Newcastle United will look to put their heartbreaking UEFA Champions League exit behind them when they welcome Fulham to St. James’ Park for a tricky Saturday afternoon Premier League fixture.
Newcastle United return to Premier League action on Saturday, and they face a Fulham side who have found their goalscoring groove in their last two games.
The Magpies’ form has stalled thanks to the raft of absences, having lost their last three games on the spin, uncharacteristically shipping nine goals in the process. Despite giving a very good account of themselves on Wednesday, they suffered Champions League heartache when their European dream died on Tyneside after coming so close to progressing to the knockout rounds.
Falling to a late 2-1 loss to AC Milan, Newcastle also missed out on the Europa League consolation prize after finishing fourth in their group. So they now only have domestic matters to attend to for the rest of the season, which some may argue could prove a blessing in disguise given their ongoing injury crisis.
Seven points adrift of the Premier League’s top-four, Eddie Howe’s side come into this clash in desperate need of three points to put an end to their recent slump. Fulham, meanwhile, have risen to the top half of the table after a couple of impressive results.
First, they hammered Nottingham Forest 5-0 at Craven Cottage before sending London neighbours West Ham United back home, packing to the east end with their tails between their legs off the back of successive 5-0 annihilation on the spin.
The Cottagers also came within ten minutes of coming out on top at Anfield before two late Liverpool goals saw them lose 4-3. So, they have scored 14 goals in their last three games in a bit of a crazy run, which they will look to continue up against a Newcastle backline that has looked shoddy of late.
Newcastle United did the double on Fulham last season with a 1-0 win at Tyneside and a 4-1 win in the capital. Ahead of their latest meeting between the two sides, The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at both sides.
Team News & Tactics
Newcastle United
Much has been made of Newcastle’s injury problems recently, with Alan Shearer criticising them as an excuse. But the situation got worse during the defeat against AC Milan in the Champions League on Wednesday night. Anthony Gordon and Kieran Trippier both seemed to pick up injuries in the second half, with the latter suspended here in any case.
In some positive news for the hosts, Dan Burn returned from a spell out injured to play 30 minutes against AC Milan on Wednesday evening. And with Valentino Livramento needed on the right, he should start at left-back here.
Sandro Tonali (suspended), Nick Pope (shoulder), Jacob Murphy (shoulder), Javi Manquillo (groin), Matt Targett (thigh), Joe Willock (calf), Elliot Anderson (back), Harvey Barnes (foot), and Sven Botman (knee) will remain sidelined here, although the latter two are inching closer to full returns.
With Pope out injured, Martin Dubravka is Newcastle’s number one and will be looking to give a better account of himself than in the last three outings, conceding nine goals.
Ball-playing centre-back Fabian Schar was at fault for the second goal against AC Milan. But it is a rare thing to have a centre-back that brings such a goal threat. So, Newcastle United really have a unique asset in Schar. He will partner up Jamaal Lascelles in central defence, and the duo would love a calm, clean sheet after looking leggy in recent games.
Young Lewis Miley was given the nod against AC Milan. But Sean Longstaff is expected to take his place for Fulham’s visit alongside mainstays Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton. Alexander Isak could come in to form a front two with Callum Wilson, while Lewis Hall could be handed rare minutes from the outset in an advanced left-sided midfield role.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Dubravka; Livramento, Lascelles, Schar, Burn; Longstaff, Guimaraes, Joelinton, Hall; Wilson, Isak
Fulham
Marco Silva avoided a major injury scare this week as Willian seems to have recovered after being taken off at half-time of the 5-0 win over West Ham United due to a hamstring issue. Although the Brazilian winger is back in training, he is not expected to start this game, as Harry Wilson thrived as the Brazilian’s replacement.
Centre-back Issa Diop is recovering well from a foot injury and could even feature in this game. But Saturday’s trip will come too soon for Adama Traore and Tim Ream, who are dealing with their respective hamstring and calf problems.
The Cottagers will hope to name a largely unchanged XI on Tyneside following back-to-back five-goal wins. It is hard to see a more revitalised team in the division than Marco Silva’s since that break in early November as they start to look up the table.
Tosin Adarabioyo has returned and brought the balance to the back four. He has also brought the best out of summer recruit Calvin Bassey, his compatriot, who is now playing on his preferred left side of the centre-back pairing. Timothy Castagne and Antonee Robinson will be the marauding full-backs.
Alex Iwobi is showing much more willingness to take shots and provide more of a goal threat, thriving off the confidence that has come from scoring a few goals of late. Andreas Pereira is slowly coming back into form and has been showing the energy and intent to get into dangerous areas in recent games.
Striker Raul Jimenez has found confidence up top at a time when many were thinking that come January, he would be replaced and then benched indefinitely.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, Adarabioyo, Bassey, Robinson; Cairney, Palhinha; Iwobi, Pereira, Wilson; Jimenez
Key Stats
- Newcastle United have won their last three matches against Fulham in all competitions.
- Fulham have scored at least three goals in their last four Premier League matches.
- Fulham are winless in seven away games.
- The Magpies have won seven of their eight home league games this season.
- The hosts have scored two or more goals in three of their last five league home games.
Player to Watch
Raul Jimenez
Fulham are finally realising their free-scoring potential, and the rebirth of Mexican striker Raul Jimenez has also helped the team’s belief grow as he continues to stamp his mark on this side. The team now feel they have a striker who will score, helping relieve the pressure on the defence.
The 32-year-old has scored three goals in his last two games for Fulham, showing rare conviction and precision in front of goal. Not to mention, his newfound confidence has enabled him to operate as the facilitator who greatly influences his side’s attacking build-up play.
Prediction
Newcastle United 3-2 Fulham
This could be a very interesting game with plenty of goals in it. Newcastle United were running on fumes by the time the fresh legs of Samuel Chukwueze broke away and scored the goal to shatter Toon hopes, while they were uncharacteristically outbattled by a dogged Milan side in a duel war.
Fulham were afforded six days of rest in the build-up to the fixture against Newcastle United and will arrive to the Northeast full of confidence as they are playing their best football of the season.
However, it might not be enough to ensure they can get anything from this game, given their poor track record at St. James’ Park. Newcastle have to pick themselves up and show up, but they will also have one eye on the cup game against Chelsea. Still, at their fortress, the Magpies should still be the favourites to eventually come out on top.
