Premier League | Gameweek 8

Oct 19, 2024 at 3pm UK

St. James' Park

Newcastle vs Brighton

Match preview

After winning three of their opening four Premier League matches, albeit in unconvincing fashion, Newcastle have failed to win any of their last three games, with a 3-1 defeat at Fulham followed by draws at Manchester City and Everton.

The Magpies picked up a respectable point from a 1-1 draw at home to Man City before being held to a goalless stalemate at Everton in their last game before the international break, with former Toffees winger Anthony Gordon failing to convert a first-half penalty past Jordan Pickford.

Eddie Howe was left "frustrated" after his side "squandered chances" in the final third, but believes his side made "huge strides" defensively and was pleased to leave Goodison Park with their first clean sheet since the opening weekend of the season.

The Magpies boss, who has confirmed he has not been interviewed by the Football Association to become the next England manager, has his side seventh in the Premier League table, level on points with Saturday's opponents Brighton in sixth and just two points outside the top four.

Newcastle return to St James' Park on the back of an 11-match unbeaten run (W6 D5) dating back to February, while they are also unbeaten in their last three home meetings with Brighton.

After suffering their first defeat of the Fabian Hurzeler era away at Chelsea (4-2), Brighton looked set for another London defeat against Tottenham Hotspur before the international break, trailing the Lilywhites 2-0 at half-time at the Amex Stadium.

However, the Seagulls staged a stunning second-half comeback and three goals in the space of 22 minutes from Yankuba Minteh, Georginio Rutter and Danny Welbeck sealed a memorable 3-2 victory to extend their unbeaten home record this season to six games.

Hurzeler has insisted that he is not too concerned about results at this stage of the season and is keen to "focus on the process", while also looking forward to the "big challenge" that awaits his Brighton side this weekend against Newcastle.

Brighton have fared well in recent encounters with Newcastle, losing just two of their last 14 Premier League meetings (W5 D7), although both of those defeats have come on their last three visits to St James' Park.

The Seagulls will be keen to improve at the back having conceded eight goals in each of their last three league games - they have not conceded two or more goals in four consecutive matches since a run of six in March 2022.

Recent Performance

Newcastle United Premier League form:DWWLDD

Newcastle United form (all competitions):WWLDWD

Brighton & Hove Albion Premier League form:WDDDLW

Brighton & Hove Albion form (all competitions):DDWDLW

Injuries and suspensions

Newcastle

1 Martin Dúbravka

4 Sven Botman

6 Jamaal Lascelles

13 Matt Targett

2 Kieran Trippier

67 Lewis Miley

38 Garang Kuol

9 Callum Wilson

Brighton

33 Matt O'Riley

7 Solly March

Possible starting lineups

Newcastle United possible starting lineup:

Pope; Livramento, Schar, Burn, Hall; Tonali, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Murphy, Isak, Gordon

Brighton & Hove Albion possible starting lineup:

Verbruggen; Veltman, Van Hecke, Dunk, Kadioglu; Hinshelwood, Wieffer; Minteh, Rutter, Mitoma; Welbeck