Newcastle vs Southampton Prediction: Isak to open the scoring at St James’ Park

Premier League football is back on Tyneside this weekend as Newcastle United host Southampton at St James' Park on Saturday (15:00). The Saints are back in the top flight after a one-season absence but face a tough test on their return to the big time.

Read below for my Newcastle vs Southampton prediction and all the latest team news ahead of this opening-round fixture.

Football Odds

Team News

Injuries and suspensions plagued Newcastle's 2023/24 campaign and there's not much let up for the Magpies at the start of this season with Callum Wilson, Sandro Tonali, Matt Targett, Lewis Miley, Jamaal Lascelles and Sven Botman all ruled out of their Premier League opener.

With Botman out injured, Lloyd Kelly - who joined in the summer on a free from AFC Bournemouth - could make his competitive Newcastle debut alongside Fabian Schar in central defence, and the back four could be completed by young full-backs Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall, who are hoping to get the nod over Kieran Trippier and Dan Burn respectively.

In midfield, Brazilians Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton are certain starters, with either Joe Willock or Sean Longstaff joining the duo.

Last season's top scorer Alexander Isak will start at centre-forward and the Swede is likely to be flanked by Anthony Gordon on the left and Jacob Murphy on the right, with Harvey Barnes, Miguel Almiron and new signing William Osula providing attacking threat from the bench.

Gavin Bazunu remains a long-term injury absentee for Southampton so veteran goalkeeper Alex McCarthy will be between the sticks for the visitors.

Saints head coach Russell Martin has been deploying three centre-backs and two wing-backs in pre-season; Jan Bednarek, Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Jack Stephens started last Saturday's goalless draw with Getafe and the trio look likely to line up from the beginning at St James' Park, with Kyle Walker-Peter and summer signing Yukinari Sugawara pushed ahead of the trio.

Will Smallbone and Flynn Downes look to have the centre of midfield locked down, with Joe Aribo pushed just ahead, and Armstrong and Ben Brereton Diaz - who swapped Spain for the south coast after leaving Villarreal - in attack.

Newcastle vs Southampton Odds

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Newcastle are 4/11 to start the new Premier League season with a victory, giving them an implied win probability of 73.3%, while Southampton are 7/1, or a 12.5% chance, to cause an upset. The draw, meanwhile, can be backed at 9/2.

Both teams to score is priced at 8/13 and over 3.5 total goals at 1/1.

Magpies centre-forward Alexander Isak (8/11) is favourite to score anytime while Southampton striker Adam Armstrong is 5/2 to find the net against his boyhood club.

Newcastle United to win to nil @ 8/5

Newcastle were superb at St James's Park last season, collecting 40 points from 57 available in the Premier League - only Liverpool (48), Manchester City and Arsenal (both 47) picked up more points at home. The top three were also the only teams to concede fewer goals at home than the Magpies (22), who kept eight clean sheets on Tyneside.

Howe's side also went unbeaten at home against the three promoted sides, beating Burnley (2-0) and Sheffield United (5-1) either side of a draw (4-4) with Luton Town.

Southampton, meanwhile, struck just 33 times across 23 games on the road in the Championship last term - matched or bettered by nine sides.

The Saints have since lost Scotland striker Che Adams, whose total of 16 league strikes was only bettered by Armstrong's 24 (three in the play-offs), with no other player netting more than seven times.

Brereton Diaz has been signed to fill the void left by Adams, and while he enjoyed a successful half-season loan at Sheffield United earlier this year, scoring six times in the Premier League, it remains to be seen how he fits into the Saints setup and whether he can be a consistent scorer across a full campaign.

Armstrong will be desperate to get one over his old side but I fancy Newcastle to win and shut out their visitors on Saturday. Pope is back between the sticks for the Magpies after missing the majority of last season through injury and his return should provide greater security.

Alexander Isak first scorer @ 3/1

Isak missed eight Premier League games last season but still struck 21 times to finish third in the Golden Boot charts, behind only Erling Haaland (27 goals) and Cole Palmer (22). The Sweden international is one of the most clinical finishers in the division and is always a good bet to score anytime.

However, to boost the odds, I'm suggesting the 24-year-old to be first on the scoresheet on Saturday. Isak bagged twice in pre-season, once against Hull City and once against the Urawa Red Diamonds, opening the scoring in each game, and he was first to find the net on six occasions at St James' Park last season.

Isak should be licking his lips at an opening weekend fixture at home to a recently promoted side, and I fancy him to get his 2024/25 campaign off to a great start.

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