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The opening day of the 2024/25 Premier League season sees one of the longest away days anywhere in England taking place as newly-promoted Southampton travel to St James’ Park to face Newcastle United this weekend.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Saturday 17th August, 2024 - UK – 3:00pm / US ET – 10:00am / US PT – 7:00am
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – N/A / US – N/A
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – N/A / US – Peacock, Fubo, Sling Blue & DirecTV Stream
NEWCASTLE PREVIEW: MAGPIES RESETTING UNDER EDDIE HOWE
It may actually be fair to say that Eddie Howe has become a victim if his iwn success. Taking a relegate threatened side to the EFA Champions League in 18 months was way ahead of schedule for the Saudi Arabia-owned project of Newcastle United, so last season then appeared quite underwhelming for the Magpies.
Despite lots of injuries, Newcastle still managed to achieve a seventh placed finish, only missing out on UEFA Europa Conference League qualification because of Manchester United winning the FA Cup. It has been a quiet summer for Newcastle but they should still be competing towards the UEFA qualifying spots.
SOUTHAMPTON PREVIEW: SAINTS AN EXCITING PROSPECT UNDER RUSSELL MARTIN
Last season, Southampton flirted with a push for automatic promotion but eventually had t settle for a playoff spot. It was a playoff spot they made the most of, though, defeating West Bromwich Albion in the semi-finals before a 1-0 win over Leeds United at Wembley Stadium to return to the top-flight.
Russell Martin has played, when at Milton Keynes Dons and Swansea City, and does play a very extreme style of football that can often leave the Saints wide open at the back but it is very entertaining for the neutral and it did become a lot more defensively assured in the second-half of last season, too.
NEWCASTLE TEAM NEWS: A FEW ISSUES
Eddie Howe had to deal with lots of injuries last season and he does not quite have a clean bill of health for the opening day with Callum Wilson set to miss the opening few weeks of the season and Sandro Tonali still suspended until the end of the month.
Howe has said that Swiss international defender Fabian Schar will 'hopefully' be fine with the likes of Matt Targett returning to training but Joe Willock 'not fully fit' yet.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Pope; Trippier, Schar, Kelly, Burn; Longstaff, Bruno Guimaraes, Joelinton; Murphy, Isak, Gordon
UNAVAILABLE: Botman (Injured), Lascelles (Injured), Miley (Injured), Tonali (Suspended), Wilson (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Schar (Injured), Targett (Injured), Willock (Injured)
SOUTHAMPTON TEAM NEWS: CLOSE TO FULL FITNESS
For his first game as a Premier League manager, Russell Martin is blessed with almost a fully fit and available squad for this weekend. Winger Kamaldeen Sulemana remains unavailable but he is nearing a return.
The Ghanaian international is the only long-term absentee for the Saints but the likes of Adam Lallana and Ross Stewart are also expected to be unavailable after they both endured pre-season without any minutes.
PREDICTED XI (3-4-2-1): McCarthy; Bednarek, Harwood-Bellis, Stephens; Walker-Peters, Downes, Smallbone, Taylor; Edozie, Brereton; Armstrong
UNAVAILABLE: Lallana (Injured), Sulemana (Injured), Stewart (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Juan Larios (Injured)
NEWCASTLE VS SOUTHAMPTON PREDICTION
Newcastle United have a well-balanced squad and one that appears to be a bit fitter than last season, at least in terms of actual player availability. Southampton, as Russell Martin has already said, will not shift away from their style of football and philosophy so we should have quite an open affair. Saints may score at St James’ Park but it is still expected to be quite a comfortable opening day win for the Geordies.
NEWCASTLE VS SOUTHAMPTON TIP: NEWCASTLE TO WIN & BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE