Newcastle United meet Brentford in a massive Premier League showdown as the pair chase European qualification.
Victory could lift Newcastle up to eighth if Sunderland lose at Arsenal plus Fulham and Everton draw in their clash.
Seventh-placed Brentford can climb to sixth with a win by three goals or more.
Team News
Anthony Gordon is unlikely to be available for Newcastle after he suffered a hamstring injury in their 3-1 midweek defeat at Manchester City, as they exited the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening.
Lewis Miley (knee) and Bruno Guimaraes (ankle) face late fitness checks.
Emil Krafth (knee), Joelinton (groin), Tino Livramento (hamstring) and Fabian Schar (ankle) remain absent.
Brentford will be without Kevin Schade for their next three matches after he was red carded in their 1-0 victory at Aston Villa last weekend.
Fabio Carvalho, Josh Dasilva and Antoni Milambo (all ACL) remain sidelined.
When is Kick-Off?
Newcastle host Brentford at St James’ Park on Saturday 7 February at 5:30pm GMT, live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Newcastle have avoided defeat in seven of nine previous Premier League meetings against Brentford (W6, D1, L2).
- Brentford are yet to claim a Premier League away victory at Newcastle (D1, L3).
- Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali has scored three goals in two home appearances against Brentford (W2).
- Malick Thiaw has played more successful short passes than any other Newcastle player this season (884).
- Michael Kayode has made more interceptions than any other Brentford player this season (28).
Prediction
With their Carabao Cup title defence over and one route to European qualification for next season now shut, Newcastle must now sort out their league form and produce more consistency but they come into this game off the back of a more positive second-half attacking display at Man City.
Brentford meanwhile produced a second-half defensive masterclass to resiliently keep Villa out albeit with a slice of luck from the Video-Assistant Referee (VAR), having executed a clinical counter-attacking first-half display amidst Schade’s loss of discipline and dismissal.
St James’ Park though hasn’t exactly been the happiest hunting ground for Brentford but if they can start well and target Newcastle’s shaky defence with a strong press like City did, I can see them nicking this but Newcastle can’t be as wasteful as they were in midweek.
Prediction: Newcastle 1-1 Brentford
Result: Newcastle 2-3 Brentford
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