Newcastle United vs Liverpool Prediction, Odds & Best Bets – Premier League 2026/27

Premier League football returns this weekend, and the opening weekend brings an intriguing meeting between two clubs hoping to bounce back from disappointing campaigns. Newcastle United host Liverpool at St. James’ Park on Sunday, August 23.

Both teams begin new eras under different managers from Summer 2026. Matthias Jaissle has replaced Eddie Howe at Newcastle following the Magpies’ 12th-place finish last season, while former Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has taken charge of Liverpool after the 2024/25 champions slumped to fifth place under Arne Slot.

The summer has brought substantial changes to both squads, indeed. Newcastle lost several of their most influential figures, including Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon, and captain Bruno Guimarães, while Liverpool waved goodbye to Andy Robertson, Ibrahima Konaté and Mohamed Salah. Iraola’s first competitive game in charge therefore represents a major early examination of how quickly Liverpool’s new-look team has adapted to his high-intensity style.

Head-to-Head Stats (H2H: Newcastle vs Liverpool)

Liverpool’s recent record against Newcastle is overwhelmingly impressive. The Reds are undefeated across the last 19 Premier League H2Hs (since losing 2-0 at St. James’ in December 2015), winning 14 and drawing five, and completed a league double over the Magpies last season.

Their dominance also extends to St. James’ Park, where Liverpool have recorded six victories and three draws across their previous nine league visits. However, recent contests on Tyneside have often produced late drama, with each of the last three meetings at the stadium featuring a result-altering goal after the 90th minute.

The Reds have not lost their opening Premier League fixture in 13 seasons, winning ten and drawing three during that period. Newcastle are also unbeaten in their last four league openers, registering three wins and one draw.

Furthermore, Andoni Iraola has additional reason for confidence, having avoided defeat in each of his six previous Premier League encounters with Newcastle as Bournemouth manager, winning three and drawing three.

Newcastle United – Current Form and Team News

The Eddie Howe era will be remembered fondly at St. James’ Park, but the club’s decline to 12th place last season, combined with the departures of several leading players, left Newcastle needing a substantial rebuild.

New boss Matthias Jaissle favors aggressive pressing, quick counter-pressing and vertical attacks, making him a relatively natural fit for a club that enjoyed success with a similarly intense approach under Howe. Nevertheless, implementing those ideas with a young and significantly changed squad will definitely require some time.

Newcastle’s pre-season results offered little consistency. They defeated Valencia 2-1 in Jaissle’s first match but subsequently lost against Everton and Bayer Leverkusen before drawing 1-1 with Strasbourg. Their defensive vulnerability remains a concern ahead of a meeting with Liverpool’s talented frontline.

Tino Livramento and Joelinton are Newcastle’s two confirmed absentees. Livramento is recovering from a calf problem, while the versatile Brazilian international is expected to remain out for another couple of weeks with a knee injury.

New signing Amar Dedic is nevertheless available and could make his debut at right-back. The Bosnian previously worked under Jaissle at Liefering and Red Bull Salzburg, meaning he should already understand the coach’s demands. Lukas Hornícek is in line for his competitive debut in goal, while William Osula is another candidate to lead the attack after ending last season strongly, though Yoane Wissa could get the nod over the Danish striker on Sunday.

Summer signings Bazoumana Touré, Sean Steur and Aladji Bamba, all aged between 18 and 21, will be eager to make their official debuts for the North East giants. However, Jaissle may be reluctant to throw all three youngsters into the starting lineup against opposition of Liverpool’s calibre.

Liverpool – Current Form and Team News

Liverpool’s fall from champions in Slot’s first season to fifth place resulted in the Dutchman’s dismissal and the appointment of Iraola, who brings the longest ongoing unbeaten run of any current Premier League manager after avoiding defeat in his final 18 matches with Bournemouth.

The Reds have already shown elements of their new boss’ energetic approach, although their pre-season campaign was mixed. Defeats against Leeds United and AS Monaco once again exposed serious defensive struggles, but Liverpool concluded their preparations with a more convincing 2-0 victory over Cesc Fabregas’ Como. Cody Gakpo and new defender Jérémy Jacquet scored, while Iraola was particularly pleased with the clean sheet and his side’s improved organization across the pitch.

Questions remain over whether the squad is complete. Liverpool reportedly had a bid rejected for Brighton winger Yankuba Minteh as the club continues searching for a long-term replacement for Salah on the right wing. Their midfield depth could also become an issue, with Curtis Jones undergoing a medical ahead of a proposed £30 million move to Scudetto-holders Inter Milan.

Joe Gomez will miss the opener after suffering a muscle injury during pre-season – nothing new, many would probably say. Elsewhere, Conor Bradley and Hugo Ekitike remain long-term absentees, while Giovanni Leoni is continuing his lengthy recovery from an ACL injury almost a year ago.

All that (plus Konate’s departure) should leave Jacquet partnering captain Virgil van Dijk at centre-back, with Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez operating at full-backs. Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch are likely to form the midfield pairing, until Alexis MacAllister improves his match fitness following his deep-World Cup run with Argentina, while Florian Wirtz should occupy the number-10 role behind Isak.

Alexander Isak’s return to St. James’ Park provides Sunday’s match with an additional, spicy storyline. The Swedish striker endured an injury-disrupted first season at Anfield after his controversial Newcastle departure last summer, but he remains the Merseysiders’ most dangerous centre-forward right now.

Possible Starting Lineups of Newcastle United and Liverpool

Newcastle United: Lukas Hornícek – Amar Dedic, Malick Thiaw, Sven Botman, Lewis Hall – Sean Steur, Lewis Miley – Anthony Elanga, Nick Woltemade, Harvey Barnes – Yoane Wissa. (4-2-3-1)

Liverpool: Alisson – Jeremie Frimpong, Jérémy Jacquet, Virgil van Dijk, Milos Kerkez – Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch – Rio Ngumoha, Florian Wirtz, Cody Gakpo – Alexander Isak. (4-2-3-1)

Newcastle United vs Liverpool Betting Odds and Prediction

Liverpool enter the opening weekend as favorites despite playing away from Anfield. Despite their slump in form and departure of key players, the Reds possess greater established quality, particularly in attack, and their long-standing dominance of this matchup is just difficult to ignore.

Newcastle should still offer a threat at St. James’ Park. Both teams scored in each of their final seven home league matches last season, with the Magpies registering 14 goals and conceding 13 during that sequence. Under Howe, though. Jaissle’s aggressive approach could help them create opportunities, but it may also leave considerable space for Szoboszlai, Wirtz, Gakpo and Isak to exploit.

Not to mention Ngumoha – the teenager who made his Premier League debut as a stoppage-time substitute at St. James’ Park last August and scored in the very last moment, thus securing a 3-2 win over Newcastle and becoming the youngest goalscorer in club history.

Under these circumstances, our best bet leans on Liverpool or Draw and Over 2.5 Goals at -105, which looks an attractive way of combining Liverpool’s superior H2H record with the prospect of another high-scoring game. It provides protection against a draw while still backing the attacking quality on both sides to produce at least three goals.

Alexander Isak to score anytime at +135 also carries value. Although the forward managed only three Premier League goals during his injury-affected debut season at Merseyside, the Swede has looked sharper during the World Cup, in pre-season and will have extra motivation on his first return to St. James’ Park.

For a higher-risk selection, Over 1.5 First-Half Goals at +115 is worth considering as well. Both managers traditionally encourage aggressive pressing and direct attacking football, while neither backline appeared entirely settled throughout the summer.

Well, we believe Liverpool’s greater individual quality should still make the difference, but Newcastle can contribute to an emotional, entertaining opening-weekend clash in Tyneside.

Newcastle United vs Liverpool Best Bet: (Liverpool or Draw) X2 and Over 2.5 Goals (-105 at EveryGame)

Newcastle United vs Liverpool Value Bets: Alexander Isak Anytime Goalscorer (+135 at EveryGame); Over 1.5 First-Half Goals (+115 at EveryGame)