New eras begin at St. James’ Park on Sunday afternoon as Matthias Jaissle’s Newcastle United welcome Andoni Iraola’s Liverpool for their opening fixture of the 2026/27 Premier League season.

Both clubs enter the campaign under new management but in contrasting circumstances. Newcastle United are attempting to rebuild after a turbulent summer and disappointing 12th-place finish, while Liverpool have appointed Iraola with the expectation that his aggressive, high-intensity football can propel them back towards the summit.

Few Premier League clubs have experienced as much summer upheaval as Newcastle. Eddie Howe has departed alongside several major players, including Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes, and Anthony Gordon, leaving Jaissle with the sizeable task of rebuilding a team that had previously competed for Champions League qualification.

Newcastle finished 12th last season, their lowest Premier League position since 2020-21 and a significant decline from the expectations created following their 2021 takeover. Jaissle nevertheless arrives with an impressive pedigree. Still only 38, the German has already won six trophies during spells with Red Bull Salzburg and Al-Ahli, and intriguingly, he has won his first competitive match at each of his previous three clubs.

Pre-season offered mixed evidence regarding Newcastle’s readiness and after suffering a damaging 4-1 defeat to Bristol City shortly before Jaissle’s appointment, the Magpies subsequently beat Valencia but lost against Everton and Bayer Leverkusen before drawing with Strasbourg. They both scored and conceded in all four of those fixtures, highlighting the balance Jaissle must address.

Newcastle’s tendency to combine attacking threat with defensive vulnerability extends beyond pre-season. The Magpies have scored and conceded in seven consecutive Premier League home matches. Should both teams find the net again on Sunday, the Tyneside club’s would equal their club record of doing so in eight straight home league fixtures.

That statistic becomes particularly significant against an Iraola team as Liverpool are expected to play aggressively, pressing high and moving the ball forward quickly. Newcastle should therefore have opportunities to exploit spaces behind the visitors, but their own defence will face sustained pressure. One factor favouring the hosts is their recent opening-day record. The Magpies are unbeaten in their last four Premier League season openers, suggesting they have developed a habit of beginning campaigns positively.

Liverpool’s appointment of Andoni Iraola represents a clear statement regarding how the club wants to play. The Spaniard built his reputation through intense pressing, rapid transitions and fearless attacking football, characteristics reminiscent of Liverpool’s most successful periods under Jurgen Klopp and early indications suggest those principles are already being implemented.

Liverpool’s six pre-season matches produced 20 combined goals, averaging more than three per fixture. Defensive issues initially emerged as they conceded nine times across their first four games, but consecutive clean sheets against Como provided a more reassuring conclusion to preparations. Iraola also arrives with considerable momentum from his previous role as he ended his Bournemouth tenure overseeing an extraordinary 18-match unbeaten Premier League sequence, helping the Cherries qualify for the Europa League.

His personal record against Newcastle is equally impressive as Iraola has never lost against the Magpies in six Premier League meetings, recording three victories and three draws. Liverpool also possess an exceptional recent record when beginning Premier League campaigns. The Reds are unbeaten in their last 13 matchday-one fixtures, giving Iraola an excellent foundation as he prepares for his first competitive game in charge.

His own opening-game record is slightly less convincing, with just one victory from his first matches at Bournemouth, Rayo Vallecano, Mirandes, and AEK Larnaca. However, importantly, he avoided defeat in all four. Liverpool will therefore travel to Tyneside confident that they can extend their remarkable opening-day sequence.

Recent history at St. James’ Park also provides encouragement. Almost exactly one year ago, Liverpool claimed a dramatic 3-2 victory over Newcastle in this fixture, with Rio Ngumoha scoring the decisive goal in an extraordinary five-goal contest.

Jaissle must find a way to compensate for the loss of several influential midfield and attacking players while ensuring Newcastle retain enough aggression to exploit home advantage. Iraola, meanwhile, is unlikely to abandon the principles that made his Bournemouth side so difficult to contain. Liverpool should press Newcastle’s build-up aggressively and attempt to force turnovers close to goal. However, committing players forward inevitably creates opportunities for the Magpies to counterattack.

Given Newcastle’s sequence of scoring and conceding at St. James’ Park, chances at both ends appear highly likely. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.

Team News & Tactics

Newcastle United

Newcastle United begin the Matthias Jaissle era with several important selection issues ahead of Liverpool’s visit to St. James’ Park. Following the departures of Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, and Anthony Gordon, the Magpies have a significantly different look this season, and Jaissle is expected to place considerable faith in some of the club’s younger players. New signing Amar Dedic is available and is in line to make his competitive debut at right-back.

In terms of injury and suspension news, Joelinton has been ruled out with a muscle injury and is expected to miss the opening weeks of the campaign. Tino Livramento is also unavailable as he continues his recovery from the calf problem that forced him to withdraw from England’s World Cup squad.

Joe Willock is a doubt after being forced off late in Newcastle United’s final pre-season fixture against Strasbourg. On a more positive note, Fabian Schar has returned to action. Newcastle have no players suspended for Sunday’s Premier League opener.

Newcastle are expected to operate in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Lukas Hornicek starting in goal. Amar Dedic should occupy the right-back position, while Malick Thiaw and Sven Botman are expected to form the central defensive partnership. Lewis Hall should start at left-back and will be encouraged to advance whenever Newcastle establish possession.

Jacob Ramsey and Sean Steur are expected to form the midfield double pivot. Ramsey should provide greater box-to-box movement and ball-carrying ability, while Steur can operate from a deeper position and help Newcastle progress possession. With Joelinton unavailable and Guimaraes and Tonali having departed, how this new-look midfield handles Liverpool’s intense press could be one of the defining aspects of the contest.

Further forward, Anthony Elanga should operate from the right flank, with Harvey Barnes starting from the left. Both possess the pace to attack Liverpool quickly in transition, which could prove particularly valuable if Iraola’s side push their defensive line high up the pitch.

Yoane Wissa is expected to occupy the central attacking-midfield role behind the striker. His mobility should allow him to move beyond the centre-forward when Newcastle counterattack, while also drifting towards either flank to combine with Elanga and Barnes. William Osula should lead the line as the central striker. His physical presence and willingness to run behind Liverpool’s defence could give Newcastle an important outlet whenever they bypass the visitors’ press.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Hornicek; Dedic, Thiaw, Botman, Hall; Ramsey, Steur; Elanga, Wissa, Barnes; Osula

Liverpool

Liverpool begin the Andoni Iraola era with an exciting but somewhat depleted squad for the trip to St. James’ Park. The Reds ended pre-season encouragingly with a 2-0 victory over Como, and Iraola is expected to retain the aggressive 4-2-3-1 system he has been developing throughout the summer. Alexander Isak is set for an especially intriguing afternoon as he returns to face his former club.

In terms of injury and suspension news, Hugo Ekitike remains sidelined with an Achilles injury, while Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni are also unavailable. Joe Gomez is still recovering from a muscular problem, and Curtis Jones has been dealing with a hip issue. Federico Chiesa has also been absent from recent first-team training. Jeremy Jacquet, however, has returned from his knee problem and featured against Como, putting him in contention to start.

Liverpool are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Alisson Becker starting in goal. Jeremie Frimpong should operate at right-back, while Jeremy Jacquet is expected to partner captain Virgil van Dijk in central defence. Milos Kerkez should occupy the left-back position. The pace and attacking instincts of Frimpong and Kerkez should allow Liverpool to push both full-backs high when they dominate possession, although that could also leave spaces for Newcastle to attack on the counter.

Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai should form the midfield double pivot. Gravenberch can provide the deeper ball progression and physical presence, while Szoboszlai offers energy, pressing and the ability to advance into attacking positions. Their capacity to win possession quickly will be central to Iraola’s high-intensity approach.

Further forward, the prodigious Rio Ngumoha should start on the right wing, with Florian Wirtz occupying the central number 10 position and Cody Gakpo operating from the left. Wirtz will be particularly important in finding pockets between Newcastle’s midfield and defence, while Ngumoha and Gakpo can attack the spaces either side of the home back line. Ngumoha also has fond memories of this fixture after scoring the dramatic winner at St. James’ Park last season.

Alexander Isak should lead the line as the centre-forward. His return to Newcastle adds a major subplot to the contest after his £125 million move to Liverpool last summer, and he enters the new campaign fully involved following a much more productive pre-season. Iraola will look to use Isak’s intelligent movement and ability to run behind defenders, particularly when Wirtz receives possession between the lines.

The combination of Wirtz behind Isak, supported by Ngumoha and Gakpo, gives Liverpool considerable attacking variety. If the visitors can successfully impose Iraola’s press and force Newcastle into mistakes during their build-up, that front four could create numerous opportunities.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Frimpong, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Ngumoha, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak

Key Stats

• Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 18 Premier League meetings with Newcastle United, demonstrating their remarkable recent dominance in this fixture.
• Liverpool won 3-2 at St. James’ Park last season, with Rio Ngumoha scoring the dramatic late winner against 10-man Newcastle United.
• Newcastle United have scored and conceded in seven consecutive Premier League home matches, suggesting another entertaining encounter could be on the cards.
• Liverpool enter the new season unbeaten in their last 13 Premier League opening fixtures, giving the Reds an excellent recent Matchday One record.
• Andoni Iraola has never lost a Premier League game against Newcastle, recording three wins and three draws from his six previous meetings with the Magpies.

Player to Watch

Alexander Isak

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Alexander Isak is undoubtedly the player to watch as the Liverpool striker makes his highly anticipated return to St. James’ Park. The Sweden international left Newcastle for Liverpool in a British-record £125 million transfer last year, adding an enormous personal subplot to an already compelling opening-weekend fixture.

Isak endured an injury-disrupted first season at Anfield, but he has completed a much stronger pre-season and is expected to lead the attack in Andoni Iraola’s new-look Liverpool side. Before leaving Newcastle, he had scored 44 Premier League goals across his final two seasons for the Magpies, illustrating just how devastating he can be when fully fit.

Operating ahead of Florian Wirtz, Isak should benefit from the German’s creativity between the lines. His intelligent movement, pace and composure could be particularly dangerous if Newcastle leave spaces behind their defensive line while attempting to press Liverpool.

The atmosphere will inevitably be intense given the circumstances surrounding his departure, but that only increases the significance of his performance. If Isak can handle the occasion and rediscover his best finishing form, he could provide the decisive moment against his former club.

Prediction

Newcastle United 1-2 Liverpool

Newcastle’s home support and strong opening-day record should ensure Liverpool face a difficult afternoon. Jaissle also has an impressive record in his first competitive matches, providing further reason for optimism. However, the Tyneside club’s enormous summer turnover cannot be ignored. Losing Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes, and Anthony Gordon removes significant quality from a team that already finished only 12th last season.

Liverpool appear further along in adapting to their new manager’s ideas, while Andoni Iraola’s unbeaten record against Newcastle and the Reds’ 13-game unbeaten opening-day sequence are difficult to overlook. Expect Newcastle to score and make this competitive, but Liverpool’s greater attacking quality should ultimately decide an entertaining contest.