New eras collide at St James’ Park on Sunday afternoon as Newcastle United welcome Liverpool in the opening fixture of their 2026-27 Premier League campaigns.
Newcastle endured a disappointing 2025-26 season, finishing 12th and undergoing another major overhaul during the summer. Eddie Howe, Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes and Anthony Gordon have all departed, with 38-year-old Matthias Jaissle now tasked with rebuilding the Magpies.
Pre-season offered little encouragement, with Newcastle winning just one of five fixtures before ending their preparations with a draw against Strasbourg.
Liverpool, meanwhile, begin life under Andoni Iraola following Arne Slot’s departure. The Reds produced an entertaining pre-season campaign before ending it with consecutive clean sheets against Como, winning the final meeting 2-0.
Iraola arrives with an impressive Premier League record after guiding Bournemouth to an 18-match unbeaten run last season. He has also never lost against Newcastle, recording three wins and three draws.
Team News
Newcastle will be without Joelinton due to a groin injury, while Tino Livramento remains sidelined. Sean Steur or Aladji Bamba could make their full debuts, with Amar Dedic also expected to start. Lukas Hornicek is set for his Premier League debut.
Liverpool remain without Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni, Hugo Ekitike and Joe Gomez. Curtis Jones is also unavailable amid his expected move to Inter Milan. Alexis Mac Allister has only just returned from World Cup duty, meaning Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai could start in midfield.
Possible Lineups
Newcastle United possible starting lineup:
Hornicek; Dedic, Thiaw, Botman, Hall; Ramsey, Steur; Elanga, Wissa, Barnes; Osula
Liverpool possible starting lineup:
Alisson; Frimpong, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Ngumoha, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak
How to Watch
| Platform | Details |
|---|---|
| TV Broadcast | SuperSport Premier League |
| Live Stream | dstv stream |
| Kick-off Time | 16:30pm (WAT) |
Match Prediction
Softfootball predicts Newcastle United 1-2 Liverpool.
