Newcastle vs Southampton (3pm)
Missing out on European qualification was a blow, but it gives Newcastle a better chance of attacking the Premier League in 2024-25.
They are almost always a tough prospect on home soil and should have too much quality and intensity for a Southampton side whose main aim will be survival.
Saints have returned to the top flight after just a one-year absence but they have lost some talented players in that time and could be in for a long hard season, starting with a mauling at the hands of the Magpies.
The St James’ Park faithful could have been forgiven for donning Manchester City scarves at Wembley during the 2024 FA Cup final, where a win for the reigning Premier League champions over Manchester United would have sent the Magpies to the Europa Conference League.
However, on account of Erik ten Hag‘s men – who finished eighth in the Premier League, one spot below Newcastle – stunning the Citizens in the showpiece event, the Red Devils sealed a Europa League spot, Chelsea dropped down to the Conference League, and Eddie Howe‘s men were left without any form of continental competition.
Despite holding their own in last year’s Champions League Group of Death, the Magpies’ return to the continent ended at the first hurdle, and while they were always hovering around the European spots in the Premier League table, seventh did not suffice this time around.
Off-the-pitch happenings have also threatened to disrupt Newcastle’s preparations, from the departure of director Amanda Staveley to Howe’s links with the England job, but the Magpies soared in pre-season with five victories from a possible six, the outlier being a 2-0 loss to Yokohama F. Marinos.
Furthermore, Howe’s crop found the back of the net in each of their 19 Premier League home games last season, while also navigating their last eight unbeaten, a solid sequence which produced a terrific 24 goals at a rate of three per game.