Newcastle vs Sheff Utd: Magpies have enough to grab a vital win

Newcastle United host Sheffield United at St James' Park in the Premier League on Saturday (15:00) as they look to bounce back from their midweek defeat to Crystal Palace. The Magpies find themselves three points behind Manchester United in the race for the top six, so they need to get back to winning ways against the Blades.

The visitors are bottom of the table and can end up relegated this weekend if things don't go their way in this game and in others. They have been showing fight in recent weeks and that is something the hosts will need to be wary of. Here are my Newcastle vs Sheff Utd predictions, which also feature team news and match odds.

Match Odds

Newcastle are the 1/5 favourites to win this match, which gives them an 83.3% chance of leaving with the three points. Sheffield United are priced at 9/1, giving them an implied probability of just 10%. The draw can be backed at 5/1 (16.7%).

Both teams to score has landed in 53% (9/17) of Newcastle's home matches in the Premier League this season, as well in 56% (9/16) of Sheffield United's trips on the road. BTTS is valued at 8/11 to deliver this weekend. Over 2.5 goals is 1/3.

Alexander Isak has scored 17 goals in the league for Newcastle this term and he is 5/2 to open the scoring on Saturday afternoon.

Team News

Sven Botman, Jamaal Lascelles, Lewis Miley, Joelinton, Nick Pope, and Miguel Almiron are all out injured for the hosts, making the end of the season difficult to navigate for boss Eddie Howe. Sandro Tonali remains suspended. Callum Wilson came off the bench in midweek and could be pushing for a start this weekend which could give Isak a rest.

Chris Wilder can relate to his counterpart with Max Lowe, Rhys Norrington-Davies, Chris Basham, John Egan, Daniel Jebbison, George Baldock, Tom Davies all in the treatment room for Sheffield United.

Newcastle United and both teams to score @ 13/10

If Newcastle wish to finish in the top six this season, they have to take maximum points in their final home matches as a bare minimum, especially against the team planted at the bottom of the table.

The Magpies failed to score in midweek but they do have a lot of firepower in attack with the likes of Isak, Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes. The attacking trio should be rubbing their hands together to face the worst defence in Premier League history.

That's right, the Blades have conceded more than the poor Derby County side of 2007/08, with their current total at 92 goals from 34 matches. It's the reason why they are where they are and I don't think they will have any respite before the season is over.

To somewhat spare their blushes, Sheffield United have been scoring goals recently, and Newcastle's back line is a lot more fragile than it was last year. There will be goals available to the visitors but I do think Newcastle have the quality to outscore them on home soil.

Anthony Gordon anytime scorer @ 11/8

With weeks left of the campaign and just 50 days until the Euros in Germany, Newcastle winger Gordon will be doing everything within his power to make Gareth Southgate's England squad.

The wide man has had an impressive season so far with 10 goals and eight assists in the Premier League. If he can add a few more to each tally before the season's close then he is a shoo-in for a place on the plane you would think.

I think he can score against this poor Sheffield United defence on home soil, where nine of his 10 goals have been scored this year. His one away goal came from, you guessed it, Bramall Lane, when Newcastle thrashed the Blades 8-0 back in September.

Gordon also racked up an assist that day and I fancy him to turn in another top-drawer attacking display against Sheffield United.

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