Match Overview

The highly anticipated Premier League Week 2 encounter between Newcastle and Liverpool is set to take place on August 25 at St. James’ Park. This fixture promises an exciting clash as both teams look to establish their dominance early in the season.

Newcastle United: Current Form and Outlook

Struggling for Goals

Eddie Howe’s squad faced a challenging opening fixture against Aston Villa, a game they could have potentially won despite playing a significant portion with a numerical advantage after a Villa player was sent off. However, Newcastle failed to capitalize, extending their winless streak in the Premier League to three matches (one draw, two losses). More concerning is their inability to find the back of the net in these games, a goalless run not seen since January 2021.

Key Statistics for Newcastle

• Fewer than three goals have been scored in Newcastle’s last five Premier League matches.
• At least one team has failed to score in six of Newcastle’s last eight league outings.
• The Magpies have secured victory in six of their last seven home fixtures in the English top flight.

Newcastle’s Projected Line-up (4-3-3)*

Nick Pope – Fabian Schär, Valentino Livramento, Kieran Trippier, Dan Burn – Bruno Guimarães, Joelinton, Sandro Tonali – Anthony Gordon, Anthony Elanga, Harvey Barnes.

Team News: Injuries and Absences

Midfielder Joseph Willock is expected to miss the match due to injury. Additionally, forward Alexander Isak will be unavailable, reportedly due to his desire to move on from the club.

Liverpool: Recent Performance and Analysis

Overcoming Challenges

The team commenced their campaign with a 4-2 victory over Bournemouth at home. Despite the scoreline, the win was hard-fought, with Liverpool netting two crucial goals in the 88th and 94th minutes. This victory ended their four-match winless streak in the league (two draws, two losses). Notably, Liverpool has maintained an unbeaten record in their season openers for 13 consecutive seasons (ten wins, three draws).

Liverpool’s Performance Trends

• Both teams have scored in Liverpool’s last six Premier League matches.
• At least three goals have been scored in five of the Reds’ last six league games.
• Liverpool has scored exactly two goals in seven of their last nine away league fixtures.

Liverpool’s Projected Line-up (4-2-3-1)*

Alisson Becker – Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Ibrahima Konaté, Virgil van Dijk – Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai – Mohamed Salah, Florian Wirtz, Cody Gakpo – Hugo Ekitike.

Squad Updates for Liverpool

Defender Conor Bradley is a doubt for the match due to an injury. Fellow defender Jeremie Frimpong is also currently sidelined.

The Referee: Simon Hooper

Match Official Statistics

Simon Hooper (England) will officiate this fixture.

His statistics from 25 Premier League matches (2024/25–2025/26 season) are:

• Yellow cards shown (including second yellows) – 116;
• Average yellow cards per match – 4.6;
• Red cards shown – 1;
• Average fouls per match – 20;
• Penalties awarded – 20%.

Match Prediction: Newcastle vs Liverpool

Liverpool’s Road Form

In their last 35 Premier League matches, Liverpool has suffered only four defeats, with two of those coming in the final rounds of the previous season after they had already secured the league title. This suggests the team is generally in excellent form, and after a somewhat unconvincing performance in Week 1, they are likely to have made adjustments and will be highly motivated for a robust Newcastle side.

Newcastle’s Current State

Eddie Howe’s men, in my assessment, have not yet fully shaken off their pre-season rust. They are also struggling to secure a victory, having failed to win in their last three league matches.

Head-to-Head Dominance

Liverpool boasts an impressive record against their upcoming opponents. Newcastle has failed to beat Liverpool in 17 consecutive Premier League encounters, with five draws and twelve losses. Furthermore, at St. James’ Park, the home side has not managed a league victory against Liverpool in eight previous meetings, recording three draws and five defeats. Considering these factors, my prediction is a **”Liverpool Asian Handicap (0)”**.

* The starting lineup listed for each team refers to their previous match in this tournament.