0
0
Premier League – Newcastle United vs. Fulham: As Newcastle United recovers from a devastating European elimination, they will return to Premier League play on Saturday when Fulham visits St. James’ Park.
Midweek saw the Magpies’ European tour come to an end with a 2-1 loss to AC Milan, while the Cottagers’ final top-flight match saw them thrash London rivals West Ham United 5-0.
On Wednesday night, all three of Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan, and Newcastle were fighting for a coveted spot in the Champions League round of 16, where Eddie Howe’s team’s fate was out of their hands, as Borussia Dortmund rode out into the “group of death” sunset.
Newcastle would have printed out their boarding cards to the knockout rounds had they held onto their lead against Milan—which came from Joelinton’s boot—but Christian Pulisic and Samuel Chukwueze shattered the hosts’ hopes of qualifying for Europe, with PSG only securing a point away to Dortmund.
Newcastle’s defeat against the Italian powerhouses also cost them the Europa League consolation prize. With only domestic issues to deal with until the conclusion of the season, Magpies supporters may view their unfortunate season-long injury luck as a lucky break.
After losing to Everton and Tottenham Hotspur by an overall score of 7-1 in their previous two Premier League games, Howe’s ruined team lost to Milan for the third time in a row in all competitions.
They are currently ranked seventh in the table and are only ahead of Brighton & Hove Albion on goal differential.
Newcastle’s 4-1 drubbing at the hands of Tottenham last weekend marked their sixth Premier League loss of the 2023–24 season; Howe’s team had only dropped five games in the top flight all season in 2022–23.
Read More: Fulham Secures Long-Term Commitment from Bernd Leno Until 2027
Consequently, playing Fulham, a team that has developed a renewed appreciation for goals, might not be the ideal remedy for a heartbreaking European elimination.
Marco Silva’s team ruthlessly secured their third win from four games as Fulham mercilessly treated nearby rivals West Ham at Craven Cottage, only four days after putting up a five-star performance against Nottingham Forest.
Following their belated discovery of the formula for attacking success in the post-Aleksandar Mitrovic era, Fulham made it back-to-back 5-0 victories in the top flight, with Raul Jimenez, Willian, Tosin Adarabioyo, Callum Wilson, and Carlos Vinicius all finding a way past the battered and bruised Hammers defence.
Fulham, one of three teams without a positive or negative goal difference after having both scored and allowed 26 goals so far, is currently sitting in 10th place in the Premier League, cruising away from the bottom-dwelling teams and creeping closer to the continental contenders.
The merciless Cottagers have scored 16 goals in their last four games, after scoring just 10 goals in their first 12 Premier League games.
They could now become just the third team to score at least five goals in three straight Premier League games, after Chelsea and Manchester City did so in 2010 and 2017, respectively.
But before they play Newcastle, who have defeated Fulham three times in a row and have not lost to the Cottagers in the top tier since March 2014, Silva’s team has failed to find a formula for success away from home. They have also lost their previous seven away Premier League games.
Newcastle United Premier League form:
W L W W L L
Newcastle United form (all competitions):
W D W L L L
Fulham Premier League form:
L L W L W W
Kieran Trippier, who is suspended for Saturday’s match, and Anthony Gordon both left the field with injuries during the second half of Newcastle’s loss to Milan, exacerbating the team’s ongoing injury crisis. Tino Livramento should move to the right to cover for Gordon.
Gordon’s hamstring problem would make it unexpected if the winger was cleared to play against the Cottagers. As a result, Alexander Isak might start up top next to Callum Wilson, unless Howe decides to start Lewis Hall in an attacking role.
Though Sandro Tonali (suspended), Harvey Barnes (foot), Nick Pope (shoulder), Jacob Murphy (shoulder), Javi Manquillo (groin), Matt Targett (thigh), Joe Willock (calf), Elliot Anderson (back), and Sven Botman (knee) won’t be playing, the latter scenario is still conceivable given Dan Burn’s midweek return from a back issue.
Regarding Fulham, prayers were said for Willian during the crushing of West Ham last weekend, as the former player for Chelsea and Arsenal was forced to leave the game at halftime due to a thigh issue and will probably have to miss the trip to Tyneside.
Along with Adama Traore (thigh) and Issa Diop (ankle), Willian is one of the Cottagers’ three injury concerns. However, there is optimism that at least one of the latter two will be able to travel with the club this weekend.
Wilson’s wonderful cameo against the Irons, however, lessened the blow of Willian’s departure. In the second half of that five-goal victory, the Welshman scored an incredible goal and selflessly laid off Vinicius, so a start is undoubtedly in store at St James’ Park.
Newcastle United possible starting lineup:
Dubravka; Livramento, Lascelles, Schar, Burn; Longstaff, Guimaraes, Joelinton; Almiron, Isak, Hall
Fulham possible starting lineup:
Leno; Castagne, Adarabioyo, Bassey, Robinson; Cairney, Palhinha; Iwobi, Pereira, Wilson; Jimenez
Our prediction for this Match 2-2 draw or 2-1 won By Newcastle United
