Newcastle United continue their push for European qualification against Premier League title outsiders, Aston Villa.
Victory could lift Newcastle up to fourth for at least a few hours if Brentford and Chelsea both slip up elsewhere, whilst Villa will stay third but a win would move them to within four points of league leaders – Arsenal who play in the teatime kick-off.
Team News
Bruno Guimaraes is a doubt for Newcastle after he suffered an ankle injury during their 3-0 Champions League victory at home to PSV.
Dan Burn (rib/lung), Emil Krafth (knee), Tino Livramento, Jacob Murphy (both hamstring), Fabian Schar and William Osula (both ankle) remain absent.
Villa could welcome Emiliano Martinez back in goal after he sat out their 1-0 Europa League victory at Fenerbahce.
John McGinn, Boubacar Kamara, and Ross Barkley remain absent due to knee injuries.
When is Kick-Off?
Newcastle host Villa at St James’ Park on Sunday 25 January at 2pm GMT, live on Sky Sports Main Event in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Newcastle have lost one of their last five league meetings against Villa (W3, D1, L1).
- Villa are winless in their last 17 league visits to Newcastle (D6, L11)
- Newcastle have kept clean sheets in three of their last four home matches against Villa, except for a 5-1 win in August 2023.
- Five of Harvey Barnes’ 12 goals for Newcastle this season across all competitions were scored in the Premier League.
- Villa are looking to avoid going three consecutive league matches without a goal for the first time since their first four matches of the season.
Prediction
Having hooked together one of their strongest displays of the season with a strong aggressive attacking press which overwhelmed PSV, Newcastle can come into this important league game full of renewed confidence but they will surely have one eye on their tricky visit to PSG on Wednesday.
Villa meanwhile were clinical in their win at Fenerbahce but there is no doubting that they rode their luck at times defensively, especially when Fenerbahce upped their pace and intensity in the second half so my instinct is that we might see another tough game of hard graft from them.
Newcastle though know that this is a huge chance to boost their top-four ambitions and particularly given their strong home form against Villa, but I just feel that this could well be another close draw like on the opening weekend of this season.
Prediction: Newcastle 1-1 Aston Villa
Result: Newcastle 0-2 Aston Villa
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