Newcastle vs Sheffield United predictions: Magpies to send Blades down

- Newcastle won the reverse fixture at Bramall Lane 8-0
- Sheffield United's relegation will be confirmed if they lose at St James' Park
- Recommended bet: Newcastle win & over 3.5 goals

Newcastle will be looking to bounce back from their midweek defeat at Crystal Palace when they welcome Sheffield United to St James' Park on Saturday and defeat for the Blades would confirm their relegation from the Premier League.

Having taken 10 points from the last 12 available heading into their trip to Selhurst Park, Newcastle delivered an underwhelming display with two second-half goals from the in-form Jean-Philippe Mateta securing Palace a 2-0 win.

That result saw the Magpies slip to seventh, three points behind Manchester United in sixth, but they will expect to get their push for a top-six finish back on track when the bottom-of-the-table Blades come to town.

Chris Wilder's men put up a spirited but ultimately fruitless display at Old Trafford during the week, twice leading before succumbing to defeat, and another loss on Saturday would confirm their relegation back to the Championship.

A draw or win might not even be enough for Wilder's side to be handed a stay of execution, as they will also be relegated if fourth-bottom Nottingham Forest match or better their result this weekend.

Team news

Newcastle's injury list remains lengthy, with Sven Botman, Jamaal Lascelles (both ACL), Joe Willock, Matt Targett (both Achilles), Lewis Miley (back), Nick Pope (shoulder), Kieran Trippier (calf), Miguel Almiron (knee) and Joelinton (thigh) all still on the sidelines.

Callum Wilson and Valentino Livramento are available though, after both returned to the bench for the defeat at Palace.

As for Sheffield United, Jayden Bogle and James McAtee both picked up knocks during the week and are considered doubts for the trip to Tyneside, as is striker Oli McBurnie, who is nursing a groin problem.

The stats

Newcastle have won seven of the last eight meetings between these two sides, including their 8-0 success at Bramall Lane in this season's reverse fixture.

The Magpies are unbeaten in their last six games at St James' Park and have only lost three of their 17 home matches in the league this season.

Sheff Utd will become the first team to be relegated from the Premier League this season if they lose on Saturday, while even a draw or win might not be enough to stave off that inevitability for another week.

The Blades hold the worst away record in the Premier League this season — picking up just one win and six points on their travels.

Conceding goals has been an issue for Sheff Utd all season, as they have let in 92 across their 34 league matches, the most any Premier League team has ever shipped in a 38-game season.

Prediction

Newcastle were poor against Palace, but back on home soil at St James' Park — where they have taken 10 points from the last 12 available — they will expect to have too much for their struggling visitors.

The Magpies were 8-0 winners when the two sides met in September and while a repeat of that scoreline on Saturday seems unlikely, they can still rack up the goals, as they have netted two or more in seven of their last nine home fixtures.

They will also be taking on a Blades' defence that have been leaking goals at a record-breaking rate, shipping four in their last two games against Burnley and Man Utd, although they did score in both of those matches and could also contribute against Newcastle.

However, a goal might be as good as it gets for the Blades, who look set to suffer a 25th league defeat of the season that would also confirm their relegation.

Back Newcastle to win and over 3.5 goals in the match at evens with LiveScore Bet

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