🔊 Who will Alexander Isak be rooting for in this match? The Swedish forward, dreaming of a move to Liverpool, has gone on strike and will not be available for Newcastle's upcoming game. However, at St. James' Park, the Magpies are formidable even without their main attacking force, as indicated by the bookmakers' odds. The visitors are considered favorites, but only by a slight margin. Given that Arne Slot's team is undergoing a rebuild, we can expect a thrilling and intriguing encounter. Exactly the kind of match that should wrap up the second round of the Premier League!

Head-to-Head

📊 Historically, Liverpool have held the upper hand over Newcastle, with the numbers backing it up – the Reds have claimed victory in 7 of their last 10 head-to-head clashes. However, in the Magpies' triumphant season under Slot, they stood their ground twice – a thrilling 3-3 draw in the Premier League and a memorable 2-1 victory in the League Cup final. Notably, Alexander Isak found the net in both encounters.

Newcastle United Team Overview

⚫ Many have been poking fun at Newcastle's transfer campaign, but as the first match of the season showed, the Magpies are holding their own without a slew of expensive signings. They outperformed Aston Villa in every aspect (16-3 in shots; 1.4-0.32 in xG). The only thing they truly lacked was a proper forward. Had Isak been on the pitch, Eddie Howe’s side would likely have capitalized on their numerical advantage and secured a win, but with Anthony Gordon filling that role, they had to settle for a goalless draw. Despite it being an away game, this result should be viewed as dropped points.

Liverpool Team Overview

🔴 The opening match against Bournemouth was all about Diogo Jota, and Liverpool nearly slipped up at such a crucial moment. Everything was going according to plan, with two crucial contributions from Hugo Ekitike putting the Reds ahead. However, they relaxed in the second half, conceding two counterattacks from the Cherries. Arne Slot later mentioned the absence of their usual super-sub on the bench, which led him to bring on Federico Chiesa. The Italian didn't disappoint, scoring the decisive goal amidst chaos in the opponent's box. Mo Salah sealed the victory, having been named PFA Player of the Year for 2025 earlier in the week—his record third award.

Latest news

Newcastle United

❓ Newcastle are in a rush to secure a forward before the transfer window closes. Yoane Wissa has stopped his rebellion and returned to training with Brentford, while Wolverhampton have no intention of selling Jørgen Strand Larsen. As a result, some media outlets suggest that the Magpies have shifted their focus to Alexander Sørloth from Atlético Madrid (20+2 in last season's La Liga).

📝 Another transfer update is a done deal. On August 17, Jacob Ramsey's move from Aston Villa was confirmed for €45.2 million. This is a significant boost to Newcastle's midfield.

❌ Alexander Isak, upset with the club over broken verbal agreements, continues to boycott training and will not be included in the squad for the game against Liverpool. This is the only setback, as Joe Willock, who picked up an injury in a preseason match in South Korea, is reportedly back in full training and ready to play, according to Eddie Howe.

Liverpool

🔝 Beyond the aforementioned record, Mohamed Salah has achieved another remarkable feat – he is the first player to score 10 goals in Premier League opening fixtures.

🎙 Arne Slot on the upcoming clash: “It has nothing to do with what's written in the media, but if you're heading to Newcastle, you know what to expect. Last season, we faced them three times, and twice their intensity surpassed ours. At St. James' Park, they played with high intensity for 60 minutes, and in the League Cup final, they were also more intense.”

❌ Sad news has emerged from the Reds' camp. Jeremie Frimpong has suffered a hamstring injury and is expected to be sidelined for about a month. Considering that Conor Bradley only returned to training a few days ago, the right-back position is a major concern. However, Ryan Gravenberch has served his suspension, so Liverpool's midfield will be at full strength.

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

🟨 Referee and Yellow Cards

Simon Hooper, who will officiate the upcoming match, has emerged as one of the Premier League's strictest referees last season, showing 109 yellow cards in 23 matches (an average of 4.7 per game). In eight consecutive Premier League matches, the Englishman has issued at least four warnings.

Although Newcastle and Liverpool are not typically aggressive teams (averaging 1.6 and 1.2 yellow cards respectively over the last 10 Premier League matches), their head-to-head encounters have often been quite heated. In two of the last six meetings, there was a sending-off, and twice the number of warnings exceeded six. Considering this, along with the referee's fiery temperament, a bet on over 3.5 yellow cards seems reasonable.

⚽️ Goal Prediction

Liverpool's victory over Bournemouth marked their first win in their last five Premier League matches. The Reds have conceded in six consecutive league games, with both teams scoring in each. We know how resilient Newcastle are at home (scoring in 17 of their last 18 home games), which is why a bet on both teams to score (yes) appears to be one of the most straightforward choices.

🚩 Corner Prediction

Liverpool were the Premier League leaders last season in average corners won in away matches (6.79). This fact alone suggests a high number of corner kicks from the visitors. To bolster confidence, there's an intriguing trend: the Reds have taken at least six corners in five consecutive head-to-head meetings with Newcastle at St James' Park (in the Premier League). With such data, our pick is over 5.5 corners for Liverpool.

Despite Newcastle's less than favorable head-to-head record, they're not an easy opponent for Liverpool by any means. The Magpies consistently put up a fight against the favorites, avoiding any heavy defeats since 2019. We anticipate that this match won't be one-sided, yet we don't see the champions dropping points here. If they do, it will likely be in a high-scoring encounter, given Arne Slot's team's clear attacking bias. Therefore, our main bet is on Liverpool to score over 1.5 goals, which has happened in six of their last seven meetings. In our view, the match will end with a 3-1 victory for the visitors.