Newcastle United vs. Brighton: Prediction, Preview & Betting Tips

Newcastle are unbeaten in their last ten Premier League games on home soil, while Brighton have only one win from their last nine league games away from home.

Both teams to score has landed in four of Newcastle's last five at home and three of Brighton's last four on the road, so a goal at both ends feels like a likely outcome.

Newcastle have also edged the recent head-to-head meetings between these two teams, winning two of the last five, with Brighton winning only one.

We do, then, fancy Newcastle to shade a narrow win here. Newcastle 2-1 Brighton.

Newcastle United host Brighton & Hove Albion this Saturday in what should be a very intriguing clash.

• Date: 19/10/2024
• Kick-off time: 15:00
• Location: St James' Park, Newcastle

Newcastle, currently 7th in the Premier League, have not quite found their stride this season despite sitting in a relatively strong position. Eddie Howe’s side have picked up 12 points from their opening seven fixtures, but performances on the pitch have not necessarily been of the expected standard of this squad.

On their day, Newcastle are capable of producing the dynamic, high-energy football that saw them finish in the top four two seasons ago, but too often this term they have looked a little disjointed and short of their best.

The availability of star striker Alexander Isak’s has been one of the major talking points for Newcastle this season, as the Swedish striker is a crucial player for the Magpies and a genuine difference-maker in attack, capable of turning games on a whim with his intelligence and clinical finishing. However, his injury problems have led to him missing Newcastle's last two games, and those inconsistencies in his appearances for the club have been a feature since he signed for Newcastle.

There also appears to be some turmoil, or at least major uncertainty, behind the scenes at the club, with persistent speculation surrounding Eddie Howe’s future, with the Newcastle manager linked to the England national team job. Moreover, rumours of tension between Howe and Newcastle’s new sporting director, Paul Mitchell, have only added to the sense that all is not entirely settled at St James’ Park. It has been reported that Mitchell has reservations about some of Howe’s decisions, leading to an uncertain dynamic between the two, and it's perfectly possible that instability behind the scenes is affecting performances on the pitch.

Regardless, despite these issues, Newcastle are still in a solid position and are well placed for a successful season. The squad is deep and full of quality, and if they can find their best form consistently, the Magpies should be more than capable of competing for European qualification again.

In contrast to Newcastle’s somewhat mixed start, Brighton & Hove Albion have enjoyed a strong opening to the season, currently sitting 6th in the Premier League. After a slight drop in form at the back end of last season, the Seagulls seem to have found their rhythm again under the guidance of new manager Fabian Hürzeler. With 12 points from their first seven games, Brighton will be aiming to build on last season’s 11th place finish.

Hürzeler, who took over in the summer, has impressed in his early days in charge, with his tactical approach seemingly well-suited to Brighton’s existing philosophy, building on the foundations laid by his predecessor while adding his own ideas to the mix. Known for his emphasis on possession football and pressing high up the pitch, Hürzeler has managed to integrate a number of summer signings into the squad and they appear to be paying dividends.

One of the standout performers this season has been Georginio Rutter, a forward who joined from Leeds United in the summer. Rutter has settled in quickly at Brighton and has been delivering consistently strong performances in attack, with his unpredictability in attack allowing him to consistently trouble opposition defences.

Another player enjoying a fine run of form is Danny Welbeck, with the veteran striker rejuvenated under Hürzeler havings already scored four goals in seven league appearances. At 33, Welbeck is showing no signs of slowing down and has been a key figure in Brighton’s attacking play, and it could even be argued he's playing the best football of his career.

Despite their encouraging start, Brighton will be keen to avoid the drop in performance that they experienced last season, with the Seagulls finishing 11th, a notable dip from their 6th place finish in 2022-23. European football is once again on the agenda for the Seagulls, and a positive result against Newcastle this weekend would be a significant statement that Brighton are clear contender for another top six finish.

This game will not be televised live to UK audiences, but full radio coverage will be provided by BBC Radio Newcastle.

Newcastle Team News:

Newcastle still have a fairly lengthy injury list, with Alexander Isak, Sven Botman, Lewis Miley, Callum Wilson, Jamal Lascelles and Matt Targett all on the treatment table.

With Isak still out, Anthony Gordon will likely continue in his role as a makeshift striker.

Predicted lineup: Pope; Trippier, Schär, Burn, Hall; Tonali, Guimarães, Joelinton; Murphy, Gordon, Barnes.

Brighton Team News:

João Pedro, James Milner, Matt O'Riley, Solly March and Jan Paul van Hecke are all out injured for the Seagulls.

Simon Adringra is also out with a knock, meaning there aren't likely to be too many changes to the XI that beat Tottenham Hotspur last time out.

Predicted lineup: Verbruggen; Veltman, Webster, Dunk, Estupiñán; Baleba, Hinshelwood; Minteh, Rutter, Mitoma; Welbeck.

Newcastle's form in the league is pretty middling, with the Magpies having won two, drawn two and lost one of their last five games. Most recently, Newcastle were held to a 0-0 draw away at Everton, a pretty frustrating result given Anthony Gordon missed a penalty.

That game followed a 1-1 draw against Manchester City which was probably Eddie Howe's side's best performance this season, which came after a 3-1 defeat away at Fulham and successive 2-1 wins over Wolverhampton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur.

Brighton's latest outing was a hugely entertaining encounter that saw them overturn a 0-2 deficit against Tottenham Hotspur to win the game 3-2 in dramatic circumstances thanks to goals from Yakuba Minteh, Georginio Rutter and Danny Welbeck.

Prior to that, Brighton were beaten 4-2 by Chelsea, a result that was preceded by a 2-2 draw against Nottingham Forest, a 3-2 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers and a 0-0 draw against Ipswich Town.

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