Our first game of the 2025/26 season is here, and it might just be the biggest.
We’ll have Sunderland to come and matches that may define our push for Europe later in the campaign, but this feels massive for so many reasons and has all the makings of a fierce and frenetic affair under the lights at St James’ Park.
Obviously, we come up against the side sulking striker Alexander Isak is currently pushing to join, but it’s also the first meetings since we beat them at Wembley in March and a chance to finally do our talking on the pitch after months of noise and negativity.
Hugo Ekitike will start for the Reds and, as a club, we’ll be out to prove a point, both as a team and a fanbase. To the arrogance on Merseyside, to spoilt brat Isak and to ourselves, as no player is bigger than the club and this group are still fired up and determined to deliver another big season, even though some continue to write us off.
It’s been a tough summer where so much has gone wrong since our last competitive game at St James’ – a 1-0 defeat to Everton way back in May – but the atmosphere will be something else on Monday night and I’m expecting us to be at it from the off; on the pitch and in the stands.
Newcastle XI (4-3-3): Pope – Trippier, Schar, Burn, Livramento – Bruno, Tonali, Joelinton – Elanga, Gordon, Barnes.
Liverpool XI (4-3-3): Alisson – Szobozslai, Konate, Van Dijk, Kerkez – Gravenberch, Mac Allister, Wirtz – Gakpo, Ekitike, Salah.
Ruled out: Isak (sulking), Frimpong (hamstring).
I think we’ll go with the same side that impressed in our 0-0 draw at Aston Villa last Saturday, as it had all the elements of a solid away win besides that final product where it mattered.
That finishing touch has to improve if we’re to see off a Liverpool side favourites to win the title once again, but they looked open defensively in that 4-2 win over Bournemouth on the opening day, are lacking fit right-backs and will be up against a front three full of pace and energy in Elanga, Gordon and Barnes, if that’s what Howe goes for once again.
The midfield picks itself and so may the back four, for now, with Burn and Schar man mountains at Villa, making Botman and Thiaw wait despite the belief they will be our future pairing at centre-back.
Hall is still edging his way back to match sharpness after almost six months out and will be our starting left-back soon, but Livramento is the ideal man to look after Salah, as he showed in March’s cup final.
I wouldn’t rule out a 3-5-2, seeing Botman come in for Barnes, allowing an electric front two of Gordon and Elanga, although I still think Howe will favour a 4-3-3, hoping Burn and Schar will be enough to keep Ekitike quiet after the pair pocketed Watkins last weekend.
Regardless of Howe’s starting 11, our bench will be much stronger. Jacob Ramsey could be a difference maker against tiring legs late on and we’ll also have Murphy in reserve should Elanga get the nod again.
Match prediction
My heart is saying a 3-2 win and my head says a high scoring draw. Either way, we can expect a full-blooded affair and a few goals, with the last league meeting at St James’ Park a 3-3 draw.
The atmosphere should drive the players on, giving us that 12th man in a game where Liverpool will have the quality edge in attack, but our midfield three is a match for anyone in world football on their day; they just have to keep their heads.
Gravenberch’s return should add some steel to Liverpool’s engine room, but I still back us to win that battle. The questio is, can we keep their star attack quiet and show the final product we were sorely lacking last weekend at the other end?
Gordon to score, Joelinton to whip up the crowd within the first 10 minutes with a crunching tackle and both sides to share a point in a St James’ Park classic.
Prediction: Newcastle 2-2 Liverpool
Howay the lads!
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