St James' Park hosts an intriguing season opener as a new-look Newcastle under Matthias Jaissle face a Liverpool side packed with elite talent. The hosts are missing several key figures — Joelinton, Dan Burn, and Tino Livramento are out, and Lewis Miley is a doubt — while…
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Sign inNewcastle United and Liverpool kick off their 2026-27 Premier League campaigns on Sunday, August 23, with the lunchtime meeting on Tyneside set to offer an early examination of two teams adjusting to new eras under fresh management. Matthias Jaissle takes charge of the Magpies for the first time in the league at their usual St James' Park home, while Andoni Iraola begins his Liverpool tenure with a testing away trip.
Newcastle are expected to be without the injured Joelinton, with Jaissle confirming the Brazilian vice-captain will miss at least a fortnight of action after his unspecified setback. Tino Livramento is also set to miss out as he continues rehabilitation on calf and knee ligament damage, though Lewis Miley could be fit for the opener after recovering from a broken leg. Fabian Schär is nearing full fitness following a groin problem, while Lewis Hall – who left the club's Spanish training camp as a precaution – is expected to be available if he remains a Newcastle player.
Liverpool travel with a lengthy absence list of their own. Hugo Ekitike is out injured alongside Conor Bradley, Joe Gomez, Jayden Danns and Giovanni Leoni, while Curtis Jones and Alexis Mac Allister carry doubts. Florian Wirtz, Alisson and Virgil van Dijk returned from World Cup duty with limited pre-season time, though summer signing Jeremy Jacquet scored on his debut in the final warm-up friendly against Como and could partner Van Dijk at centre-back.
Newcastle have endured a disrupted pre-season under new boss Jaissle, losing 3-1 to Everton at Murrayfield and falling 2-1 to Bayer Leverkusen in their St James' Park friendly. The summer transfer window also left the squad reshaped, with Bruno Guimarães and Sandro Tonali departing and midfield reinforcements yet to arrive. Nick Woltemade, who contributed eight goals last term, and Anthony Gordon are expected to supply the attacking thrust, while summer signing Bazoumana Touré could feature from the left.
Iraola's first pre-season was fragmented, with eight players arriving late after post-World Cup holidays. The Reds concluded their preparations with a 2-0 victory over Como, fielding what is likely to be their opening-day starting XI. Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo and Dominik Szoboszlai carry the added attacking burden in Ekitike's absence, while Ronald Araujo – signed on loan from Barcelona – could make an immediate debut in defence.
With Joelinton absent, Guimarães becomes Newcastle's central creative fulcrum. The Brazilian created 45 chances and scored nine goals last season, but he now operates in a reconfigured midfield without his usual partner. Szoboszlai, who is expected to start at the base of Liverpool's 4-2-3-1 alongside Ryan Gravenberch, offers the pressing intensity and forward thrust that Iraola demands. Whichever player dictates the tempo is likely to tilt a contest where both sides harbour early-season defensive vulnerabilities.
The opening-weekend fixture sets the tone for two clubs chasing Champions League returns. Newcastle will want a statement result before the window closes, while Liverpool aim to lay down an early marker in their new head coach's first Premier League assignment.
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