- Newcastle accumulated 40 home points last season. Only the top three did better
- Southampton have lost on six of their last seven visits to Tyneside
- Recommended bet: Newcastle -1.5 on Asian handicap

Newcastle were 5-1 winners at home to Aston Villa on matchday one of last season’s Premier League and they would love to achieve something similar when taking on Southampton at St James’ Park.

Eddie Howe’s side were unable to keep up the good work and ended up seventh last term, which was just outside the European qualification slots, but they will be striving for improvement as they seek to benefit from a less cluttered fixture list. 

Southampton will also have to get used to fewer games after promotion from the Championship although the increase in standard may pose them a tougher challenge.

Team news

Callum Wilson (back), Matt Targett (calf), Lewis Miley (ankle), Jamaal Lascelles and Sven Botman (both knee) are out and Fabian Schar (ankle) is a doubt.

Sandro Tonali's suspension will conclude by the end of the month.

Southampton have a fairly clean bill of health but they have a doubt over attacker Kamaldeen Sulemana, who is struggling with an ankle problem. 

The stats

Newcastle are unbeaten in their last eight Premier League home games.

The Magpies have scored in all of their last 19 home league fixtures.

Ten of Newcastle’s last 12 home matches have generated at least three goals.

Southampton have lost on six of their last seven visits to Newcastle.

Saints conceded 63 goals last season which was the second highest among the top nine in the Championship.

Prediction

Newcastle took a few steps back last season but they will be eager to get back into the Premier League’s top four and can make a positive start by posting a high-scoring success over Southampton.

Financial Fair Play constraints are making it hard for Newcastle to progress as quickly as they would like, and there were moments last season when the Magpies squad was looking stretched.

Injuries piled up over the course of Newcastle’s Champions League group stage campaign and domestic results inevitably suffered with Howe’s side sustaining 14 Premier League defeats.

Missing out on European qualification was a blow, but it gives Newcastle a better chance of attacking the Premier League in 2024-25.

They are almost always a tough prospect on home soil and should have too much quality and intensity for a Southampton side whose main aim will be top flight survival.

Saints have returned to the top flight after just a one year absence but they have lost some talented players in that time and could be in for a long hard season, starting with a mauling at the hands of the Magpies.

Back Newcastle -1.5 on Asian handicap at 19/20 with LiveScore Bet

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