Headline: Liverpool Set to Launch Premier League Season Against Rebuilt Newcastle United
Liverpool are preparing to begin their 2026/27 Premier League season against a drastically altered Newcastle United under new management.
Few football predictions are likely to favor the Magpies for an upset, especially with a new manager at the helm, yet recent results indicate that Liverpool must remain cautious.
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Both teams are eager to secure a positive start, but Liverpool heads into the match as favorites against a Newcastle team that has experienced significant changes this summer.
Following a pre-season conclusion that saw Andoni Iraola’s squad achieve a 2-0 victory over Como, Newcastle is coming off a disappointing three-match winless streak.
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As Newcastle approaches a new season and a fresh chapter, they will do so with the absence of key figures such as Eddie Howe, Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon, and captain Bruno Guimaraes.
Howe parted ways with the club after a challenging 2025/26 season, while Tonali, Guimaraes, and Gordon have all moved to Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, and Barcelona, respectively.
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Since the club’s takeover in 2021, fan expectations have soared, with supporters yearning for the Magpies to emerge as a formidable presence in English football.
Nevertheless, those aspirations remain unfulfilled, as Newcastle concluded last season in 12th place—a position they haven’t seen since the 2020/21 campaign.
The club’s future now rests on 38-year-old Matthias Jaissle, a coach with a record of winning six trophies with Red Bull Salzburg and Al-Ahli.
His initial task will be transforming a squad that was inconsistent during pre-season, having lost to fellow Premier League side Everton and Bundesliga team Bayer Leverkusen.
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Newcastle has developed a troubling trend of both scoring and conceding in the same match, a pattern seen in their last seven home games. Another match of this nature would tie a club record.
However, there are glimmers of hope. Newcastle has not lost their last four opening day fixtures, and Jaissle has achieved victory in his debut match at each of his past three clubs.
Iraola may not boast the same impressive opening match history as Jaissle, but he approaches this weekend’s contest with considerable confidence.
Having won just one of his first four games as manager for Bournemouth, Rayo Vallecano, Mirandes, and AEK Larnaca, he has managed to avoid defeat in every encounter.
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Even prior to taking over from Arne Slot, Iraola gained popularity among Liverpool fans, who anticipate a resurgence of the fast, attacking football reminiscent of Jurgen Klopp’s victorious era.
This attacking approach was evident throughout pre-season, with Liverpool netting 20 goals in six matches and securing back-to-back clean sheets against Como after conceding nine in their initial four fixtures.
Liverpool heads into the weekend’s match boasting an impressive streak of 13 consecutive opening-day unbeaten matches. Iraola has also overseen an even longer unbeaten stretch, guiding Bournemouth through 18 league games without a loss during their bid for European competition.
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Jaissle faces the challenge of managing a depleted Newcastle squad that will additionally miss Joelinton for a few weeks due to a groin injury and Valentino Livramento, who is still recovering from a calf issue.
In contrast, Liverpool is dealing with several injuries, including absentees Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni, Hugo Ekitike, and Joe Gomez, alongside the impending transfer of Curtis Jones to Serie A champions Inter Milan.
Newcastle United possible starting line-up:
(4-2-3-1): Lukas Hornicek; Amar Dedic, Malick Thiaw, Sven Botman, Lewis Hall; Jacob Ramsey, Sean Steur; Anthony Elanga, Yoane Wissa, Harvey Barnes; William Osula
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Liverpool possible starting line-up:
(4-2-3-1): Alisson; Jeremie Frimpong, Jeremy Jacquet, Virgil van Dijk, Milos Kerkez; Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai; Rio Ngumoha, Florian Wirtz, Cody Gakpo; Alexander Isak.
Liverpool are gearing up to kick off their 2026/27 Premier League campaign against a much-changed Newcastle United who are under new leadership.
Not many football predictions will back the Magpies to cause an upset, especially under a new manager, but there have already been a few results that suggest Liverpool can’t take anything for granted.
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Both sides will be keen to get off to a flying start, but Liverpool are going in as favourites against a Newcastle side that has been picked apart this summer.
Andoni Iraola’s side are also in better form after wrapping up their pre-season with a 2-0 win against Como, while Newcastle closed up shop with a three-game winless streak.
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Newcastle are heading into the new season and a new era following the departures of Eddie Howe, Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon, and captain Bruno Guimaraes.
Howe left the club following a difficult 2025/26 campaign, while Tonali, Guimaraes, and Gordon all secured big-money moves to Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, and Barcelona.
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Expectations at Newcastle have been higher than ever since the club’s takeover in 2021, with supporters hoping the Magpies could become a major force in English football.
However, they have yet to live up to those expectations. Last season, the Magpies finished 12th in the Premier League, their lowest position since 2020/21.
The club has now placed its hopes in 38-year-old Matthias Jaissle, a coach who has already won six trophies with Red Bull Salzburg and Al-Ahli.
His first challenge will be to improve a side that was inconsistent in pre-season, and also suffered defeats to Premier League rivals Everton and Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen.
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Newcastle have also shown a worrying habit of both scoring and conceding in the same game, doing so in their last seven Premier League home matches. Another such game would equal a club record.
But there are still reasons for optimism. Newcastle have avoided defeat in their last four opening-day fixtures, while Jaissle has won his first match at each of his previous three clubs.
Iraola may not have the same impressive record in opening matches as his opposite number, but the Liverpool manager has plenty of reasons to feel confident heading into this weekend’s clash.
The Spaniard has won just one of his first four games as manager of Bournemouth, Rayo Vallecano, Mirandes and AEK Larnaca, although he has avoided defeat in each of those matches.
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Iraola quickly became popular with Liverpool supporters even before succeeding Arne Slot, with fans hoping he could bring back the fast, attacking football that became the staple of Jurgen Klopp’s successful reign.
That style was already clear during pre-season, as Liverpool scored 20 goals across six matches. After conceding nine in their first four games, they also finished with back-to-back clean sheets against Como.
Liverpool head into the weekend having avoided defeat in their last 13 Premier League opening-day fixtures.
Iraola has also overseen an even longer unbeaten run, guiding Bournemouth through 18 league games without defeat during their push towards European football.
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The Liverpool boss also has an excellent record against Newcastle, winning three and drawing three of his six top-flight meetings with them.
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Jaissle has to work with a ravaged Newcastle side that will also be missing Joelinton for a couple of weeks due to a groin injury and Valentino Livramento, who is still recovering from a calf issue.
Meanwhile, Liverpool have a long list of absentees that includes Conor Bradley, Giovanni Leoni, Hugo Ekitike, and Joe Gomez, while Curtis Jones is on the cusp of joining Serie A champions Inter Milan.
Newcastle United possible starting line-up:
(4-2-3-1): Lukas Hornicek; Amar Dedic, Malick Thiaw, Sven Botman, Lewis Hall; Jacob Ramsey, Sean Steur; Anthony Elanga, Yoane Wissa, Harvey Barnes; William Osula
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Liverpool possible starting line-up:
(4-2-3-1): Alisson; Jeremie Frimpong, Jeremy Jacquet, Virgil van Dijk, Milos Kerkez; Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai; Rio Ngumoha, Florian Wirtz, Cody Gakpo; Alexander Isak.
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