St James’ Park will see the clash of two new managers this weekend as one of the Premier League’s highest-scoring rivalries resumes on Tyneside.

Andoni Iraola made a spirited exit from Bournemouth after guiding the Cherries to European football for the first time and took over at Liverpool this summer, following the team’s decline under former manager Arne Slot.

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After winning the title with 84 points during the 2024-25 season under Slot, Liverpool slipped to sixth place last season, earning only 60 points. This marked the largest points drop-off compared to the previous campaign for any Premier League team.

The anticipation surrounding Iraola’s tenure has been tempered by fan dissatisfaction over Liverpool’s limited transfer activity following the exit of Mohamed Salah.

Salah, who contributed 257 goals and provided 120 assists in 442 appearances for the club, has not been directly replaced, leaving the squad looking thin, especially in central midfield where Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Alexis Mac Allister are the only senior options.

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With Salah’s absence and no immediate replacement in sight, the spotlight turns to Alexander Isak. The £125 million signing faced challenges with injuries after moving from St James’ Park to Anfield last summer, managing only four goals in 22 games for Liverpool so far.

This weekend marks Isak’s return to his former club, adding another layer to the rivalry.

Newcastle will enter the game without Eddie Howe for the first time in five years, as Matthias Jaissle takes charge of a Premier League side for the first time in his coaching career.

Jaissle has won his opening match with each of his previous three clubs and led his Al-Ahli team to an unbeaten home record in the Saudi Pro League last season.

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The former Salzburg coach faces his own set of challenges, dealing with the departures of Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali, alongside the sale of Anthony Gordon to Barcelona.

Newcastle has made seven new signings but is still in transition after finishing 12th last season, with Jaissle’s immediate goal being to stabilize the team.

The Magpies have displayed an intriguing trend, scoring 14 and conceding 13 in their last seven Premier League home games, yet have not managed to defeat Liverpool in their last 19 league meetings, accumulating five draws and fourteen losses.

Liverpool also struggled away from home last season, suffering nine losses, but have enjoyed a strong start, winning their opening match in each of the previous 13 seasons.

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Regardless of the outcome, this Premier League fixture typically delivers excitement and goals. A total of 198 goals have been scored in previous meetings, with just two needed to ensure this match achieves a milestone of 200 goals, only the third fixture in league history to do so.

St James’ Park plays host to the meeting of two new managers this weekend as one of the highest scoring fixtures in Premier League history resumes on Tyneside.

Andoni Iraola ended three seasons at Bournemouth with a bang after leading the Cherries to European football for the first time and his arrival at Liverpool earlier this summer was well received following the decline under predecessor Arne Slot.

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Following their title win with 84 points under Slot in 2024-25, Liverpool slipped to sixth last season after earning just 60. It was the biggest drop-off in terms of the overall points tally of any Premier League team when comparing the past two campaigns.

The arrival of Iraola, however, has been tempered by fan frustration surrounding Liverpool’s limited transfer activity following the departure of Mohamed Salah.

Salah scored 257 goals and provided 120 assists in 442 games for the club but Liverpool have yet to bring in a new right winger, while the squad also looks light in central midfield where Ryan Gravenberch, Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister are the only senior options.

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Salah’s absence and the lack of a direct replacement is likely to result in an increased focus on Alexander Isak. The £125m signing struggled amid injury problems after swapping St James’ Park for Anfield in a protracted move last summer.

He returns to his former club for the first time on Sunday afternoon having scored just four goals in 22 games for Liverpool so far.

Newcastle kick off proceedings without Eddie Howe for the first time in five years, with replacement Matthias Jaissle taking charge of a Premier League side for the first time in his career.

Jaissle has won his opening game in charge at his three previous clubs and his Al-Ahli side were unbeaten at home in the Saudi Pro League last season.

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The former Salzburg boss has midfield woes of his own to contend with following the departures of Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali, while Anthony Gordon has also been sold to Barcelona.

Newcastle have made seven new signings but a focus on youth means that a side that finished 12th last season is very much in transition. Jaissle’s immediate task may be to simply steady the ship.

The Magpies have both scored (14) and conceded (13) in each of their last seven Premier League home games, while they have failed to defeat the Reds in the past 19 league meetings (D5, L14).

Liverpool had struggles of their own on the road last season, losing nine matches, but they have opened with a victory in each of the past 13 seasons.

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Whoever the winner, one thing that this Premier League fixture usually promises is goals. There have been 198 scored so far – two more would make it just the third fixture in the competition’s history to reach a double century.