Newcastle United will look to bounce back from Champions League disappointment with a long trip south to take on Bournemouth in the Premier League’s evening kickoff.
An injury-hit Newcastle United will bid to keep their Premier League unbeaten streak going when they travel to face Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday.
It is proving to be a rollercoaster of a season for Eddie Howe’s Newcastle United. They blew away Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, beat both Manchester giants in the Carabao Cup, and defeated Arsenal in the Premier League, as well as hammering Sheffield United (8-0), Aston Villa (5-1), and Crystal Palace (4-0).
However, back-to-back defeats in Europe to Borussia Dortmund have slightly dampened their momentum, leaving the Magpies bottom of their Group F. They looked dejected after an exhausting 2-0 defeat dented their hopes of progressing to the Champions League knockout stages. Another road trip is hardly ideal, especially given their mounting injury list.
Bournemouth could be tricky customers as they look to recover from a 6-1 drubbing at the hands of defending champions Manchester City last weekend, which followed their first league win of the season against Burnley. Having lost five of their last six league games, the Cherries once again slipped into the relegation zone and will do well to climb out of it with a positive result here.
Team News & Tactics
Bournemouth
Ionut Radu will likely continue between the sticks for Bournemouth’s with first-choice Neto out with an ankle injury. USMNT midfielder Tyler Adams (hamstring) remains sidelined, while Emiliano Marcondes (foot) and Ryan Fredericks (calf) are out for the long term.
Young midfielder Alex Scott is questionable after coming off with a knee issue during the 6-1 defeat at Manchester City, while Luis Sinisterra is pushing for his first Bournemouth start after scoring off the bench at the Etihad.
Andoni Iraola opted for a back-five in the defeat to Manchester City but may revert to their more familiar 4-2-3-1 formation at home as they aim for a second consecutive league win at Vitality Stadium. Lewis Cook returns from a three-match suspension after being sent off in the defeat to Wolves in October and could be slotted straight into the engine room alongside Joe Rothwell.
Antoine Semenyo should get the nod to continue in the number 10 role, with Ryan Christie and Sinisterra on either flank. The latter is comfortable playing on either wing and brings explosive unpredictability with his razor-sharp skills and devastating pace, while the former will just provide width and creativity on the left flank.
Dominic Solanke, who has scored five times this term, is a handful for defences at the best of times and will be relied upon to bag a goal here.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Radu; Aarons, Zabarnyi, Senesi, Kerkez; Cook, Rothwell; Christie, Semenyo, Sinisterra; Solanke
Newcastle United
Newcastle United’s injury problems show no sign of abating, with Callum Wilson now an early doubt for the weekend trip to Bournemouth after he was forced off at the half-time interval of this evening’s 2-0 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League due to tightness in his hamstring.
The Toon have had a punishing schedule, and it is starting to take its toll. Injuries are piling up at St James’ Park ahead of a daunting run of fixtures after the international break when they will face Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United, Everton, Tottenham Hotspur, and AC Milan in less than 20 days.
In total, the Eddie Howe will be without no fewer than 10 players on Saturday. Javi Manquillo (groin), Elliot Anderson (back), Dan Burn (back), Jacob Murphy (shoulder), and Matt Targett (thigh) remain sidelined with respective long-term concerns, while Alexander Isak (groin) and Harvey Barnes (foot) will not be seen until after the international break.
Back to business on the south coast on Saturday. 👊
🔜 #BOUNEW pic.twitter.com/wUwKbjIY0r
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) November 9, 2023
Sandro Tonali has been banned for 10 months for illegal betting, while key playmaker Bruno Guimaraes also misses out here, having picked up his fifth booking of the league season against Arsenal.
There will be more onus on Sean Longstaff to hold things together in central midfield. Joelinton’s physical presence in midfield becomes all the more important with Guimaraes’s absence, with Joe Willock also serving as an aggressive box-to-box midfielder. The injury crisis could offer opportunities for 17-year-old Lewis Miley, who came on in the latter stages in Dortmund.
Anthony Gordon may be tasked with leading the forward line in Wilson’s potential absence, while Miguel Almiron was just a substitute in midweek but is expected to return to the starting lineup at Vitality.
Versatile loanee Lewis Hall has played at left-back and on the wing so far this season and will get another opportunity here. Tino Livramento was superb against Dortmund and should get another start here at right-back, with Kieran Trippier shifted over to the left.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Pope; Livramento, Schar, Lascelles, Trippier; Willock, Longstaff, Joelinton; Almiron, Gordon, Hall
Key Stats
- After losing three consecutive Premier League games earlier this season, Newcastle are unbeaten in their last seven games (W5 D2).
- Newcastle have been unbeaten in their last eight games against Bournemouth.
- Newcastle have kept a clean sheet in five of their last seven Premier League matches.
- Bournemouth have lost five of their last six Premier League games.
Player to Watch
Anthony Gordon
With Callum Wilson potentially joining Alexander Isak on the treatment table, the responsibility of goal-scoring will likely fall on the shoulders of winger-cum-striker Anthony Gordon. He has really stepped up to the plate this season and is becoming a key player, having scored four goals in his last five Premier League outings (3G, 1A).
The former Everton man also netted the winner as Newcastle United edged past previously unbeaten Arsenal 1-0 last weekend, and having played a bench role against Dortmund, he should be fresh to cause havoc in the Cherries’ defence.
Prediction
Bournemouth 1-3 Newcastle United
Bournemouth will set out to be tough to beat, while there could be some tired legs in the Newcastle camp. Things are starting to unravel again for the Toon after they got back on track following a slow start to the season, as it is not going to be easy for Newcastle to secure a return ticket to the continent next season with an increasingly competitive top half of the Premier League.
The Magpies seemed to run out of ideas and energy against Dortmund on Tuesday, and this game will certainly be a test of their resilience with a raft of first-choice players absent and more inexperienced squad options thrown into the deep.
Despite their many fitness issues, Eddie Howe’s side have managed to pick up points consistently in the Premier League and should have no trouble dispatching a Bournemouth side with only one league victory under their belt this season.