ENGLISH PREMIER BETTING PREVIEW - NEWCASTLE UNITED VS LIVERPOOL

English Premier

2026-08-23 - Newcastle United vs Liverpool

A Sports Betting Preview by Auls

Newcastle United v Liverpool
Football: English Premier League
Sunday 23rd August 2026 - Kick Off 4:30pm
This game is live on TV

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Newcastle United

There has been a feeling amongst the Newcastle United fanbase that the protracted transfer saga involving Alexander Isak at the start of last season negatively impacted the squad for much of the campaign. Despite that, it was still a season of underachievement as Newcastle United finished below rivals Sunderland and missed out on European Football once again.

If fans thought the summer window ahead of the 2025/26 season would be a low point, this one has been even more difficult with Eddie Howe choosing to leave Newcastle United as manager at the end of July. There is a suggestion that Howe had been disappointed with the transfer window having already lost Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali at that time, but Bruno Guimaraes has since departed and new manager Matthias Jaissle will be hoping the board are able to bring in some personnel.

Newcastle United have spent over £150 million in the market, but more needs to be done if they are going to be challenging higher up the Premier League standings than their 12th place finish last time around. The Magpies had an unimpressive pre-season and have lost 6 of the last 9 competitive fixtures at the end of last season. However, Newcastle United did conclude the campaign with consecutive Premier League wins at St James' Park.

Tino Livramento and Joelinton have been ruled out this Sunday and that could mean new signing Amar Dedic makes his debut at full back.

Liverpool

The fans were far from happy with the football being offered up by Arne Slot in his second season in charge of Liverpool and even winning the title in the first was not enough to keep the Dutchman in the job. Andoni Iraola has arrived to take charge at Anfield and the club have also sold off a big piece of the ownership to a consortium that has some big business names attached to the purchase.

Fans are easily frustrated by a lack of transfer business, but there do look to be some significant holes to plug in the Liverpool squad and the new manager will be hoping those are fixed before the summer transfer window closes. The Reds spent a huge amount of money twelve months ago and so a 5th place finish in the Premier League was a big disappointment, but Liverpool have not been very active in the window this time around and that may need to change.

Liverpool have been a mixed bag in pre-season and failed to win any of the last 4 Premier League games played last time around with just 2 points earned from the 12 available. They were beaten in 7 of the last 9 away games played in all competitions and only six Premier League clubs lost more away games in the Division than Liverpool did (9 defeats).

Curtis Jones is set to leave for Inter Milan and so will not be involved, while Liverpool are missing Conor Bradley and Hugo Ekitike to long-term injuries. Joe Gomez picked up another injury in pre-season and is expected to miss the first two League games.

Head to Head

Liverpool completed the League double over Newcastle United last season.

They blew a 0-2 lead against ten man Newcastle United at St James' Park before scoring the winner deep into injury time and that result means Liverpool have won on 6 of their last 8 visits to this part of the North East.

Newcastle United have won none of the last 9 at home when hosting Liverpool.

Prediction

Two seasons ago, Eddie Howe ended Newcastle United's decades long wait for silverware by helping them beat Arne Slot's Liverpool in the League Cup Final, although the Dutchman would have felt better having picked up the Premier League trophy at the conclusion of that campaign.

A little over fifteen months later, Newcastle United and Liverpool go into the 2026/27 season with new managers having seen Howe and Slot depart this summer after underachieving campaigns.

Eddie Howe left, while Arne Slot was pushed, but it does mean some uncertainty as to what to expect from the teams.

Newcastle United have not only lost their manager, but they have lost three hugely influential players in the transfer window and that adds to the departure of Alexander Isak last season. The Swedish striker is expected to lead the line for Liverpool on Sunday, but the home fans will not have forgotten how he forced his way out of St James' Park and they will make for a loud atmosphere.

Matthias Jaissle is the new man in charge at Newcastle United and his style should please the fans, although they will be hoping the board can bring in some reinforcements. It is also a style that could leave Newcastle United open at the back and Andoni Iraola will take charge of Liverpool for the first time in a competitive fixture feeling pretty happy with his first eleven.

Depth is lacking at Liverpool, but they have shown in pre-season that the players will enjoy the attacking side of the football to be played under the new manager.

Defensively there are questions, but Liverpool should have the edge in midfield in this game and they have been one of the few teams that have enjoyed playing at St James' Park as the visiter.

Andoni Iraola has guided Bournemouth to successes at this ground and it does feel like Liverpool are in a better place than Newcastle United going into the opening weekend.

Winning in this part of the North East is never easy, but Liverpool have all of the tools they should need to pick up maximum points for the seventh time in nine trips to Newcastle United.

And of course, this will be a day when Kevin Keegan is on the minds of all associated with both of these clubs.

The Pick :

Newcastle United 1-3 Liverpool

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

I'll back Liverpool to Win at 1.92 with Cloudbet