Preview: Aston Villa vs Newcastle United – prediction, team news, lineups

After finishing level on points last season, Aston Villa and Newcastle United will clash on the Premier League’s opening matchday, meeting at Villa Park for Saturday’s early kickoff.

For the second time in three years, both sides begin a new campaign by facing each other – and goals are usually guaranteed.

Match preview

Following a sixth-placed league finish and two deep runs in cup competitions, Aston Villa will look to build on another good season when competitive action returns this weekend.

Departing loanees aside, they have so far kept their main men despite intense speculation, while adding a few new recruits to the squad that reached last term’s Champions League quarter-finals.

Unai Emery may have cursed missing out on an immediate return to UEFA’s top competition, following defeat to Manchester United on the Premier League’s final day, but Villa still have a Europa League campaign ahead of them.

Having started pre-season with successive defeats, they then completed an unbeaten U.S. tour before returning to the West Midlands with a 4-0 thumping of Roma.

Last week, they wrapped up an intense friendly schedule by losing to Marseille but beating Emery’s old club Villarreal, and now they head back to Villa Park.

Averaging over two points per league game, the Birmingham club lost only once in B6 last term; indeed, they are unbeaten in 21 home games across all competitions, winning all of the last eight.

Not only does that represent their longest such run since the mid-1970s, but Villa have also won five of their last six at home to Newcastle, including a comprehensive 4-1 victory in April.

 

Of course, Newcastle would rather reflect on when they doled out a chastening opening-day defeat to the Villans in 2023, strolling to a 5-1 win at St James’ Park.

And, in May, Eddie Howe‘s side pipped Saturday’s hosts to a place in this season’s Champions League by virtue of goal difference, capping off a memorable campaign.

Having finally ended a 70-year domestic trophy drought by lifting the EFL Cup, the Magpies subsequently secured fifth place in the Premier League despite losing both of their last two matches.

Since heading into the off-season, it has been a tough summer on Tyneside, as a long list of transfer targets have ended up elsewhere, while star man Alexander Isak is apparently desperate to leave.

Furthermore, Newcastle failed to win any of their friendlies, losing to Celtic, Arsenal and a K-League XI before playing out draws with Espanyol and Tottenham Hotspur.

Finishing off with a home loss to Atletico Madrid only served to dim the spirits of Toon fans even further, but at least precedent will be on their side this weekend.

Newcastle have won their league opener in each of the last three seasons – more wins than they managed across the previous 14 campaigns combined.

Aston Villa pre-season form: D W D W L W

Newcastle United pre-season form: L L L D D L

 

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Team News

 

 

Unai Emery may have lost loanees Marco Asensio, Marcus Rashford and Axel Disasi, but Aston Villa have kept their spine intact despite doubts surrounding several key players.

 

Emiliano Martinez and Morgan Rogers remain, while Ollie Watkins – who became the club’s top Premier League goalscorer ever last season – is still available to Emery. Prolific in pre-season, he has scored in all four of his top-flight home games against Newcastle, racking up a total of seven goal involvements.

 

However, Martinez must serve a suspension for his reckless red card at Old Trafford last season; Ross Barkley and Andres Garcia are injured, while Rogers is struggling with an ankle problem.

 

Recent signing Evann Guessand may feature in the final third, as local lad Jacob Ramsey could be set to join Saturday’s visitors.

 

With Ramsey on the way, Newcastle have already added Aaron Ramsdale, Anthony Elanga and ex-Milan defender Malick Thiaw to their squad, but Alexander Isak – scorer of 11 goals in his last 13 Premier League away games – is still unavailable.

 

Elsewhere, Joe Willock has been ruled out by an Achilles injury, and Anthony Gordon faces a race against time to prove his fitness. If cleared to play, the latter could fill in as a false nine, given Eddie Howe’s lack of strikers.

 

Aston Villa possible starting lineup: Bizot; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne; Kamara, Tielemans; Malen, McGinn, Rogers; Watkins

 

Newcastle United possible starting lineup: Pope; Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento; Guimaraes, Tonali, Joelinton; Elanga, Gordon, Barnes