Two new managerial eras collide at St James’ Park on Sunday evening as Newcastle United host Liverpool on the opening weekend of the Premier League season.
Matthias Jaissle takes charge of Newcastle following Eddie Howe’s departure, inheriting a squad reshaped by the sales of Bruno Guimarães, Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon for a combined fee in excess of £240m.
Andoni Iraola begins his Liverpool tenure after replacing Arne Slot, whose difficult fifth-placed finish last season followed a title-winning debut campaign. Liverpool have also undergone significant change, with Mohamed Salah leaving on a free transfer this summer alongside Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konaté. Newcastle have not beaten Liverpool at home in nine Premier League attempts.
Newcastle United vs Liverpool – Match preview and team news
Date: Sunday, 23 August 2026
Kick-off: 16:30 BST
Venue: St James’ Park
Referee: Stuart Attwell
VAR: James Bell
Last meeting: Liverpool 4–1 Newcastle United, 31 January 2026, Premier League
Team news
Newcastle United
Joelinton is out with a groin injury, with Jaissle confirming the midfielder should return within a couple of weeks. Tino Livramento remains sidelined with the calf problem that forced his withdrawal from England’s World Cup squad. Lewis Miley made his first appearance since breaking his leg in last weekend’s defeat to Bayer Leverkusen, but his readiness to start remains uncertain. Sean Steur and Aladji Bamba, two of the club’s summer signings, are both in contention to make their full debuts in central midfield.
Liverpool
Joe Gomez, Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni are all out through injury, alongside Hugo Ekitike, who is sidelined with an Achilles problem. New signing Jérémy Jacquet is expected to be handed his Premier League debut alongside Virgil van Dijk, having impressed in the pre-season win over Como, though fellow new arrival Ronald Araújo provides genuine competition for that role. Alexis Mac Allister, who played just 54 pre-season minutes following Argentina’s run to the World Cup final, is a doubt to start. With Mohamed Salah having left the club this summer, Rio Ngumoha is expected to feature on the right of Liverpool’s attack.
Form
Newcastle United
Jaissle’s appointment followed Newcastle’s joint-worst finish of the decade last season, a 12th-placed finish that was their lowest since 2020-21. The summer has brought wholesale change both in the dugout and across the midfield, with Guimarães, Tonali and Gordon all departing. Newcastle have avoided defeat in each of their last four opening-weekend fixtures, offering some historical comfort heading into a daunting assignment against last season’s beaten runners-up… though it is Liverpool, not Newcastle, who finished above the other in that particular race.
Liverpool
Iraola’s appointment follows a turbulent season under Slot that saw Liverpool finish 25 points behind champions Arsenal. The Spaniard arrives with an impressive record of his own — three progressively improving finishes at Bournemouth culminating in European qualification last season — and Liverpool are unbeaten in 13 consecutive Premier League opening fixtures, a run stretching back to 2012-13. Iraola himself has never lost to Newcastle in the top flight, winning three and drawing three during his time at Bournemouth.
Predicted lineups
Newcastle United predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Hornicek; Dedic, Thiaw, Botman, Hall; Ramsey, Steur; Elanga, Wissa, Barnes; Osula
Liverpool predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Alisson; Frimpong, Jacquet, Van Dijk, Kerkez; Gravenberch, Szoboszlai; Ngumoha, Wirtz, Gakpo; Isak
How to watch Newcastle United vs Liverpool?
The match will be broadcast live in the United Kingdom on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League as part of Super Sunday.
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