Emerson and Barkley??
— ??7 (@NGoloFC) May 13, 2018
BARKLEY OMG
— Zipp (@RealZipp) May 13, 2018
BARKLEY EMERSON HAZARD GIROUD pic.twitter.com/rLV4KANZXv
— Ned (@FutbolLampard) May 13, 2018
BARKLEY LETS GO
— Lav (@LavCFC) May 13, 2018
BARKLEY EMERSON WOO WOO
NO HUDSON ODOI THO ??
— ? (@ChelsBoyLDN) May 13, 2018
Emerson & Barkley start! ? pic.twitter.com/PxvkcDSdJP
— Bryan (@ChelseaFCBryan) May 13, 2018
BARKLEY IS ALIVE BOGNOFNFNON
— JS ???? (@HazardousMorata) May 13, 2018
Barkley and Emerson starts?? What a time to be alive ??
— Jeezyswag™ (@Jeezygotswag) May 13, 2018