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Before last weekend, Chelsea had only kept the same XI for two consecutive Premier League games on one occasion this season. Barring a late injury blow or a tactical surprise, Enzo Maresca is set to do it for the third game in a row on Sunday.

The return of Romeo Lavia has seen Chelsea find continuity when they most needed it. It is no surprise that his selection in the team against Everton and Liverpool brought about two much-improved performances.

Chelsea now have three league wins in a row, their best run since December. Notably, Lavia was in the side and available at the start of that streak and the downturn which followed coincided with his injury.

Liverpool's visit last weekend was the best display from a Chelsea side under Maresca and Lavia's role was central to it. He is able to receive the ball with his back to play, rolling and turning opponents in a way that creates space to play through the lines, therefore exploiting the numerical overloads in other areas cross the pitch.

His relationship with Cole Palmer, no doubt grown from their time together in the Manchester City academy under Maresca, was a big reason behind Chelsea's quick start and sustained danger at Stamford Bridge. With an aggressive Newcastle United midfield next up for Chelsea to tackle, they will need to match those levels if not bettering them at St James' Park.

The other part of the Chelsea team which has been working fluidly is Moises Caicedo's movement from right-back into midfield. In order to accommodate for Lavia, Chelsea's newly named Player of the Season is shifted into defence when Chelsea don't have the ball.

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The aim is for him to be there for as little time as possible but against Liverpool that wasn't always possible. In possession and Caicedo continues to boss things for Chelsea, cleaning up opposition attacks and maintaining his composure to set things up from deep himself.

In tandem it has provided a stable base for Maresca and kept things ticking at speed going forward, especially when Lavia is able to play forward at pace. This has been underpinned by a better relationship at the back with Trevoh Chalobah and Levi Colwill.

In a backline of Cs, Chalobah has covered for Colwill a bit but together they combined to shut down Liverpool. Although both Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah might have tested Robert Sanchez in the second half of that game, the two Cobham graduates did a brilliant job of keeping things tight.

To their left is Marc Cucurella. He would have been a close second (or maybe third, behind Enzo Fernandez), to Caicedo at Chelsea's awards night. The full-back has had a remarkable turnaround to become so valuable and is now as reliable as he has ever been since joining.

This unit of four, and a more reassured Robert Sanchez behind them, has let Chelsea up well for the final three weeks. They will need to be every bit as vigilant when Alexander Isak faces them on Sunday.

Having a unit with developing partnerships and certainty is key to forming a united XI. Chelsea came closest to this with Colwill and Wesley Fofana in defence earlier in the season but have struggled to find answers since. Although Tosin Adarabioyo has been a useful member of the squad he has not been able to compliment Colwill like Chalobah.

The midfield has often lacked Lavia's energy and even though the Caicedo-Fernandez axis has a lot going for it, the glue and balance provided since Lavia's return is instrumental for what Maresca is trying to build. Having all three available for three league games in a row isn't a privilege Maresca has had, either.

Then there is the attack. With Palmer waiting until early May to give a glimpse of the player that rocked world football for much of the past 18 months, Chelsea can be hopeful of causing Newcastle some serious problems on Tyneside.

Far from rotating an underwhelming cast of out-of-form wingers to try and replace Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke between February and April, Maresca has found a new formula. Ostensibly the two right-sided competitors, Madueke and Pedro Neto on opposite flanks have brought a new dynamism to Chelsea's play.

Jadon Sancho is looking lively from the bench and can consider himself hard done by not to be starting more as well. The change Maresca has made here is to put Madueke on the left.

He started there to ruffle up Callum Patterson of Everton but stayed for the visit of Trent Alexander-Arnold. In both games it worked. Although Neto has been the one with the output of late (scoring at Fulham and assisting against Liverpool), Madueke has still be providing an outlet for Chelsea.

Jackson remains a frustrating figure up front but asks questions relentlessly through his tireless running in-behind and closing down. From having no real threat, Chelsea now have four players raring to go in attack.

All of this is in an ideal world and may not transfer from SW6 to Newcastle. Maresca has found a blueprint and has no reason to change things up, though. If he can get his team to produce the levels that they have in the past few weeks then they will have as good of a chance as ever at getting a big result when it's most needed.