Newcastle and Liverpool open Premier League campaigns with contrasting challenges

Newcastle United begin their Premier League campaign at home to Liverpool on Sunday, 23 August 2026, with both clubs starting new managerial eras after disappointing seasons. The match at St James’ Park kicks off at 15:30 GMT.

Liverpool arrive as favourites after winning both league meetings between the sides last season. The Reds beat Newcastle 3-2 at St James’ Park before recording a more convincing 4-1 victory at Anfield.

The game will be broadcast on Canal+ in France, Amazon Prime Video in Germany and the United Kingdom, and Paramount+, CBS, Fubo, DAZN and TUDN/ViX in the United States. Coverage in Canada will be provided by DAZN, while Canal+ Sport Afrique will show the match in Africa. Stan Sport holds the rights in Australia, TNT Sports in Brazil and ESPN across Latin America.

Newcastle are attempting to recover from a dramatic decline. After finishing fifth in 2024-25, the Magpies endured a difficult following campaign, ending the season 12th in the Premier League and missing out on European qualification altogether. Having also fallen short in the Champions League, the club will now focus on rebuilding through domestic competition.

Eddie Howe left Newcastle after five years in charge and has been replaced by German coach Matthias Jaissle. However, Jaissle’s preparations for the new season have been mixed, with Newcastle winning only two of their seven friendly matches.

Liverpool must also respond to a disappointing campaign. The Reds were crowned English champions in 2024-25 but struggled throughout the following season, falling out of the title race at an early stage before fighting to secure a place in the Champions League.

They eventually finished fifth, holding only a three-point advantage over the team in sixth. That underwhelming result brought an end to Arne Slot’s time as manager, with former Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola appointed as his successor.

Iraola ended Liverpool’s pre-season with a 2-0 win against Como. That victory followed defeats by Monaco, who prevailed 3-2, and Leeds United, who won 4-2.

Despite their inconsistent 2025-26 season, Liverpool appear stronger on paper. Their squad combines greater depth and experience, while last season’s two victories over Newcastle provide an added psychological advantage.

Newcastle’s transition under Jaissle and their uneven pre-season make the hosts a difficult side to assess, but Liverpool are expected to handle the challenge better. Africafoot’s prediction is a 2-0 win for Liverpool at St James’ Park.

The match is also listed by betting company 1xBet, which gives Newcastle odds of 3.05 to win, with a draw priced at 3.65 and a Liverpool victory at 1.93. 1xBet also promotes an option to download its application.

The fixture details are:

– Date: Sunday, 23 August 2026 – Kick-off: 15:30 GMT – Venue: St James’ Park – Match: Newcastle United v Liverpool – Competition: Premier League, first matchweek