EPL Betting Preview: Newcastle United vs West Ham United – Monday,  Nov. 25, 2024

Newcastle United will be keen to secure a third successive Premier League victory for the first time in over a year when they take on a struggling West Ham at St James’ Park on Monday night.

The Magpies mounted a spectacular comeback in their last meeting with West Ham in March. The Hammers, then managed by former boss David Moyes, overturned Alexander Isak’s early opener with goals from Michail Antonio, Mohammed Kudus, and Jarrod Bowen on either side of the half-time break.

However, Eddie Howe’s substitutions reignited the Magpies’ attack, as Isak converted his second penalty of the match and Harvey Barnes struck twice late on to seal a thrilling 4-3 victory.

Newcastle United Betting Preview (-200 at EveryGame) 

Unfazed by big-name opponents, Newcastle have established St James’ Park as a fortress, where recent victims include Chelsea in the EFL Cup and Arsenal in the Premier League, both conquered without conceding. 

Eddie Howe’s men also stuck to their game plan on their trip to Nottingham even after Forest’s Murillo opened the scoring two weekends ago. With character and resilience, second-half strikes from Alexander Isak, Joelinton, and Harvey Barnes powered Newcastle to victory, solidifying their European ambitions.

Starting the weekend level on 18 points with Aston Villa and Fulham, Howe’s side currently sits in ninth, only four points behind third-placed Chelsea. Although Saturday’s results dropped them to tenth, the Magpies are focused on controlling their own destiny as they chase three straight league wins for the first time since September 2023.

Since that September run 14 months ago, Newcastle have won back-to-back Premier League matches on six occasions, only to falter in the third. Yet with just one loss in their last 15 home games in all competitions, Newcastle’s faithful can be hopeful that West Ham will not be celebrating come Monday.

The Newcastle boss will face a defensive reshuffle after Dan Burn received his fifth yellow card of the campaign against Nottingham Forest, sidelining him for this match. Lloyd Kelly is expected to fill in for Burn, who joins fellow defenders Jamaal Lascelles, Sven Botman, and Emil Krafth on the absentee list. 

Elsewhere, both Kieran Trippier and Callum Wilson remain doubts, though Trippier stands a better chance of playing. If he does, Howe may opt to keep Tino Livramento in the lineup, fresh from his first senior England cap in a 5-0 win over Republic of Ireland.

Before the international break, Alexander Isak had found the net in each of Newcastle’s last four games, and he extended his scoring streak while on duty for Sweden. The Swedish striker scored in his country’s 2-1 victory over Slovakia in the UEFA Nations League, although he missed a penalty during Sweden’s subsequent 6-0 thrashing of Azerbaijan a few days later.

West Ham United Betting Preview (+525 at EveryGame)

You can feel a bitter taste after West Ham’s performances so far as Julen Lopetegui’s men currently find themselves 14th in the Premier League table, picking up just 12 points after 11 games. Indeed, the mood is mixed at West Ham after their tepid stalemate against Everton, a point that might feel like two dropped given Jordan Pickford’s last-minute heroics to deny Danny Ings a winner. Although unremarkable, that result extended the Irons’ unbeaten home streak to three matches, following recent wins over Ipswich Town and Manchester United.

West Ham’s home form has kept them safe from the relegation zone, where they sit in 14th place, three points clear of Ipswich Town in 18th. However, their recent away performances have been dismal. Under-pressure manager Julen Lopetegui has watched his side lose three of their last four road games, conceding seven goals in their last two defeats to Tottenham Hotspur and Nottingham Forest. Their only win from their last eight away league matches came against lowly Crystal Palace in August.

Monday’s match also conjures memories of an unforgettable 4-3 win for Newcastle in March, extending West Ham’s winless streak against the Magpies to five games (losing two of them) since an action-packed 4-2 victory in the North East in August 2021.

West Ham will be without Mohammed Kudus, who serves the fourth game of his five-match ban, but Edson Álvarez returns from suspension and could be pivotal in midfield. German forward Niclas Füllkrug remains sidelined with an Achilles issue, and Lopetegui hinted that two players picked up minor knocks, though he stopped short of naming them. 

It remains uncertain whether Alphonse Areola will reclaim his starting spot in goal after a recent injury, with Lukasz Fabianski ready if needed. Up front, Crysencio Summerville is expected to replace Kudus on the left flank.

Predicted Starting Lineups of Newcastle United and West Ham United 

Newcastle United: Nick Pope – Tino Livramento, Fabian Schar, Lloyd Kelly, Lewis Hall – Joe Willock, Bruno Guimaraes, Sean Longstaff – Anthony Gordon, Alexander Isak, Joelinton. (4-3-3) 

West Ham United: Lukasz Fabianski – Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Jean-Clair Todibo, Max Kilman, Emerson Palmieri – Edson Alvarez – Jarrod Bowen, Lucas Paqueta, Tomas Soucek, Crysencio Summerville – Michail Antonio. (4-1-4-1) 

Spooky Express Betting Prediction 

The Magpies enter the clash on a high, having dispatched an in-form Nottingham Forest side 3-1 just before the international break, while the Hammers labored to a goalless draw against Everton, a game that many would sooner forget.

Previous encounters between these sides have been goal-fests, with the last seven meetings producing a whopping 32 goals. There hasn’t been a goalless draw in this fixture since 2013, and it’s unlikely that Monday’s encounter will lack excitement. However, Lopetegui’s men face a stern test against a Newcastle defense that has conceded just once in their last four home games. 

The Magpies will be eager to build on their momentum from before the international break. Newcastle’s formidable record at St. James’ Park has made it one of the toughest venues for visiting teams in the Premier League, and Eddie Howe’s men have proven time and again that they can rise to the occasion on home turf. With a passionate home crowd behind them and momentum from their recent performances, the Magpies have every reason to capitalize on their home advantage and secure another crucial three points against West Ham on Monday night.

As of now, the odds at Everygame favor Newcastle United at -200 for a home victory against West Ham United, who stand at +525 to claim an upset at St. James’ Park. Meanwhile, the odds of a draw are set at +340. For added value, we recommend backing “Newcastle to Win and Both Teams to Score” at +170. 

All odds are available through EveryGame, giving the SpookyExpress readers multiple ways to get in on the action ahead of Monday’s clash.

Spooky Express Free Play: Outcome And Both Teams To Score – Newcastle United and Yes +170 at EveryGame for 4/10 Units