Newcastle United face Liverpool in the Premier League season opener at St. James' Park on Sunday afternoon. The match, which kicks off at 4:30pm UK time, marks the first official league game in charge for Liverpool's new manager Andoni Iraola and features several notable debuts and returns.
According to a report from www.google.com, Newcastle United head coach Matthias Jaissle has named three debutants in his starting eleven. Goalkeeper Lukáš Horníček, defender Amar Dedić, and midfielder Sean Steur all make their first competitive appearances for the club. They join a lineup that includes Malick Thiaw, Sven Botman, Lewis Hall, Lewis Miley, Anthony Elanga, Yoane Wissa, William Osula, and Harvey Barnes. The Magpies begin the season sitting 11th in the Premier League with one point from their opening game.
Who is missing for Newcastle United?
Newcastle United are without two key players due to injury. Midfielder Joelinton is sidelined, while defender Dan Burn was ruled out with an issue first reported earlier on Sunday. Their absences test the squad's depth early in the campaign. Substitute options include Ewen Jaouen, Aladji Bamba, and Bazoumana Touré. The team's next challenge is a home fixture against Bournemouth on September 5th, a match you can find on our fixtures page.
What is the story with Alexander Isak?
The match marks Alexander Isak's first meeting with his former club since completing a £125 million move to Liverpool. Reports suggest the striker went on strike to force through the transfer. He is named among the Liverpool substitutes for this fixture. Newcastle's defensive record shows they have conceded two goals in their single league match so far this season.
Which young stars feature for Liverpool?
Liverpool's attack includes 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha, who starts an opening day Premier League fixture for the club. He becomes only the second 17-year-old to do so for Liverpool, following Michael Owen in 1997 against Wimbledon. Ngumoha scored a last-gasp winner in a 2-1 victory for Liverpool at St. James' Park almost a year ago. Another young player, 21-year-old James McConnell, is on the bench and could feature for the first time since February 2025, a gap of 548 days since a win over Luton Town. His inclusion, according to the report, highlights a perceived lack of midfield depth for the visitors.
What does the Liverpool lineup reveal?
Jérémy Jacquet makes his debut in the Liverpool starting eleven. Manager Andoni Iraola is without winger Federico Chiesa, who missed training all week due to a lack of fitness. Notably, Harvey Elliott is not among the substitutes despite being available, with Lewis Koumas preferred. Speculation suggests Elliott could leave the club next week. Joe Gomez is sidelined with a muscle injury sustained in Liverpool's first pre-season match against Sunderland in Tennessee. Giovanni Leoni, Conor Bradley, Stefan Bajčetić, and Hugo Ekitiké are all recovering from long-term issues. Alexis Mac Allister provides experience from the bench.
The context for Newcastle United is a tight early title race, where they currently sit two points behind league leaders Brighton. Securing a positive result against a direct rival would provide a significant boost. Fans can track the team's progress and the evolving standings throughout the season. The immediate focus turns to preparing for the visit of Bournemouth, as the Magpies look to build momentum.
